The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Split rims

Hello, I was wanting to pick the brain of the split rim experts out there. I just took my split rims for my 1960 two ton to the local truck shop and they refused to touch them. Saying they were "widow makers". I have since found an ag shop near me who will. Question: When the rims are cleaned and painted ( sand blasted, epoxy primed, painted) and assembled corectly is there any thing to be worried about? I have 3 piece splits on my 46 and have never heard any troubles from them. Are the two piece type that join in the center that much more dangerous? Thanks for all replys!

AS LONG AS they are in good solid, straight shape, you should be fine. the danger comes from rotted out rims, or rust/damage causing the two halves to not seat together properly.

Now are they as safe as modern drop centers? No.

They probably just refused to mess with them because they really are a a pain to change. The lock ring is actually pretty dang hard to pry out of there, then you got to get the old tube out of there (its usually pretty darn messy and slippering inside the tire too), put the new one in, then put it all back together and pry the snap ring back in place. Usually you end up destroying the snap-ring, and i doubt most modern truck shops would even stock the ring for your wheels, or even the tires or tube for that matter. Trucks have been running solid rims for a LONG time now, not many shops would even know how to change a split rim.

I concur with the other guys. I've been working with split rims since about 1970 and have always treated them with respect. They're kind of like rattlesnakes, you need to know how to handle them safely. Once you have them cleaned up and remounted, keep an eye on the pressure on a regular basis. If the tire pressure drops too low (some say below about 60% of the recommended pressure), the rims can shift and reinflation can then become VERY dangerous. I'm running two-piece rims now and have no trouble.

I personally would stay away from the two piece ones that split in the center. People give away the lock ring type, so I would switch to those, they are safer. If for some reason you don't want to switch, as the others have said, when they were new there was no problem, so make sure they are in great shape, and treat them with respect.

Grigg

if you keep them in good shape no problem, the ag shop will do them, cause most big farm trucks are still split rim, most regular tires shops have gotten away from split rims