Humvee beadlock rubber runflat replacement

[Ajax MD]

You cannot "break" the bead on these wheels with the run flat in place, the rim must be separated, tire machine is a definite no no

Ok, so the half of the wheel must be "pulled" off as people do when they use an engine hoist. Cheeze and rice.
How did military mechanics do it? I doubt the engine hoist method was approved procedure.

 

[Mogman]

I never have had a problem, it has been a while but IIRC I just set it on an upside down bucket so the weight was resting on the outer half and just pushed down.

 

[Ajax MD]

I never have had a problem, it has been a while but IIRC I just set it on an upside down bucket so the weight was resting on the outer half and just pushed down.

Mine is stuck good. Time to get creative.

 

[Coug]

The ones I had that were pretty stuck I used tire lube all around the rim, then got a cheap tire spoon from harbor freight and went around the rim, tapping it in with a hammer. That would let the tire lube (or just soapy water will work if you want) to get into that area. Basically acts like penetrating oil would on a bolt, but with non-petroleum lubricant. Just pry it off a little bit at a time until it finally lets go.

 

[Ajax MD]

Went a little overkill, but got the job done.

A friend showed up for a weekend visit driving a semi tractor. He left his tank trailer at the company lot. His semi has a cow catcher/push bar on the front. We strapped the tire to the cow catcher and then I hooked a tow strap to a couple of bolt holes on the half of the wheel and connected it to my 5-ton and gently pulled it off. I only used the 5-ton because it was already parked in front of his truck.

This is good because I can repeat the procedure with the vehicles that I have to fix a couple of other leaky tires that I have hanging around.

 

[gringeltaube]

Mine is stuck good. Time to get creative.

Tire beads should pop off with no effort at all, since these 16.5" wheels have straight 15deg shoulders with no safety hump.
The only way they could get stuck is if there was severe rust built up.

 

[Ajax MD]

Tire beads should pop off with no effort at all, since these 16.5" wheels have straight 15deg shoulders with no safety hump.
The only way they could get stuck is if there was severe rust built up.

It was definitely grungy. I've done one wheel so far and you're right, it came apart easily. This is my second wheel and I was surprised at how stuck it was. I have a 3rd wheel that I'm going to do. No idea what will happen.

 

[TOBASH]

I’ve seen some use 5 and 10 lb persuaders to strike the deflated sidewalls of our tires to free them up from the rims before pulling apart.

 

[mgFray]

I talked to a friend who worked in the maintenance facility for his unit. He said they would use the vehicle hoist, put the rubber part under the drive-on hoist and push down with it.. it would release the bead and pop the metal halves apart (most of the time). If that didn't work they used straps to hold the tire down and the hoist to pull up.. usually worked. (i.e. they got "creative" on disassembly)

 

[Ajax MD]

Cheeze and rice. Replaced the O-ring with no problem, followed the TM in properly torquing down the wheel half and it still leaks.
There is a rusty spot on the outer (top?) wheel half right where the O-ring rides and I knew it was a risk that it would no longer seal. I guess it's toast. I'm getting a ton of bubbles right where the alignment hole is.

I have another wheel that holds air but has a bald tire. I will disassemble and see if I can attain a good seal with the outer wheel half from the bald tire mounted to the inner wheel half with the good tire.

 

[Ajax MD]

Ok, got 'er did. That wheel had too many rusty spots.

I got the next wheel apart using every trick you guys gave me- lube, flipped over on a bucket, carefully working the perimeter until it popped free. It was rust-free and holding air but the tire was bald and checked. Now I have a tire with no checks, no slashes and no leaks. I have one more good wheel, runflat and tire to put together and I'll have a good spare.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[RPMRPM]

Ok, so the half of the wheel must be "pulled" off as people do when they use an engine hoist. Cheeze and rice.
How did military mechanics do it? I doubt the engine hoist method was approved procedure.

They’re really not hard to separate at all

It was definitely grungy. I've done one wheel so far and you're right, it came apart easily. This is my second wheel and I was surprised at how stuck it was. I have a 3rd wheel that I'm going to do. No idea what will happen.

that’s why when I get wheels in I have them acid stripped them recoated by a local company here get any rust buildup gone

 

[theairguy]

I removed all of mine, but I don't air down my tires. I run 55 psi

 

[TOBASH]

I removed all of mine, but I don't air down my tires. I run 55 psi

Aren’t MTR top pressure rated for 50? And on a sunny day that can go up another 6 PSI

 

[theairguy]

Aren’t MTR top pressure rated for 50? And on a sunny day that can go up another 6 PSI

It depends on the Load Range, Im pretty sure mine say max pressure 65 psi. but either way I don't run any type of bead lockers.