tool for 1911 cadillac wheel detachable rims

[tomwallace]

The restoration for my 1911 Cadillac Model 30 Touring is nearing completion. It has 34 x 4 tires on a wooden wheel with detachable rims. The tire is held on by an inner ring, outer ring, and a second outer locking ring.

Putting on and removing the tires are very difficult without scuffing the paint.

Is there any secrets to do it correctly or perhaps a special tool available??

much thanks, Tom Wallace, Dayton, OH

[Guest stude8]

Tom:

I would ask what painted area is that which is being scuffed? I believe the rim components when new were not painted but rather were Zinc plated which could tolerate tire replacement without being disfigured.

If you are speaking about the wood wheel fellow that is one of the heart breaking parts of doing a cosmetic restoration and then see it scratched before the car leaves the garage. You can try to level the chassis on a jack so the rim can be slid onto the wheel without trying to lift it or struggle to keep it aligned perfectly during attachment.

Be glad it is not a 1930 wire whel with snap rings to hold the tire on the rim, it is virtually impossible to expand a snap ring and get it into the rim groove without destroying the rim paint job. Stude8

[tomwallace]

I was speaking about the newly painted metal rim not the wooden fellow. The locking ring fits so tightly so when you place the ring, it scraps the edge of the metal rim.

I thought there may be a tool that spreads open and holds the locking ring so that it can be slipped easily over the edge of the metal rim without scraping.

I guess that is the best way I can explain it.

Thanks Tom Wallace, Dayton, OH

[Guest]

You are a decade before my experience with antique cars but I was wondering if the mating edges of the lock ring were merely cadmium plated. Perhaps the only paint was on the outside surface or perhaps they wern't painted at all originally. Pontiacs in the 20's and until they stopped using artillery wheels had cadmium plated rims. They were not painted but most of the restored ones you see are painted today. Just a thought because even the thickness of paint could affect how easy it would fit together.

[1913Moline]

Tom,

I struggled with the same thing. I used a strip cut off off the top of a 5 gallon plastic pail. I basically used the long strip as a shoe horn to guide the lock ring into the slot. You need one person pulling on the plastic as you go around and another person kneeling on the lock ring and holding up the loose end until you work your way all around.

It worked like a charm on wheels and lock rings that were clearcoated!!

Greg