Here's the deal. I am not driving my '39 COE as I want because of the front tire issue.
I'm undecided on the the wheel options and frustrated.

I have read and communicated with Stu - and very grateful for the wisdom he shares and should have bought when he had some. but I still see driven trucks and museum restored trucks running the two piece with the idea that if they are mounted professionally and on good wheels, they should last and be trouble free. Locally I can't find good replacement lock rings in my area even after running and several month ad on Craigslist, most are beat death or so heavily pitted it's a no go. I'd rather stay away from the 19.5 or later as with the frame-off restoration planned I'd ideally stick with Coker repops for a correct narrow look. I do have a real nice set of nice 17.5 lock rings but of course cant find tires that look "correct" tires for them either.

Lately I've been thinking of keeping mine 20" 5° wheels: While there is a good step by step do-it-yourself article on the HAMB for mounting I do have two shops in our area who are familiar with and will mount the 2 part widowmaker design and would pay someone else to do it with the proper cage. Both places will follow a longer procedure of siting in the cage and multiple increments in airing and install several chains for my transport and mounting. My wheels are clean and rust free on the inside lip also these are front wheels so if accident occurs while mounted they will blow to the inside. I do exercise caution so would also chain these when working around the chassis.

So who is still running these wheels? Curious if Im over thinking this.

 

I'm still running them and on my truck the front wheel lock rings face out.

 

Still have them on my 49 F5.

 

i have one on the front right side . i got 30lbs air in it , but i,m looking to upgrade to 19.5.

 

Would tubeless 22.5” work?

 

I'm using six of them on my '41 ton and a half. Had two new front tires put on last year. No issues with any of them. Are they as safe as a one piece wheel? Probably not. Are they so dangerous that they can not be used anymore? Certainly not.
Unfortunately, these wheels get a bad rap from folks damaging them when disassembling, improper reassembly and/or using wheels that had no business being used at all (rusty & pitted). Many people have been injured by these wheels after doing something they shouldn't have. Good wheels in good condition and used correctly will give (and have given) years of good service.

Steve

 

If you have lock rings, you don't have the Firestone RH5 wheel, aka "widowmaker".

Not that your wheels wouldn't kill you if you treat them bad....

 

What is the difference between the RH5's and the lock ring rims? I thought, and know others who thought and called lock ring rims "widowmakers".
Thanks.

Steve

 

A fearless RH5 owner demonstrates his prowess with the RH 5. Pictures are clear and show how they are made:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...nting.1083358/

Lock ring wheel, just as dangerous if you are sloppy:

1:50 and 2:40 will show clearly the locking ring.


There are several other "locking ring" wheel designs.

It's all been covered before regarding the RH 5 wheels. Watch yourself with doing tire work.

 

Yep thats the article on the HAMB. I have no interest in mounting mine. But will have the shop follow the directions.
I see both sides and worried but have heard if following the proper procedure and chains for maintenance inflation and mounting they are ok. Just curious how many other guys put a few miles on theirs

 

Okay, I see the difference in the locking styles now. Thanks for sharing that. Many years ago I watched a guy air up a truck tire with it being chained like in the video but I could not tell you what style/type rim it was. Is the cage or chain method supposed to be used with the non-split lock ring rims? I only ask because the shop that did mine did not use either- I watched the process. My wheels/rings were in great shape, and I assume they were confident they reassembled them correctly (they had done many of these over the years) so a safety restraint of some kind wasn't needed? Or a lower pressure does not require the cage??
Anyway, the video proves there are many of those type rims still being used out there. And it also shows just what kind of abused parts should go directly to the scrap yard!

Steve

 

I think OSHA probably mandates the cage. We had them at work with all tubeless tires! IMO the cage and attached air with the operator in a bunker would be the safest. WM should always have a cage. Locking rings are a lesser risk but the consequences would lead most folks to the cage. No cage on the farm. We never had an incident. Low pressure still provides enough energy to cause damage.

 

I seem to recall a thread/s on a company that will take the center out of your old rim and weld it into a modern rim that will accept metric size tires. Anyone have a name?

 

The company I visited and bought a set of custom 19.5s from is American Wheel Specialist of Kennewick, WA. Nice folks. They are a wholesaler to the huge Les Schwab Tire chain out west. If you live east of their contract service areas they said they’d work with guys. I also know that Chuck’s Trucks lists custom 22.5s in their catalog. Stu

Chucks Trucks LLC., Chuck's Trucks, Chucks Trucks

 

Thanks for the info! Now back to our regular scheduled program.