I made this new tool which makes expanding a split rim simple, fast, safe and accurate! I have tried all of the others and fought them. I hope the pics do it justice! I will try and post some better pics later.
Jeff
Very ingenious. Good job! Jim Patrick
Thats great! Seems like it is easier to use than the old one.
Kind regards
Michael
visit our website: www.ford-t.info
or use the Ford Canada spreader made by Kelsey
Here's one made of wood using two half moon shaped blocks with the same curvature of the ID of the rim with a jack in between. Jim Patrick
Tool box version.
Do any of those 'pull' to collapse the rim? Looks like they only 'push'.
I use what Jim shows to push the rim back in shape and a 3/8" thread turnbuckle with clevis ends to collapse it. Pretty simple.
Bill,
Can you post a pic of your turnbuckle arrangement- it sounds interesting.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim Patrick has the idea. The boards make spreading a rim so simple. Those three legged spreaders distort the rim and are a useless piece of junk of junk to me.
Carry the boards with you for chocks if needed.
When on the road, you most likely don't carry the three legged spreader. You do, I am sure, carry a jack... so with the boards you are ready to change a tire when a distance from home.
Hal, The problem is spreading the rim into place.
Even on removal of the rim, first you have to push the rim slightly apart to get one side on top of the other to start removal process. After that the rim walks off for me.
I've never done any 21's, but the 32 x 4-1/2's on the rear of my TT were kinda tough. I have one of the three armed rack and pinion type. I was glad it pulled as well as pushed.
Cheap turn buckle is the way to go, push and pull, light weight and wont ruin your rim. I have a couple or three of the rim spreaders hangin on the wall and that's where they will stay. KB
Keith, that's what I should have used on a new rim I fitted up, spreader was of no use as the rim was sprung out by a couple of inches, I stuffed around twitching wire to pull it in to get the tire on, know better for next time, a turn buckle it will be!
I have used the three legged type of rim jack on the back rims on my TT (32x4 1/2) several times. It works great. I have never had any problems with springing the rim. These rim jacks were made for a purpose, and they work very well. I don't see how they can distort a rim any easier than the homemade versions, unless the operator gets WAY too carried away. They can be found for just a few dollars if you look hard enough. I just bought one that just needs a bit of loosening up at an antique store for $7.00 two days ago, found a nearly N.O.S. one a few years ago for $25.00. JMHO. Dave
Eugene and keith, I wonder how many 21" split rims are ruined each year using the 3 legged original tool . . . by Model T guys that don't know how to use them. No written instructions exist nor does any word-of-mouth first-hand of-the-era advice exist so guys will simply attempt to close up the split rim just like they opened it. . . . and cause a badly sprung rim. I used to use the original tool and had excellent results until I don't have any late model Ts anymore with wood wheels.
Jeff, Nice work!
Here's an original rim spreader tool with instructions.
Jay,
Thanks for posting legible instructions for this wonderful tool! . . Finally ! . . This should be printed and framed in the workshop of everyone who has a T with 21" split rims. You've mightily helped the hobby
How do you read those instructions?
if you only got a red x for third pictures....right click on the little box with the 'X' and click 'show picture'
Jay,
Yes thanks...you'll help many a newbie (and a few oldies)when they try and use the 3-jaw type.
I have popped latches only to find the rim wants to pop into a slinky form...a sure sign to me that 'someone' just cranked the living daylights out of it one time in the past, and did what they had to in order to get the split line back together. They are then buggers to also get back together once sprung! The additional advice to the printed instructions is to only crank tight enough to reach the goal the instructions say for each step, crank more than you have to and you just may pay the price on reassembly.
Did the Universal rim tool come with the cars that had split rims? Was it part of the tool kit? PS I never had much luck using one of these 3 jawed monsters!