Split ring Widow Maker wheels we fix them part 1

The front tires on the 57 metro 17 inch wheels are flat. We have some that hold air already mounted on 6 lug wheels. We take them off and mount on the metro 5 lug rims. This will be a two part video.

[@flyhigh5056]

Finally, someone who knows the difference between split rings and split rims.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Thanks for the comment.

[@user-bb9yt2wz2z]

Us old farts did this so many times we can’t count them.

[@Hotrodford]

@@user-bb9yt2wz2z those split ring tires weigh more than the regular wheels.

[@Nicholashowell1998]

He talks in the same rhythm as my uncle. Makes it easy to listen.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Just how weuns are.

[@Nicholashowell1998]

I broke down 6 split rims that came off a dump truck. Sir you make it look it easy. That took me most of my day and I’m still sore. Much respect on your abilities, you’re are definitely a manly man!

[@heronimousbrapson863]

What amazes me is that anyone ever thought these type of tire rims were a good idea.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Me that was a real engineering failure.

[@Hotrodford]

I remember them old tires that said “gum dipped” on them

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes Gum Dipped. Dont rightly know what that meant? Thanks for Subscribing and Commenting,

[@hubiesgarage]

I thought they had those big locking rings inside that wedged the 2 pieces together. I have a pair of them on an old '57 GMC 1 ton Panel Fire Rescue Truck I restored for my fire dept. You are right those things are scary! I only found one company who would mount tires on it because the had a guy who had been around that knew them. I got two more rims that match but, found a company that will weld a new outer rim on the inner wheel and run a tubless radial truck tire. We'll see how those come out! Great video, I had never seen these done before! Thank you for posting!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We have dozens of the various types split rim wheels here. We have some of the three piece wheels . I will show a three piece wheel in part two.

[@hubiesgarage]

@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 Awesome! Looking forward to it!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Myself I wouldnt reccomed welding a wheel.

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

Nice job Randy! 🙂👍

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Im of the opinion in the near future anyone attempting to use the old trucks and run split rims will have to work on them. There will not be any tire shops left who will fix them

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 that's very true Randy!

[@phlashtheband4939]

Loved your video, Thanks!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We are having a lot of fun. Possibly embarrasing our children and relatives. Hope so anyhow.

[@robertgallagher7734]

Used to work for a city in south LA that had an older fleet- split rims, lock rings, center splits, etc.- maybe because it was in SoCal, where corrosion isn't a big problem, but if you kept them clean they would last. Had to respect the danger no matter what. Even had a set of ring locks on my '57 Studebaker P/U. No issues but really uderstand the danger. Clean, paint & grease as needed. Really hated "east coast" rims. Nobody wanted to spend the time to make them run true.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We always stood a soda bottle up next to the Daytons and spun the wheel to determine how true they where.

[@davidtettleton2732]

Thankyou! Demystified alot! I wondered about those old lock ring rims...ive got some

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Glad it helps. Be careful dont take any chances.

[@danieljohnson9700]

What a good video, i learned something today. Thank you!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Its not something just anyone can or should do. Two and three piece rims are dangerious . I personally know a guy who was inflating a Road Grader tire. And it came apart hit him in the head and he suffered permanet brain damage. Air pressure is a great force not to be treated lightly.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

That was a very informative tire changing video. I have both types of rims. I really enjoyed the way you did by hand and showed us your tool therefore split in the bead and how worn down it was. It must of mushroom 🍄 over the years and kept cutting it down. Honestly I wouldn't touch those rims. Some of them are a little bit dry rotted for what I use them for where they're cracked it don't matter. I drove clean out to around Wichita Kansas to pick up several of them. Of course I thought I was picking up a vehicle to but that deal fell through I'm pulling the money on my pocket and he's kind guy goes well wait a minute. Anyway so I got a lot more in those rims and tires and what I would have because I just want to take the vehicle and resell it. Pay for my expenses. Anyhow enjoy the video. Had to hold the phone up to my ear so I could hear some of it that's all right. Besides I am change one of them and very long time

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We have a tire hammer. However I prefer to use a hand spoon. Because with a hammer your beating and can bend or damage the rims. And a miss lick might connect with my shins.

[@ericamcmillion2676]

This guy never gets old! Love his stories.👍👍

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Thank you for watching & commenting.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

The Duluth Junction Workshop has a excellent video on the Kelsey Hays Widow maker rims.

[@jlowe_wpg3383]

Now this is a widow maker,, so many people try to say a split rim is a widowmaker,, not the case,, thank you

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes and my opinion that Kelsey Hays wheel should have never been made.

[@greglaroche1753]

I remember earning $1.60/hr too. Thanks Thanks for the video!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes however money bought more back then.

[@bobbieolsen7264]

Nice, I never came across one of those Firestone RH5’s before, I couldn’t figure out why the heck it broke in the center of the rim and what good did it do, kind of senseless to me, you still couldn’t get the tire off. So I went to looking, everyone’s calling any of these types, split rims, when they really have a split ring and nobody’s tearing one down. It’s nice to see it done by hand, I know what kind of tools I need and I won’t be messing with that widow maker either, I thought it was some kind of safety rim, “ha ha” that was made to improve the split ring, designed to NOT come apart!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We are glad that the video is helping others. Those two piece wheels have injured and killed folks.

[@primeredisbest]

I had a friend who would not even touch those rims! Lol. I had never seen that done before! Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing this with us! Tell Miss Debbie that we said Hey!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

I will not put the widomaker or non split rings back together. I think that they should be illegal to run on the public roads.

[@ronlloyd5898]

​@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 I have a question . I have a 1960 3/4 ton Chevy pickup truck . the original wheels are 17&1/2 the tires for those are too expensive but I want to keep the original look with the original hubcaps . I have an opportunity to buy 4 16" two-piece lock ring Wheels that my original hubcaps would fit on and a tire shop that will do them . My question is after those Wheels have been inflated are they safe or could they explode by themselves even if you weren't working on them . I've never had a truck with multi-piece rims

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

@@ronlloyd5898 The lock rings after they are mounted correctly and inflated are just as safe as a tubeless wheel in the same cond. Old wheels need to be inspected for rust bent places and damage. Now there is such a thing as metal Fatuge. Time and use can cause a wheel to crack apart.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

@ronlloyd5898 The lock rings after they are mounted correctly and inflated are just as safe as a tubeless wheel in the same cond. Old wheels need to be inspected for rust bent places and damage. Now there is such a thing as metal Fatuge. Time and use can cause a wheel to crack apart.

[@brianwilson7408]

Thank You so much! I have changed tires on the "split rim" lock ring design with no problems. However, tonight I encountered one that I haven't seen before with a solid ring. It's off a 36 GM. Any advice?

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

At least with the solid ring you can see if it assembled correctly. Still not much holding except for spring tension. kinda iffy on a 87 year old rim?

[@donshotrodgarage1717]

Wow them rims are scary! Not much holding them together other then the wedge of metal and tire pressure! I wonder how that rim got so rusty with a tire on it. The next video should be interesting! Have a good one Buddy 👍

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

The metro came from Indiana. Likely road salt has been in there . It was last licenced in 1966. Yes the rim really isnt much count. If it belonged to a customer I would refuse to put a tire on it. however I will put it together and instead of mounting on the front. I am going to remove one of the rear duals and put on the front. and install that wheel on the rear. that way the ring will be facing inward. Ya never know if I put it on the front with the split ring facing out? possibly one of my grandchildren would come by and beat on it with a hammer! when those Urchins find a hammer everything that they see is a nail!

[@richryan9530]

Love this.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Thanks for the comment.

[@gandl2123]

What are those??? And those bell bottoms. Priceless. :)

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

I wore bell bottoms back in the day easy to fit over the top of cowboy boots. Those are just some jeans Debbie found at a thrift store. They where too long and she cut them off. and they are split at the bottom.

[@akukorhonen5182]

Dress up your tire chisel back end. I know it's not hardened in a forge like the hammer, but it can still toss a fragment way in the muscle or face, when being impact hardened and hit a little crooked.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

It took 50 years to get it mushroomed out like that. We have a newer one in better shape. I have a metal splinter in my forearm. Went in there and healed over.Been there 60 years. It came off a chisel when I was changing teeth on a sickle bar Mower.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

I almost forgot. I shared this video link with the guy out there in California and he really enjoyed it I don't know if he left the comment or not. Also the 20-inch tires I might be interested in them if the rims are the right bolt pattern for my truck. You had a couple of other things I was interested in that we talked about. It's getting that time of year where all get-out and travel around now close to it

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes just get ahold of us you will be welcome to visit.

[@imchris5000]

its really not as bad as people make them out to be. its super simple to change the wheel in the field a real simple modification that would make them very safe would be to add bolts to keep the flanges locked

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Almost every injury from truck wheels could have been prevented if proper procedure was followed. Just My Opinion.

[@unitywindowdoor2260]

Speaking of.... anyone near Indiana have some 6 lug dually wheels for a 1966 f350 ? Or could ship one or two ? 16 inch. Interesting video. I learned a thing or two in this video.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We have a couple split ring 16 inch 6 lug wheels. I simply am not good at shipping. I bought them to use on the 65 one ton. However I bought a 74 one ton and intend to swap the 65 cab over on the newer chassis.

[@unitywindowdoor2260]

I understand. Maybe I could pay for a service to take care of the shipping so you don't have to. Also, do you ever find that on these rims , that you can't feel the slots to put your prying tools to separate the ring? Could there be any other indicators on the rim to help locate?

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

@@unitywindowdoor2260 there are two raised bumps on the rim at the slot location.

[@gandl2123]

You should know...I just bought 6 235/85/R16 tires for my 72 Dodge RV. Can I simply get tubes and put these tires with tubes in the split rims? Tks

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

You will need a liner. Other wise the tube will be in contact with the rim. A tire on a split rim doesnt have a bead lock like a tubeless wheel. And any movement of the bead would pinch the tube. Also a radial tire must have a radial tube and radial liner

[@justtim9767]

Salt of the earth folks.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Thanks for the kind comment

[@theq4602]

You dont fix em, you scrap em. Simple as.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes the Kesey Hays two piece rims. are inferior design. They never should have been made. They have blew apart on trucks when being driven. They deserve the Widow Maker Nickname.

[@theq4602]

@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 I do agree with you, much like my father told me that men should not fear any of their tools but treat them with respect.

[@greenhillgarage]

I have never had one of these wheels before, but would it be possible to weld the two pieces together? Not on a rusty one, but it seems like if it were welded into a one-piece rim, it could have a tire mounted like a modern rim. Great video!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes however it wouldnt have the safety beads like a modern tubeless rim has. And the heavy bias ply truck tires would be very difficult to pry on to the rim. And then how difficult would it be to get the two parts perfectly aligned?

[@greenhillgarage]

@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 That makes sense. Without any way to align the two pieces the rim would be horribly uneven. I didn't realize that those 2 piece rims didn't have a bead retention ring molded in. I learn something new about something old everytime you make a video! Thanks!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

@@greenhillgarage Actually we have a two piece rim that someone made into a tubeless wheel. We will also show it in the next video.

[@greenhillgarage]

@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 I'll be waiting!

[@user-bb9yt2wz2z]

If you weld split rims together they won’t expand then spring back to Iock in Tightly!

[@myfavoritecolorisrage]

My old man mentioned a local tire shop near where he grew up in the 40s. Said the owner had huge arms and all you'd hear was the ringing of a hammer on steel like an old blacksmith. But I never really appreciated why the rims had to be beaten into submission before replacing the tires. I wonder why they didn't make the rims bolt together instead of tension together?

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Actually there are rims that bolt together. Combat Wheels. The military used them. We have a WWII Bomb Trailer that was with Pattons 3 Army in Europe and it has those bolt together Combat Wheels.

[@notpoliticallycorrect1303]

At 23:09, that 4 stud rostyle rim on that pile is a long way from home.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

We have owned over a thousand vehicles. And Debbies Father owned a towing company and would accumulate a great deal of wrecks. When they crushed those after he died the left the wheels and tires, And we hauled them here. We actually sell quite a number of rim's.

[@notpoliticallycorrect1303]

@@thecollectoronthecorner7061 Cool,they were quite popular rims that were fitted on a lot of fords over here in the UK( and across Europe) in the 70's, generally the sportier Cortina models and Capris, some rootes group stuff had them too,BL and rover had similar type rims also, Triumph had a stainless cover designed to look similar too. It just struck me as odd, being on a pile of rims out in the wild west😁

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

@@notpoliticallycorrect1303 You never know what and where you can find off the wall items!

[@garyd4419]

We had an old 1949 delivery truck made into a camper that had these split rims on it and I'm here to tell you I hated to even walk by them. They had to be the most dangerous thing I ever seen.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Its amazing hat they ever made those widow maker rim's!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

yes folks have been harmed by wheels coming apart.

[@bensfixitpage341]

What on earth were wheel manufacturers thinking?

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Any more everything is manufactured to not last. Planned Obselense?

[@jeffcrox8191]

Worked on many of them hated working on them they are dangerous

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Not for everyone to mess with them. Lots of folks have been injured.

[@jeffcrox8191]

@thecollectoronthecorner7061 yes that is right

[@brianlurten3028]

I don't like that kind either. My least favorite. I fixed one once. Had to air with outside up on a lite portable cage. I went around hitting rim with hammer while slowly airing up. Got it done looked good so took cage apart. Stood tire up, inspected it... and slowly lowered tire back on cage and slowly put cage back together. Then let air out. Took steep back and took deep breath. When I inspected back side 1/3 of rim hadn't seated, I could see the liner ( not the tube ) could touched with screwdriver. Second try was alot better. I think it was a 19 or 20" that was early 90's. Truck was maybe 60's, maybe 65. I think that was Second time I did one of those & first by myself. My opinion those are the worst of the 4 or 5 different kinds I have done. God bless and stay safe

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

I simply scrap the Kelsey Hays rims. No point in risking a mishap.

[@Technotranceism]

The split ring is bad enough, the first one is a horrible design.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

I agree. those kelsey hays wheels have harmed far too many people.

[@JonRheaume2282]

That's not how they're done stop teaching it. Sure you can do it. But that's not how they're done. I know how to do it. I'm very good at it. But I won't teach it.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Well all I can say is im 71 years old. Have been fixing them for Decades. Im always willing to learn from others. Especially if in doing it incorrectly. I simply show how I fix them. It like lt isnt the only way. However you havent mentioned what I am doing wrong. Why not you make a video and show us how its done?

[@JonRheaume2282]

@ The Collector on the Corner I'm 62. They are too dangerous. I don't want to teach it. If I show somebody but I'm not there to help them or show them different dangers in what I see... and I do have to see it myself. Then that is the reason why I won't show a video on how to do them. Someone may have pounded in more than one bar. And ruin them from ever mounting correctly. The locking edge may be worn too far. They may be dented in a critical area. And so on. I do in fact have video of modern tires if you would like to see it. Look up truck tire dismount in mount or 19.5 dismount and mount Jon Rheaume.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

@@JonRheaume2282 Yes I agree if they arent in good condition they should become scrap. I will not reassemble the Kelsey Hays 2 piece wheels no matter how good of condition they are.

[@gerlandkent6377]

I, HAVE THESE TYPE RIMS ON MY 73, FORD F700. DUMP TRK. I, PAY THE TIRE SHOP TO WORK ON THEM. THANK, YOU FOR YOURE VIDEO. [GRACELAND FARM. INC. LLC. EST. [1900s] EAST COAST VA.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

For most folks paying a tire shop is probably the best option. However in many places the tire shops will no longer work on them.