The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Old geezer vs. heavy wheel

There has to be a easier way to reinstall a heavy 16" radial tire and wheel than dead lift while squating or sittin' on your butt. My old back doesn't like it. Any suggestions out there?

I use a 15 year old discontinued Harbor Freight Roller Seat on the paved driveway and in my garages. I now also have the bottom seat-portion of an office chair that has the back removed (it broke) and it has strong rollers. This allows a friend to work with me and both of us do not need to bend over, kneel, crawl, or sit on the ground on our butts.

when removing wheels i only jack up the truck enough to get the wheel to spin. walk the wheel off in a rocking side to side motion. when i put them back on i use a long flat pry bar under the tire to use for lifting leverage to walk them back on. i didnt learn much in school but i remembered the class on the use of lever, beams and fulcrums and have learned to use them to my advantage. it does help to have help when doing this. i never do help always shows up after the lug nuts are tight. if you think the 16"s are tough wait until you get to the 20" duallys

Ditto on that procedure- - - -I learned it while running a 24-hour road service for Diesel trucks. Another trick is a "grease plate", a piece of plywood or sheet metal with something slippery on it to help slide the tire on and off the studs. If you don't like grease stains on your shop floor, spray-on silicone lube does the job very well, and doesn't leave messy stains. Just jack the axle up enough to take the weight off the wheel, and slide the rim on and off the studs. It also helps to loosen the lug nuts before the vehicle is jacked up.
Jerry

I'm not a geezer at 35 but I've been doing it this way since I was 14 or so. I sit the ground with the wheel on my feet. I'm able to lean it back on my shins if needed and lift it an inch or so with my toes/feet. Makes it easier to position it with my hands. I simply scoot up, lift and tip it forward. Once the top stud is in, I slide my feet out and drop it on the others. No broken back.

I was taught to use the sliding method with greased cardboard, working on trucks when I was a teenager. Now I just struggle with my 16" wheels without any aids. Someday I will wise up a bit!

Maybe 40 years ago I could have lifted the wheel up but, those days are long gone.
Now I use a block of wood and a 40" wrecking bar as a lever and it still takes some doing.
This is my first AD and I can't believe how heavy EVERYTHING is!!

the method they showed me when i started working on heavy equipment is to use a flat blade shovel. get it under the tire and lift it up and slide the wheel on to the lugs.

Hey thanks guys, these are all great ideas. I will probably try them all eventually. Steve

And thanks for the post Movin on! I'm in the old geezer category and I just finished an e-brake replacement on the right side on my 56 Cameo, now have to do the left side and been dreading lifting that heavy heavy wheel. Your post gave me some great ideas - I had thought of using my old hand cart (dolly) -- just slide the tongue under the wheel , but these other ideas are great too.

Dale

Another great idea! Boy, they just keep comin'. I use my old dolly all the time and never thought of this. Thanks Dale. Good lookin' Cameo. Don't see too many of those. Steve

Lots of good tips here. Even if you're young, you don't need to hurt your back! My hernia and I thank everyone for the ideas.

The semi-truck & ton truck fleet guys have various tools that are for slipping under the tire and then you lift it up onto the studs.

I'm not sure what they are called tho'. Stop by a tire place that does big truck tires and ask around maybe?

-W

I think the question is about 16" wheel/tire on a 3100 panel? This is not a negative comment - all the advice above is very helpful.