I've been busting down 20" snap ring wheels all day. I have eight of them completely disassembled. I have some with the full snap ring and some with the snap ring with the split. On all of these there is an obivous notch to insert a pry bar in to pull them apart. I came upon one I can't see a notch. This is not a WM, it has an outer snap ring but it's not like the others. Anyone have an idea how this wheel comes apart? Mybe I'm just getting tired, try again tomorrow.

 

As some would say out in my neck of the west...

Heat it with a torch, then heet it with a hammer!

Sorry Bob. I have no idea, just had to toss something out there

 

Stu may have a suggestion or two ... But thanks for saving these. Hope you find someone who appreciates the effort you put into saving these

 

Bob and I have swapped emails on this thing. I think the first tools needed are a sawzall, BFH, and then probably an angle grinder on the bead. There has to be a notch for the tool that can’t be seen while tire bead is in place. Get past that and there should be a notch.

Bob is demonstrating why shops are, in many instances, turning these wheels away anymore. Safe to keep in service, but uneconomical to service and so seldom seen that training staff to work on just makes no sense. Stu

 

I gave it another look over last night when I put everything away for the night. I have a feeling, like Stu suggested, a sawall, grinder and BFH, everything I've been using on the wheels so far. I have a feeling once I get the bead broke and the tire slips down and the ring follows there's going to be a notch on the inner ring I can insert a pry bar into. I'll have to wait until this afternoon after I get back from picking up parts for a job. I was hoping to combine taking the tires to a recycler on the way to picking up the parts since my customer is paying me to pick up the parts.

BTW, on the wheels I've broke down so far I've had to saw the inner part of the tires so I could get the bead loosened and get the snap ring to come off. So far all of the rims have rust but none so bad they can't be used. I'm on the fence about cleaning theim up before offering them for sale, I could sand blast them or acid dip them but both take time and I don't know if it would be worth doing either. Some like to powder coat them, other just want to paint them themselves.

Ill have a total of (12) 20" snap ring wheels and (6) 19.5" RV wheels. I certainly hope I can find a good home for all, if not now, maybe later down the road when they will get even harder to find. I have the storage space to hold them.