The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts How to change a Slit ring rim!

I did not know how much info is in the orriginal owners manual. I finally read it which really helped me understand what a split ring rim is and how it looks and works. I hope this photo of my manual helps other stovebolt members as much as it did me.
Moderators feel free to use this photo to help other members eg. FAQ or sticky in forum.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/264653311/312061732vSyRYx
Aloha,

Keoni

Sorry, it should be SPLIT ring rim. :rolleyes:

It's always a good idea to put a log chain around the tire or put it in a cage.I had a friend who almost lost his head when a wheel seperated under pressure.

tntrucknut, that's exactly why split rims have their bad (and undeserved) reputation...you have to be careful with them.

Ok those are good instructions. How down you deal with those rims that split in the middle as opposed to having the split ring on outer section of rim. My cousin has 4 of those on the rear of his GMC big bolt.

Mahalo Keoni! I'll make a note of that pic and post it someplace appropriate -- perhaps in the Big Bolt feature article.

Aloha,
John

If you are unsure what your are doing with the split rims, take them to a tire shop and let them do it for you. It will cost a few dollars, but well worth it.

Those split-down-the-middle rims have always given me the willies, and I ran a tire shop and road service for a lot of years. Another type that's a little hazardous is the 18" wheel that's used on my 59 1-ton, that has a bead ring with a wide spot in it, and no split. Either one of those types of wheels is very suceptible to rust damage. If a thorough cleanup and inspection is done, and the edges look sharp and well-fitted, it's OK to re-use them, but don't EVER mix and match components. If one part of a wheel is damaged, scrap the whole assembly!
Jerry

Hey kb3csw, your cousin has the "2-piece split rim" wheels that are nicknamed the "widow maker". I've been told they were outlawed years ago. You might want to look for some 3-piece split rims that have the locking ring, there are millions of them still on the road and they are much safer. Any truck tire shop can help you with them.

Be Safe!

Beware of the Widow Maker! Local mechanic spent several weeks in the hospital just about 3 years ago when a widow maker came apart. Still suffers from some brain damage. I have thrown away, retired, a slew of them BE SAFE Redcoat

Here is what we ALWAYS do. We always wrap a chain around these wheels no matter where the split is. And for the back tires we always put them back on the truck and use one of the dually tire chucks to air them up. And my dad has always taken and laid them down then sat the bucket of a front end loader down on them then aired them up. Thanks Chris

Ok is the rim setup pictured above the widow maker or not? I have a '48 6100 with 6 and need tires.

The widow maker splits in the middle of the wheel. They are illegal and it is supposed to be against the law to sell a vehicle so equipped, so I have been told. My 6100 came with 4 of them. I bought 6 of the split ring wheels from a salvage yard and I mounted the tires on them myself because the local tire man charges $35 to mount a tire on big truck wheels. I always put two chains, one on each side of the tire when I air them up. Redcoat

It might be helpful if someone could post a photo of thew split RIM "Widow Maker" as compared to the split RING. I know it would help me visually clarify between the two.

I think that you will find just as many people calling the three piece rim, the one with the lock ring the widow maker. One of the amazing things to me is that it is either the Chev shop manual or the GMC shop manual that tells you how to change the tires, in detail, without a word of the dangers or protective measures. It is a technology that outdated and best avoided if that is possible.

It may be outdated technology, but there are a lot of heavy trucks out there still working every day with some sort of split-rim wheels. A competent truck shop can safely change tires on those, no problem.

Mike B My cousin and I were discussing that very subject this afternoon. And truckernix you were correct when all else fails check shop manuel I hadn't noticed it before but it had a section with both types of wheels listed. Now since both were available at the same time What was the supposed advantage of one over the other design?

kb,
I don't know the good and bad of the various designs. However, I have read many collections of stories about these split rims. What is not mentioned very often is that you can have a blowout and the lock ring or whatever can fly off and do damage to other vehicles. Having said that, any old truck meet will have a lot of these old split rims on display on the trucks themselves.