The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Safely disposing of "loaded" split rims

I have four split rim wheels that I swapped off of my 53 3800 panel; they have been lying around since 2000. They are still armed and dangerous with 20 year old air in the tires; must be inner tubes in them. Anyway, I want to clean up around the barn and get rid of these things but I'm afraid to move them. I would like to save the tires to plant potatoes in and scrap the rims.
Any ideas on how to safely disarm them? I thought about shooting them with a 30-30 in hopes of releasing the locking rims.
Any suggestions?

Just let the air out and take the lock rings off.

the big danger is filling them up with air once the rim is put back together. It's not likely they will come apart on there own once properly mounted.

This 'split rim horror' is a little out of whack in my eye. These rims have been around since you know who was a kid! They were mounted by experienced men with the proper tools and know how. The certainly won't reach out and kill the nearest person walking by.

I would be willing to bet that if you deflated them that you probably couldn't dissemble them yourself even if you tried.

Millions of trucks have driven billions of miles on this style rim, and while they take special precautions to inflate, they aren't a time bomb waiting to get you.

Stuart

I doubt you even have the dangerous type of "split rim"
More than likely you have three piece lock ring wheels, which are safe if in good shape and assembled with care.

Check out this Tech Tip http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/wheels/
click the links for pictures of different lock ring and split rim wheel types.

Grigg

There are folks looking for rims like that are in good condition. I am not a believer that only the one type of the multi piece rims are dangerous to work with. To me that is strictly opinion.

I am with Automarc, you can deflate them, pull the ring and attempt to get the rubber off. I did this and the rubber was stuck to the rim like it had grown there. It can be done but it takes a good bit of brute force and ignorance to get the ruber off.

I am using the rims after sandblasting and painting and they are just fine.

when i had to get rid of a couple "loaded" I took and shot a couple of old ones with a bow and arrow.

1- because i didn't know what the rims would do

2- i was pretty bored and wanted to see what would happen.

3- if i discharged a firearm (my first thought) this would entail talking to the sherriff patrol since we are annexed and for sure a ticket

Check out the tech tip on split rims. These type of rims are the only type Id avoid. If you have any concerns at all wrap a chain through the rim in a few places and let the air out.

The other types are safe to move and handle. The only time to consider them not safe is when filling them up with air after mounting. If the lock ring isnt seated correctly it could 'escape'.

Jeff

Offer them up and let someone that needs them take care of them,
Scott

In case it isn't clear, the danger is in inflating these wheels, not when letting the air out. You can get them apart easily after the air is out by using a sawzall. Once the rubber casing is removed, they come apart much easier.

Thanks for all the advice. One of the rims is a true split rim. The others I probably will put up for sale after removing the rubber. The bolters come through again.

Hey, Don- - - - -I just found this thread. I can handle breaking those rims down with no problem. Get in touch, and let's get it done. Spring break for Nashville schools is next week, so I'll probably drop by for a visit.
Jerry

Jerry, I'll be out then too. I'll talk to you. Maybe we can check to see if my carb is too rich.

I agree with rustednuts and others..Personally, I prefer the so-called split rims because they don't break like a lot of the newer one piece rims available

If you soak the bead with diesel fuel it will soften the rubber and help them to break down. Split rims arnt as bad as most people think they are. But if youdont know what your doing i would not advise messing with them take them to sombody with experience. OldWolf

It took my students about 2 hours with a tire hammer, pry bars, and a little elbow grease to break down the 4 rims. Now they appreciate that nice Hunter air-powered tire changer, and tubeless tires a little more! No, we're not going to reassemble them, although all the wheels are in good shape and they would be suitable to reuse with a good cleanup. They are 8-lug 17" single wheels from a 54 Burb 1-ton. Thanks, Don!
Jerry