Widow-makers
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,314
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My boss's (former) father-in-law was killed while driving his car. Went to pass a truck. Wheel's rim blew off the truck. Came through his car and crushed him brutally. Sucked miserably for all involved.
We spent the money on lock ring replacement wheels from AWS in Pasco, WA.
We spent the money on lock ring replacement wheels from AWS in Pasco, WA.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,346
Likes: 5,371
From: Central PA
Fore those that get Vintage Truck magazine there is a letter from a reader that tells of the writer's father that died in his garage when a split rim he was fixing a flat on exploded in the '60's.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
Really?? How much air do these tires hold? 40 psi ? I don't see how deflating a tire would be the reason to make it blow out??? These are widowmakers because they came apart going down the road...right? I understand about tires exploding,
I worked for U-Haul Emergency Road Service. I have never heard of deflating a tire, like these old things, and they make the rim blow out. I was airing up a brand new tire and it was to be inflated to 110 psi. I was close and suddenly I noticed a bulge in the sidewall and faster than a blink....KABOOM!!!my ear rang for the rest of the night!
I would be worried about inflating, not deflating.
Bring those to me and I wouldn't even hesitate...
as far as getting them off the rim? They can be a PAIN !
I worked for U-Haul Emergency Road Service. I have never heard of deflating a tire, like these old things, and they make the rim blow out. I was airing up a brand new tire and it was to be inflated to 110 psi. I was close and suddenly I noticed a bulge in the sidewall and faster than a blink....KABOOM!!!my ear rang for the rest of the night!
I would be worried about inflating, not deflating.
Bring those to me and I wouldn't even hesitate...
as far as getting them off the rim? They can be a PAIN !
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
Really?? How much air do these tires hold? 40 psi ? I don't see how deflating a tire would be the reason to make it blow out??? These are widowmakers because they came apart going down the road...right? I understand about tires exploding,
I worked for U-Haul Emergency Road Service. I have never heard of deflating a tire, like these old things, and they make the rim blow out. I was airing up a brand new tire and it was to be inflated to 110 psi. I was close and suddenly I noticed a bulge in the sidewall and faster than a blink....KABOOM!!!my ear rang for the rest of the night!
I would be worried about inflating, not deflating.
Bring those to me and I wouldn't even hesitate...
as far as getting them off the rim? They can be a PAIN !
I worked for U-Haul Emergency Road Service. I have never heard of deflating a tire, like these old things, and they make the rim blow out. I was airing up a brand new tire and it was to be inflated to 110 psi. I was close and suddenly I noticed a bulge in the sidewall and faster than a blink....KABOOM!!!my ear rang for the rest of the night!
I would be worried about inflating, not deflating.
Bring those to me and I wouldn't even hesitate...
as far as getting them off the rim? They can be a PAIN !
How much pressure were the F-5 widowmakers designed to hold? I really don't know, but now I am curious.
I don't mean to come off as dangerous, but how do you know they are fully inflated? That tells me that you have been close to them, maybe checked them with a guage? I would suggest maybe a 4' x 4' plywood 3/4" thick between you and the tire. and like truckdog(Stu) said stay aside, out of the line of fire.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 0
We disassembled six wheels last weekend. One (a lock ring) was visibly rusted and scary looking. One lock ring wheel will serve as our spare. Of the four widow makers, one had internal rust and the lip (that is relied upon to hold it together) was crumbling apart. However, that wheel looked fine outside.
I ran over a stinking utility knife blade with my brand new tires today. Now I get to patch one up. Stupid litterbugs.
I ran over a stinking utility knife blade with my brand new tires today. Now I get to patch one up. Stupid litterbugs.
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,984
Likes: 444
From: Central Illinois
Ok, my 2 cents. The big tires hold 80-100 psi, not 40. Rust, road hazards, and metal fatigue after 60 +/- years take their toll.
On the inflation end of things, the widow maker is the only design that doesn't let the technician see whether he has a good lock of the "side ring" on the rim as air is pumped into the tire. Conversely, on "lock ring" style wheels the tech can see whether the ring is properly taking its seat.
On the deflation side, widow makers that start to go flat while in service can twist and deform causing the joint to fail with dramatic results. Thus the stories we hear of incidents as have been described. Stu
On the inflation end of things, the widow maker is the only design that doesn't let the technician see whether he has a good lock of the "side ring" on the rim as air is pumped into the tire. Conversely, on "lock ring" style wheels the tech can see whether the ring is properly taking its seat.
On the deflation side, widow makers that start to go flat while in service can twist and deform causing the joint to fail with dramatic results. Thus the stories we hear of incidents as have been described. Stu
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
MarkG,
I removed the cores from my tires and let the air out of them. I then took them to a commercial truck tire store where they used their cage to unmount the tires. I had to pay about $75 including the disposal fee for the old tires. I just wanted to recycle the steel rims but knew I could not do that with the tires still mounted. I didn't have any problem letting the air out and did not fear for my life. I do not believe that an aired up tire is what is holding these rims together, so letting the air out should not have an effect. Or maybe I was just lucky....but lucky on four?
I removed the cores from my tires and let the air out of them. I then took them to a commercial truck tire store where they used their cage to unmount the tires. I had to pay about $75 including the disposal fee for the old tires. I just wanted to recycle the steel rims but knew I could not do that with the tires still mounted. I didn't have any problem letting the air out and did not fear for my life. I do not believe that an aired up tire is what is holding these rims together, so letting the air out should not have an effect. Or maybe I was just lucky....but lucky on four?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,352
Likes: 1,720
From: AKRON ohio
There is no danger once the air is out. Its not like the rims have a "hidden spring inside" Once the air is out there is a small slot to wedge a bar into to start the removal. You do not need a cage to disassemble once the air is out. This is no different than a lock ring tire wheel combo. The lock ring type is still dangerous and you would not try to remove the ring with air inside would you? NO! This rim is the same way DO NOT TOUCH WITH AIR STILL INSIDE
I would NEVER handle one of these off a vehicle with air. I would NEVER remove a tire/rim combo off the vehicle with air still in it.
On the WM I have here I have removed the valve core and CUT the valve stem off so they can NEVER be aired up again.
I would NEVER handle one of these off a vehicle with air. I would NEVER remove a tire/rim combo off the vehicle with air still in it.
On the WM I have here I have removed the valve core and CUT the valve stem off so they can NEVER be aired up again.
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,984
Likes: 444
From: Central Illinois
There's plenty of these still in service despite the fact that the last of them were sold in '76 or '77, depending on which reference you go by. Nothing says that each and every one of them is a bomb waiting its turn to go off, but there's enough evidence out there that the risks are far greater with them than any other type rim. Compounding the risk, there's no way to gauge which ones are the time bombs. As a result, they have become a pariah that most reputable shops won't touch. Stu
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Conesus, NY
I installed new tires and did tire repairs for commercial and agricultural vehicles for quite a few years in the late 70's. Split rims and lock rings were common on most all trucks larger than a 1/2 ton. I'm fortunate that I never had one come apart on me. I always had a lot of respect for them. I have seen holes blown through cement block walls and through roofs where they have come apart bet never while I was there. In my opinion, there is little danger to handling a tire/ rim thats been inflated for years and there is nothing to fear about a rim coming apart while deflating it. The greatest danger is during the initial inflation after mounting the tire on the rim. A slight misalignment of the rim or lock ring will cause the rim to violently come apart even if the metal is like new. I would continue to use good tires on old rims. But I would update the rims if there was ever a reason to change tires.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 199
From: near Philadelphia Pa
I was just taking a look at my widow makers on my 48 F-3, while the rim and tire is on the truck it seems to me that the tire cannot seperate from the rim, the removable side is on the inside and would catch itself on the drum/axle