Posted by Caleb in Manhattan KS [70.184.232.53] on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 13:50:46 :
In Reply to: Essential locking ring wheel tools? posted by Joe Cimoch [68.184.47.175] on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at 18:06:36 :
I just did a set on a friends '48 Speedwagon.
For tools I used:
1-Tire/Wheel hammer
2-Combo tire pry bars (spoon on one end)
1-Pry bar that I made to fit the notch in the split ring on my PW wheels which fit in these too.
1-Jug-o-oil (some tire lube I have had around forever)
1-Sawzall with a 6" rough cut blade
First I pulled all of the valve cores out and
flipped each wheel over so the mounting surface was up and the tire was only supported by the wheel itself (on top of a cinder block). I then soaked each of the locking rings in penetrating oil (PB Blaster) and poured a small amount of the tire lube around the bead to soak in. Then I let them sit for a week, applying a small amount of oil to the rings every couple of days.
After a week, 3 of them that the rubber was still pliable on had dropped loose of the bead and came apart easily. After I break the bead on the "back"-side without the lock ring, I put a rag in one spot to keep the rear bead from re-seating while working on the lock ring. I then pried the ring out just enough to get the spoon in and worked my way around the wheel, usually by 1/4 of the way around, the ring would just peel off. Never force anything or you could bend the lock ring. After that the rest was E-A-S-Y.
the other 3 I had to cut the tire off with the sawzall then beat the beads down, not hitting very hard and working my way around the wheel. You want to hit the bead right about at the lock ring. Other than the lifting of the hammer, I applied very little down force to the impacts but my tire hammers are 8-10 lbs so they do most of the real work. A good set of gloves or padded handle on the hammer is a plus.