Deadly caution
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 446
From: Central Illinois
Guys, I'm a busted record sometimes, but this is why. Do a Google search of Firestone RH-5 (add a degree sign if your keyboard allows). These wheels are killers and a lawyers best friend. I'm glad to see Bob's thread earlier about somebody remaking the 19.5 and 22.5s. These are the best solutions for big truck guys.
For F-3 guys, I've also heard that Stockton is able to take the centers from F-3 17s and mount them in tubeless rims. I don't know this first hand, but had a guy on another site that said he did it. Another option are the tubeless 17.5s from later Fords and Dodges. This doesn't make tire selection easy, but it ensures a fit over 14" rear drums.
And for those of us stuck using "lock ring" multi-part wheels, make sure they are sand blasted and have no stuctural rust or other damage. And use a cage. They too can be killers if not handled right.
For F-3 guys, I've also heard that Stockton is able to take the centers from F-3 17s and mount them in tubeless rims. I don't know this first hand, but had a guy on another site that said he did it. Another option are the tubeless 17.5s from later Fords and Dodges. This doesn't make tire selection easy, but it ensures a fit over 14" rear drums.
And for those of us stuck using "lock ring" multi-part wheels, make sure they are sand blasted and have no stuctural rust or other damage. And use a cage. They too can be killers if not handled right.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 970
Likes: 3
A cage is a good idea when airing up any tire that can't be aired up on a machine. Too many times even with one piece rims a bead breaks or a wheel has a defect and they come apart. The few minutes used to cage them, inflate to a couple of lbs, back off and re air is better than not having breakfast tomorrow. Make sure that cage is mounted to the floor as well or you might wear it along with the tire and rim.
kotzy
kotzy
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
It should be noted the wheel that blew on Big Job was a three piece lock ring type rather than the RH-5° split rim notorious for such disasters. Goes to point out that all multi piece truck rims need to be treated with respect. For several years now I have been collecting 5 hole Budd wheels. One thing I have learned is you cannot judge the condition of a wheel from the outside. Tube type wheels trap water between the wheel parts and tube/flap. More often than not once I get the tire off I find the rim is junk.
Here's a link to a tire cage demo video. It's a huge file, you may not want to open without a high speed connection.
www.kentool.com/CAGE_DEMO.mpg
Airplane wheels make a bigger bang than truck wheels.
www.alberthaviation.com/TireCageVideos.htm
Craig
Here's a link to a tire cage demo video. It's a huge file, you may not want to open without a high speed connection.
www.kentool.com/CAGE_DEMO.mpg
Airplane wheels make a bigger bang than truck wheels.
www.alberthaviation.com/TireCageVideos.htm
Craig
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
so, anybody got pics of split rim?
i have 17" on my F-250. they're stock solid 8 lug (riveted factory) type.
is this considered a split as well? they are heavy as hell too.
thanks for all this info, i learned something new.
i have 17" on my F-250. they're stock solid 8 lug (riveted factory) type.
is this considered a split as well? they are heavy as hell too.
thanks for all this info, i learned something new.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,888
Likes: 3,130
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Here's a couple of diagrams of the Ford split rim. They design is very deceptive, they look like one piece rims but the give away is the thick band that runs in the concave side of the rim:
Here are drawings of the other types of rims, the Widow Maker is highlighted in red:
As I stated in my previous post, Truckdog, Dmptrkr and I have been a band of preachers on this subject and hopefully Big Rigs experience will jar a little sense into the people who think the multi-part rims, of all designs, are something that can be worked on without proper safety precautions. It really irritates the heck out of me when we state these facts and have other laugh at us as though we're some kind of panzy a** ninnies because they've been lucky enough to work on them in their backyard for the last twenty years by wrapping them with a logging chain without a problem. If nothing else, think of the other people that would be affected by the kind of mishap Big Job had. There are more than the person working on the wheel that would be affected.
Here are drawings of the other types of rims, the Widow Maker is highlighted in red:
As I stated in my previous post, Truckdog, Dmptrkr and I have been a band of preachers on this subject and hopefully Big Rigs experience will jar a little sense into the people who think the multi-part rims, of all designs, are something that can be worked on without proper safety precautions. It really irritates the heck out of me when we state these facts and have other laugh at us as though we're some kind of panzy a** ninnies because they've been lucky enough to work on them in their backyard for the last twenty years by wrapping them with a logging chain without a problem. If nothing else, think of the other people that would be affected by the kind of mishap Big Job had. There are more than the person working on the wheel that would be affected.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Originally Posted by JimG1098
Bigjob Glad to hear you and your son are OK When things calm down for you, please see if you can get a picture up of you rims. I am a little confused now about my own rims. They are on a 54 F-750 they are spoke wheel type with demontable rims. Are these ok.. If you need tosee a picture of them, go to my gallery
Thanks
Love your son!
JimG
Thanks
Love your son!
JimG
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 1
From: oh
I am super-glad you guys are ok!!!! I will think twice before I use them on my F600s. A question---Do all the split-ring/widow maker wheels blow up when on a truck and not airing-up or dissassembly? I mean if they are on a truck(F600) for 50 plus years -should I be worried about them? Bill
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 3
If Im reading this right, the tire was mounted on the rim and filled with air. You guys were switching them from one truck to another when it blew? Can they blow just sitting there or while being moved into position when putting on the lug nuts or clamps? I made up a set of rims for my F-500 by rivetting the disk from my old widdow maker bud rims into a new rim base with a lock ring. That way I still had the now opsolete 5 lug 8" bolt circle. Are there one piece drop center bud rims for 8.25/20 tires with a 5 lug 8' bolt circle available? If not what can you do to update to safer rims for bigger trucks?
Last edited by Danny D; Jul 5, 2007 at 12:43 PM.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,952
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From: Upper Left Coast
You should absolutely worry about them!
The rusty'er they get the more apt they are to come apart just sitting in the driveway. The duals are pretty much safe........ (as long as they're not off the truck because the rings face into each other...) but the front wheels have the ring on the outside and if they blow they take out anyone that is unfortunate enough to be in the way (nevermind the loss of control you'll experience due to the whole tire coming off the front)
I took 10 split rims to Les Schwab Tire to have them pick out the 6 "good" ones to put new tires on (they'll sandblast wheels and poweder coat them before mounting tires)
They told me that they could only break them down. They could not mount tires on them because their insurance would not let them. AND they could not give them back to me either. They had to be condemned and destroyed.
Seems some years ago they refused to mount tires on a set of splits for a farmer. The farmer came and took them home and had one of his "hands" do it.
When it popped off the guy was killed. The surviving family sued because the tire dealer allowed "unsafe" wheels to leave the shop. Didn't matter if the customer mounted the wheels.
The rusty'er they get the more apt they are to come apart just sitting in the driveway. The duals are pretty much safe........ (as long as they're not off the truck because the rings face into each other...) but the front wheels have the ring on the outside and if they blow they take out anyone that is unfortunate enough to be in the way (nevermind the loss of control you'll experience due to the whole tire coming off the front)
I took 10 split rims to Les Schwab Tire to have them pick out the 6 "good" ones to put new tires on (they'll sandblast wheels and poweder coat them before mounting tires)
They told me that they could only break them down. They could not mount tires on them because their insurance would not let them. AND they could not give them back to me either. They had to be condemned and destroyed.
Seems some years ago they refused to mount tires on a set of splits for a farmer. The farmer came and took them home and had one of his "hands" do it.
When it popped off the guy was killed. The surviving family sued because the tire dealer allowed "unsafe" wheels to leave the shop. Didn't matter if the customer mounted the wheels.
Originally Posted by WALFORD'S 56
I am super-glad you guys are ok!!!! I will think twice before I use them on my F600s. A question---Do all the split-ring/widow maker wheels blow up when on a truck and not airing-up or dissassembly? I mean if they are on a truck(F600) for 50 plus years -should I be worried about them? Bill
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 3
Another thought: What about selling a truck with widow maker rims on it? Is it legal to do so? What liability would the seller have with such a sale? Should the seller have the buyer sign a release of liability for the rims?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,888
Likes: 3,130
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Originally Posted by Danny D
Another thought: What about selling a truck with widow maker rims on it? Is it legal to do so? What liability would the seller have with such a sale? Should the seller have the buyer sign a release of liability for the rims?
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