Here is a picture of the wheel from my F5. Can I/should restore these? Do any of you have these wheels on your truck?


Picture is the Gallery as I was not able to upload it.

 

Can't tell for sure from that picture. You need to look at the other side to be sure.
As Truckdog tried to lead you in the right direction in your other post, check out the threads he linked and look at this picture
if your rims look like this, with the wide band inside, Please, please, please, take these warnings serious!

 

Here's your pic so others can chime in. There does seem to be a line around the inner rim face that could be the edge of a lock ring, or it could just be a visual trick based on the contour of the rim lip. Looking through the one upper hand hole (the one at about 11:00), though, I might be seeing part of the widowmaker joint. So it's really hard to judge from my laptop screen such subtle details in a picture. Like Joe says, the way to be absolutely sure would be to see the back side. Let the air out before removing the wheel/tire from the truck. Stu

 

If you're a little crazy and try to deal with these split rims (either version) wrap 3 or 4 chains around the wheel/tire combination. Chains whose hooks hook and stay hooked and maybe 5/16" type A chain not unknown quality chain. More than a few have died taking chances. Garages use a steel cage. They probably won't come apart going down the road if you're extremely vigilant putting them together and practice little tricks along the way to insure good, proper seating. Still illegal in NH tho.

 

There are plenty of stories of widowmakers coming apart while on the road. Worst case is an outer rear dual that has the side ring blow out away from the truck into whatever/whomever happens to be in its line of fire. If a front wheel or inner dual blows the ring will be contained under the truck, but can cause an accident none-the-less.

The widowmaker wheels never have been outlawed federally. The only action taken by OSHA was to require additional installer training which was pointless. I've heard that some states have outlawed them, though. Is that a fact in NH? Anybody know of other states? Stu

 

Setting the legality a side. Any options to “upgrade” the wheels with something safer?

 

There are several "safer" options. Cheapest is to find a set of "lock ring" 20" wheels at a local yard. There were many outer rim designs made over the years, and some of the lock ring variety are still in production for some applications, and can still be serviced. Finding them with your 5 lug x 8" pattern might take some yard searching. These will be tube type like your widow makers. Tubeless wheels were introduced in 1956 which eliminate all the hassles with multi-part rims. The exact replacement for a 20" tube type is a 22.5" tubeless. These are hard to find and tend to be expensive when found. The other option is a 19.5" tubeless. These are comparable to 17" tube types which will thus use a shorter tire, but they fit and work well on these trucks if road speed isn't your first concern. There are two sets of these for sale in the classified section here. I'll leave it at this, and suggest that you do your research on Google for "lock ring" wheel design information. If you find a set, or make a set from several different donors, be certain to keep the rings and rims together as matched sets. Mix matching rims and rings can be as deadly as the widow makers. Stu