Quote:
Originally Posted by George McKenzie
.....How did the army do it in the battle fields ? Those run flat tires are a night mare . I'll be making one of your tools ,thanks . ....
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Hi George
Actually the CMP rims are easy to change with only hand tools, if and it is a big if, the rims need to be smooth and clean NO rust.
If the rims are clean and well painted as they would be on a new truck or one under 5 years old then it is relatively easy for one man to break them down change a tube and remount them. There are tricks to making this process easy using just the two tire irons from the tool kit. I like Number 27 as it has more leverage than Number 49. (see tool sheet and list below)
What works for me best is take the two of the #27 irons and insert the tip between rim and tire and pry down on the end just leaning on the bar end, then insert the other tool in right next to it and pry down. I keep doing this until have worked my way around the rim twice. As you work around the rim the tip of the spoon on the iron will work in a little deeper. As I'm doing this it is not an effort to push down as hard as I can just leaning on the end of the bar.
Generally after the 2nd time around the rim starts to really slide up out of the tire. Then use the #49 bar to finish the process sliding the hooked end in and instead of prying down on the end of the bar instead pry sideways.
As I have gotten older and back weaker I've found that having the wheel assembly laying flat about two feet off the ground makes it easier to just lean on the bar end. Once one side of the rim has been pried out this way flip the wheel over and repeat on the other half of the rim.
It seems to be more about pushing or prying a little way all the way around rather than prying hard on one spot.
Had to pop one of the 11:00x20 of the C60L (off this summer) when I picked up a nail but didn't go flat. Wanted to be sure it had not penetrated all the way. Took me about an hour to remove wheel break it down check the tube reassemble, re-inflate, and remount the tire on the truck. Of course I had shop air for the impact wrench and to inflate the tire. Can you imagine using the foot pump in the tool kit.
The ease of doing this of course is all aided by the fact that the rims on my trucks have all been cleaned and painted so I'm not fighting rust or the ruff surface inter face of rusted rim and tire.
I've changed the rubber bead spacer run flats with out differently once the rims have been well cleaned and painted. Never have encountered one of the steel bead spacers.
Next time I have to break a tire down I'll make a video.
Would add safety caution on tire inflation. Use a lock on inflater and a pressure regulator set to the desired pressure (double check the pressure setting) then walk away from the tire while it is inflating. I like being on the other side of the truck or out side the shop. Once had a car tire sidewall fail while reinflating heck of a noise.
I've noticed that once a tire has been mounted on a rim it generally will seat the next time without a lot of effort.
Cheers Phil
