split rim wheels

I have a 1938 silver king tractor that needs rear tires. The problem is it has a metal ring on the rim. Is this a split rim? If so does anybody work on them?

It's a multi-piece rim for sure. Most places won't touch them now a days. Call around and see if you can find someone who will.

If you decide to do it yourself post back for a lot of tips and horror stories.

Been working on them for decades and still do one now and then. Any good truck tire type place should be able to help you. There are many ways for the common man to be able to repair them and be safe doing so and all the need it the know how to do so. I have had a few rings fly off over the years but I still have ALL may body parts and none have even been hurt by a slit rim

I did mine myself, no problem.Those old rims are really narrow.

i got them on my old dump truck and i fix them once in a while but i havent in yrs.

I think they are now illegal.. and most tire places wont touch them. I have to get rid of the split rims in the trailers.

Don't know what type of split rim you have. But on the 57 ford one ton I have the ring you remove to get the tire off is not split itself. Once you break the tire down the ring is turned so a couple of concave areas line up, then the ring can be removed. on re-assembly I would make sure the ring seating area is real clean, free of all rust and dirt.
Good luck, JOB

In New York, OSHA does not allow any shops to work on them unless they have a safety cage. When I drove a big truck we fixed our own. Usually wrapped a chain around an assembled split-rim while we inflated until the ring was locked for sure. Many still do it that way.

Nothing illegal to own split rims anywhere that I know of. Just not legal to put them new equipment.

My 69 Dodge Power Wagon pickup truck with 16" wheels still has them. So do the 20" wheels on my manure spreader.

JOB ,

The rim you describe is not a split rim,
it is called a semi drop center rim and I have
a grove dump cart with them ( 6.50 x 16 ) duals.
The cart was made by the same co that made the
grove cranes as they made a lot of farm machinery
before they built cranes.

I have changed 2 pc rim (solid rim /split ring)
3 pc ( solid rim / solid rim,solid ring ,split
lock ring ) & 2 pc ( solid ring /colapsible
rim ) , but have not had the pleasure to do
a split rim.

george

J de. I have 4 laying down at the bottom of the drive wit good inflated tires/w tubes. I use to chain the rims also.Kind of a funny(if one thinks so)story that happened years ago. On the way to Rice lake, we had a flat on the right front of our 1975 1 ton. No Spare.Daughter came by and she had to go back to the shop for a jack, some 12 miles back trackimg. Took off a right rear tire and bolted it to the right front. continued on to the outskirts of Rice Lake ,passing CENEX that had banners and signs claiming huge tire sale, reasonable. Stopped in and the wise azz salesman said"I noticed you limping in like a 3 legged dog. We don't mount tires on Split rims." I said O.K but how much is a new tire,we will put it on ourselves.He quoted us a ridiculous price, and as usual I told him in a loud voice, "I Don't want the deed and abstract to the store, just a tire thats priced reasonable. as you advertised."I told him I could go to Farm & Fleet and buy 2 tires for the price he quoted me for his store's tire. His reply was' They won't last as long as our tire" Told him I would only drive the truck 1/2 as much. Customers were laughing and the sales man ducked his head as we went out the door to Farm & Fleet. Did buy 2 new ones there.Now we bought solid rims from a Dodge 1 ton with all new General tires. Thats the reason the split rims with good tires are down at the bottom of the drive. Cenex can keep their tires and snooty attitude . pays to shop around. LOU.

Need a picture to determine if is a split rim. Center ring should be spring steel if it is. Those are not a rim that just anyone should service.