split wheel rims/ widow makers

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Jun 13, 2002 | 06:28 PM

CheeseandRice

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Junior User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 93

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From: Blaine Minnesota

split wheel rims/ widow makers

Hello Ford buddies,
Hey whats the story with split rims? Does any body touch em any more?
Widow makers and suicide rims are what locale tire shops call
them. Most places didnt even know what i was talking about, until
I got the "Old guy" to look at em .

Seems like they only used em on f250s and bigger?
From what I understand, my wheels have a continuous ring on the tire/wheel bead. And a special machine is needed to remove it. Every
time its removed it gets a bit weaker, more dangrerous.
Another style has an actual split in the ring which be even more
dangerous.

I have ordered replacement rims(non split).
Seems like a waste to junk em.
well thats it for now, Tim & son

Jun 15, 2002 | 07:43 AM

banjopicker66

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 3,613

Likes: 6

From: Coal country

split wheel rims/ widow makers

C&R: I once had a '65 Camper Special F-100 (no less!) that had 15" split rims. Split rims are still used on big rigs, but are they are much safer because of the larger diameters. They were designed for tires with stiffer than normal sidewalls to carry heavier loads, but with modern technology, the need for specialty rims no longer exists.
The only advantage of split rims today is for changing a tire on the split wheel using only a hammer and tire wedge. And I don't see that need today at all.
You're wise to get rid on them.
I was working on the Port of Tacoma docks one summer in '74 and saw what happened when a mech inflated a split rim and it failed without using the cage. The split ring went flying about a hundred feet into the air and his head went flying into Commencement Bay.
Not a pretty sight.
Stick with the plain rims.

Jun 16, 2002 | 06:36 PM

TKONO

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Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 187

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From: St.Louis USA

split wheel rims/ widow makers

Gross, man. I have a fleet of about 40 trucha to take care of at work and most of the larger ones had split rims on them. I have since switched allmost all of them to regular one peice rims and my tire guy loves me for it. He can change a big 11R/22.5 tire in about a minute flat with nothing but a couple of bars and a big hammer(takes me a bit longer, 40 minutes) and no more innertubes! Just my 2 cents.

Jun 17, 2002 | 12:05 PM

44dwarf

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Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 957

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From: Winchendon MA

split wheel rims/ widow makers

Split rim are fine BUT you must be very carfull and traned to deal with them. The training part is were "we" lack. Seem in todays world every thing has to be idiot proff. OHSA thinks you should be able to take the drunk off the street corner throw him in to any job with no trainng and he not be hurt.

I learned how to do split rims as a kid from "three Finger" Pete.

Those soild rings are by far the best type. You don't need a machine theres a speaical way to take them off. Yuo need to push the baed down and rotate the ring you'll find one area that has less meat inside you put that to the edge and wiggle the rest out.

Most Decaps happen when untrained and in a hurry people dont manualy seat the split rim side first.

Don't try to do it your self unless you've had training!

44Dwarf

Jun 19, 2002 | 10:49 PM

65CamperSpecial

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Joined: Apr 2002

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split wheel rims/ widow makers

I am glad that was mentioned...I just got back from sunny Ca. with the wheels 66cs gave me for my 65, I am positive my wheels have a split on the ring itself, the "new" wheels appear to be a solid ring...did they go from one ring design to the other between the 2 years???

Thanks in advance

Jun 20, 2002 | 01:55 PM

44dwarf

Laughing Gas

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 957

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From: Winchendon MA

split wheel rims/ widow makers

Not sure both designs seem to have been out at the same time. Diffrent MFG's diff designs.

44

Jun 28, 2002 | 04:27 PM

tod_1

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Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 20

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split wheel rims/ widow makers

I, too, have a '66 F-100 Camper special with the original 15" splits & bias ply tires on it. I'd love to find an easy one-piece rim that would swap out and still be able to accept the dog-dish style ford hubcaps. Anyone know of such an animal?\

Todd
mitty-sodly@neb.rr.com