stev1955 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 I see a couple of rim spreaders on ebay and am wondering if these are pretty much universal, that is can any be used on any size demountable rim. I have 19" rims on my 30 Essex and am in need of one. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hupp36 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Steve I have 2 rim spreaders and are different manufacture's and they both fit my 19 in wheels and my 24 in wheels. They each have 3 spokes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev1955 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Thanks for the quick reply Hupp36. That's good to know that they work on various size rims. I'll be looking for one. Appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gelfer Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 It's best to get help from someone with experience using the rim spreader tool. It is too easy to put a nasty bend in the rim when expanding them back to size. I've seen a few messed up split rim wheels because of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev1955 Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 John my hope is to find someone locally here in the Lehigh Valley PA area to do the mounting of my new tires for me. Getting the rim spreader and then actually having to use it is my last resort. I've read through some of the previous posts about these rim spreaders and it appears there is a nack to it. Lots of warnings, and some talk of other ways to change tires on demountable rims. But I wish there was a video somewhere. Any way appreciate your warning and I really don't want to do it myself unless i have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Your rims look to be like mine for my 1931 Dodge. If they are like mine, it takes a different tool than a rim spreader. Have you removed the rim from the wheel, yet? Does it look like mine? If so, you will need the pictured tool. In the last photo, you will see by turning the wrench counter-clockwise, the rim expands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev1955 Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Hey keiser31, if the attached picture looks like your rims when latched then I'm glad you saw this thread. That looks like the tool I need. What is the name of the tool so I'll know what to look for? I'm learning here as this is my first antique car and I just got in April. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Hey keiser31, if the attached picture looks like your rims when latched then I'm glad you saw this thread. That looks like the tool I need. What is the name of the tool so I'll know what to look for? I'm learning here as this is my first antique car and I just got in April. Thanks.It sure looks like my rim. I may have an extra rim/lugnut wrench for these around here. I will look tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I just went out to the shop on a hunch and found a second rim wrench. Contact me via my email and we will talk about it. Johnkeiser31@charter.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev1955 Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Changed tire, tube and flap on my first rim today using the tire tool and some tire irons. Thanks keiser31. All went well. Hope to be better after I've done all five. Appreciate all the input from the forum members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Beautiful car you have there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 John my hope is to find someone locally here in the Lehigh Valley PA area to do the mounting of my new tires for me. Getting the rim spreader and then actually having to use it is my last resort. I've read through some of the previous posts about these rim spreaders and it appears there is a nack to it. Lots of warnings, and some talk of other ways to change tires on demountable rims. But I wish there was a video somewhere. Any way appreciate your warning and I really don't want to do it myself unless i have to.Hmmm....maybe I should do a video on this type of rim. Oh...wait....now YOU can! And for you guys out there...the "three legged" rim tool would not have worked on this type of rim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 interesting rim...I have a couple of the three-legged rim tools, and the term "spreader" seems contradictory to what they actually do: they grab the split-rim at three equidistant points, and contract it INWARDS to release the tire casing; don't know that mine would actually make the rim expand...Perhaps "rim-jack" is a more accurate term ?( whoops, better go put my flame-suit on... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 (edited) interesting rim...I have a couple of the three-legged rim tools, and the term "spreader" seems contradictory to what they actually do: they grab the split-rim at three equidistant points, and contract it INWARDS to release the tire casing; don't know that mine would actually make the rim expand...Perhaps "rim-jack" is a more accurate term ?( whoops, better go put my flame-suit on... )Most of the three legged rim spreaders are reversible. Where the "claws" are, there are usually butt ends opposite so as to "push" the rim back together which is essentially "spreading" the rim. You can see the butt ends or flat areas that push the rim on this spreader... Edited November 10, 2010 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 That looks very much like the ones I have; can't say that I'd have a lot of confidence in this thing staying put when used to actually "spread" the rim...I think I'm glad none of my cars have this sort of rim... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 That looks very much like the ones I have; can't say that I'd have a lot of confidence in this thing staying put when used to actually "spread" the rim...I think I'm glad none of my cars have this sort of rim... I totally agree....they are VERY precarious being used as spreaders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom M Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Anyone have any pictures of dismounting a tire from a wooden artillery rim like on my '31 Packard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 Steve, does this help any?Howard Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 Anyone have any pictures of dismounting a tire from a wooden artillery rim like on my '31 Packard?If they are anything similar to this '33 DeSoto rim, you will probably just have to use "spoon" wrenches and work the tire off like you would with a wire wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev1955 Posted November 15, 2010 Author Share Posted November 15, 2010 (edited) Steve, does this help any?Howard DennisSure does Howard. For a spare I got a new rim from Universal Tire but it doesn't have a rotating latch like the ones above. The latch on it is just a piece of metal with a hole in it that bolts to the other end of the rim. So I got one of those rim spreaders to use when I mount the new tire on it. Haven't done it yet as I haven't painted the rim. Thanks for the information. I guess I'll give it a try. Edited November 15, 2010 by stev1955 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom M Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 If they are anything similar to this '33 DeSoto rim, you will probably just have to use "spoon" wrenches and work the tire off like you would with a wire wheel.I have attached a picture of a Packard Wooden Spooked Wheel. Wish mine looked this good. I will have six of them to refinish. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I have attached a picture of a Packard Wooden Spooked Wheel. Wish mine looked this good. I will have six of them to refinish. :eek:That looks to be a split rim type wheel. That would be a different process to remove the tire from this one. I believe with this rim, you should be able to let the air out and remove the split ring on the outer edge. The tire and tube will slide off then. BE CERTAIN THAT WHEN YOU REFILL THE TIRE WITH AIR ON THIS TYPE OF WHEEL THAT YOU USE A "CAGE" OR SOMETHING TO KEEP THE SPLIT RING FROM FLYING OFF AND DECAPITATING YOURSELF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom M Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 keiser31,Thanks for the clarification. The more I looked at that photo that is what I thought. And also thanks for the safety tip. I don't have a cage but wondering if one could wrap a chain around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 keiser31,Thanks for the clarification. The more I looked at that photo that is what I thought. And also thanks for the safety tip. I don't have a cage but wondering if one could wrap a chain around it.You can use rope or chain as long as there is no gap large enough to let the split ring fly through it. I always tap all around the split ring as I fill with air so as to seat the ring securely. You might also make a "test inflation" where you leave the valve stem core out and inflate to seat the ring. Once the ring is seated properly, replace the core and fill with air. You may hear popping noises as the ring seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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