Hi all

The Peoples republic of Connecticut will not let me register my '48 F-5 with the 2-piece rims (aka suicide rims) Now I have to go from "want' to "need" 20" or 22" Bud type rims Any good sources for the "split" or solid rims with the Ford 5-bolt on 8" centers?

Truck-at-an-idle, Reamer

 

Did you check with Ford to see if there was ever a recall issued on those wheels. Seems like if they are listed as a danger Ford would have had to issue one.

 

Ford would not be liable on a truck that old. Those were an industry standard of the day back then. Recalls are voluntary unless so ordered by the federal Government. AS far as the rims,Ron, look in the phonebook for Coonecticut wheel and Rim, they can get just about any rim and can tell yopu what will interchange.

Barry

50 F-1

Barry

 

It's not a safety issue in terms of safety inspection/registration. It has something to do with the safety factor of replacing a tire on that 2 piece rim if it has a flat. The majority of tire shops probably will not touch it because they are too dumb to keep that older safety equipment around to safely break down the rim and remove and replace the tire. probably will have to invest in a back up set of wheels/tires to apease the Kremlin.

 

LMAO.. ok Everybody.. This goes back to 1999.. The DOT issiued that all split rims where to be replaced by 2002.. there not street legal anymore.. there deadly. The locking ring can dislog at any time.. and while mounting it can kill someone.. Id go to ur local tire shop and ask them for the replacement wheels for your truck.. this goes for all 48 states.. Some places will over looks this.. But New England will not.. and parts will impound your truck if U keep useing them..

 

That's just it...ARE there replacement rims, and how come the tire/rim companies say there are no replacements, other than other trucks as doner trucks.

 

Hi Barry

There is no listing for Connecticut wheel and rim, There are a few CT tire though. Is that what you mean?

 

Reamer

you have an F-5 with 5 bolt rim? I have a 52 F-2 and have 8 bolt rims that i also need to find replacement. I wanted to wait until I could upgrade back axle. But if if what they are saying is true I should rethink.

CWR

 

Madathlon,
I have the 2-piece rim, the type where there is a steel band about 2" wide that goes around the rim roughtly in the center, This I know is no good, are you saying the type of rim that has a "lock ring" at the tire bead is no good too?

 

All 2 piece rim are Illegal no matter what now by order of the DOT.. Thats why U dont see them on big rigs any more... In somecases U may have to do trial and error to find a replacement set.. but U have to.. the only way to use split rims is on old classics for show only.. And U have to mount ur own tires for that.. Sorry guys for the bad news.. buy U can blame the DOT for it

 

Ron, No, Conn. Tire belongs to a buddy of mine from school. THe place I was thinking of was on Airport Rd. in Hartford, down the street from UPS. Doesn't look like they're around now. I couldn't find a listing anymore.

Barry

 

Find a place that makes custom wheels such as early wheel in California. They might want youre old wheel for parts. A custom wheel could be your center removed and put in a 20" or 22" outer ring from a donor rim.

 

I don't think your (our) split rims are illegal. I searched the Code of Federal Regulations and couldn't find anything that prohibits them. The Connecticut Administrative Code doesn't seem to be available online so I had my attorney do a search through Westlaw and nothing turned up. However, I noticed that Connecticut requires a safety inspection in order to register vehicles over ten years old. This is probably what gotcha. Connecticut law doesn't even attempt to make any determination as to what is safe or unsafe. It seems to be entirely up to the inspector and/or whatever policy might have been handed down from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or his staff. It wouldn't supprise me if your wheels would pass inspection if painted up nice and put on a nicely restored vehicle.

They really are dangerous though. I used to think they were mostly just a problem before they were properly seated after a tire change. I took a pair of them off my 48 about two weeks ago and had the tires dismounted. The wheels looked to be in real good condiion, no rust at all on the outside. I was planning to keep them in case some day I or the next owner might want a set of stock rims. What was inside was really scary. They were all rusty, flakey and pitted. One of them had about four inches of the lip that holds it together totally rusted away. I had heard stories about them flying apart while on the truck. Now I believe them.

 

Craig is correct. I've been in the trucking business for most of thr last forty years and I am required to keep up with the regulations. There are NO laws that PROHIBIT the use of muli-peice wheels, including the old "widow makers". Most tire shops won't work on them because of their insurance. TOM

 

stockcar nut....I have to agree it was a safety issue/insurance for those who worked on them, but the safety equipment that I used to break them down with was pretty much fool proof. While airing them up and tapping the lockring, you would always hold your breath and get ready to jump away even though the safety harness was on it and locked in place. Yes, sometimes I had the lock ring pop off and get ****-eyed on the rim, but it wouldn't have gone but about an inch and the safety harness/plate held it firmly in place, only to release the air, situate the lock ring again and try to re-air the tire so it would seat properly. If the rims are real rusty maybe Reamer should have them sand blasted or cleaned up and painted to help make a good seal.