Could I use loose rim lugs instead of fixed lugs on the same felloe?

[BernhardBK]

Hi,
I have a question regarding lugs.
A demountable rim with fixed lugs had been on my car; but the tube was leaking and I wanted to use my spare rim/tire.
This spare tire is installed on a demountable rim without fixed lugs, so it has loose lugs to install them to the felloe (I think they are called Kelsey lugs).
I tried to install them but I am not quite sure, if this installation is correct and secure as there is a gap.
What do you think/ recommend?
Greetings from Germany
Bernd

[speedytinc]

No.
The loose lug fellows have a raised tab.
The lug sits on that raised tab as it contacts the rim with the other end of the loose lug.

[Allan]

It's not just the raised tab needed. There is a difference in the actual felloes and the way the rims mount on them.

Loose lug wheels are wedged onto the rolled -in land on the outer edge of the felloe. The job of the loose lug and rim bolt is to maintain the wedging effect so the rim cannot move on the felloe. With a good rim and no wear due to looseness on the felloe, a credit card can be inserted between the inside of the rim and the rolled out inside edge of the felloe

Fixed lug rims work differently. The felloe which takes the lugged rim has a wider rolled out edge on the inside. A lugged rim wedges on this wider, inner edge of felloe. With a good rim and felloe combination, the lugs will stand off the outside face of the felloe, and a credit card can be inserted between the rim and the outer land on the felloe.

Some believe that the rim makes contact on both edges of the felloe. On worn assemblies this can happen, but it should not. For instance, those felloes with the straight-up edge on the outside are not made to make this contact.

Lugged rims can be mounted to loose lug felloes, but they do not wedge on those felloes. The rim bolts then have to take all the drive, not an ideal situation.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under

[BernhardBK]

Thanks a lot for your response, Allan and John.
So I will not mix up the two systems and need to repair/replace the tubes in the original rims.
Problem is, that my rear left tire has an issue with the brass valve stem, the spare tire is flat, too and I do not have spare tubes with brass stem valves at home.
I think I will order two brass stems (ST3-3/8) from Langs and try to replace the brass valve stem (issue with the thread in it) and furthermore I will replace one rubber stem from a spare tube, so that I'll have one spare tube with brass stem.
Langs writes that the stems (ST3-3/8) needs to be hot vulcanized. What does that mean. Is there a YouTube video available to explain that....
Thanks
Bernd

[Allan]

Bernhard, hot vulcanising is like welding. It was used with a heat patch to fuse together rubber patches to rubber tubes. It is no longer widely used, due to the synthetic materials used in tubes today. Modern tubes use a stick-on valve stem. About the only place I could find them is at a tractor/machinery business. With almost everything using tubeless tyres these days, vulcanising is a thing of the past. Even gaiters in damaged tyres are now stick-ons.

Allan from down under.

[Allan]

Bernhard, the best solution for you, seeing you are in Europe, may be to purchase new Michelin tubes. They are of excellent quality. Their metal valve stems thread onto the tube. They will take all the standard Schraeder dust covers, rim nut etc. A good second choice may be Blockley tubes from England. Either will save messing around trying to get stuff to match and be of compatible materials.

Allan from down under.

[BernhardBK]

HI Allan,
Thanks again. I will order a new tube with brass valve stem.
Regards
Bernd