Rim Styles and replacement...

[TonyIN]

The rims on my '59 641 are getting to that point. It's had calcium in it since before I got it and the rims are getting rusty.

Came out to the shop yesterday evening and both tires going flat, puddles of liquid on the concrete. Jacked it up for now to minimize the loss.

The tires and tubes (tubes now no good...) are close to new - 12.4x28.

I'm planning to either repair or replace the rims. That decision alone is fully dependent on work and time available. The more I work, the more chance of new rims and less time to futz with the old ones.

Anyways, the old girl has one hat style rim center and one scalloped style. Any reason to switch out the hat style to a scallop? I've never changed the width/tire spacing, so that's not a factor at this point. Tractor still wears the $10 brush paint job from a previous owner, so not going to be a show stopper either. Both centers are in good shape.

If the work is kind and I go new or good used rims, any good sources?
I plan to refill with calcium - yes, aware of the issues, but like the weight and still have most of it to put back in. May search the archives for ways to coat the rims, etc.


This was not on my tractor maintenance list for the fall.

Thanks

Tony
 

[Royse]

I wish I had pictures of some of mine to post.
I pump the chloride out, clean the rims up good to get the rust off, weld a
patch over the old valve stem hole and drill a new valve stem hole 180 degrees
away (or where suitable) on the rim.
I then paint them with Rustoleum primer and paint, put them back together and pumped the chloride back in.
There's also a rubber rim band you can put in them between the rim and tube.
I've seen Old and some others say to use truck bed liner, I've just never tried it.
I don't notice any difference in the centers, but maybe someone will have a reason.
I had one last week that was too far gone to patch, I bought a 10x28 rim for $120 locally in central MI.
If that sounds like a good deal email me and I'll send you the guy's phone #.
Good luck!
 

[old]

BTDT and have fixed many rims that I was told I could not fix. Me when I fix a rim I then coat with a truck bed spray on bed liner and have found it hold up to most any thing you many have happen to a rim. If you want to go big $$ find a rhino truck bed liner place and have them coat the rim and you then have a life time warranty on the coating
 

[Jimmyjack]

Why waste time and money putting the salt back in? Throw it away and replace it with waste anti freeze.
 

[Royse]

[souNdguy]

if she's not a parade queen, patch her up and go.

if you can find good used rims.. go for it. check local sale and craigslist. I've found full sets of rims and rubber for N's and similar for a couple hundred before when someone parts a machine.. etc..
 

[TonyIN]

Another thought and some clarifications...

While I'm all for keeping and repairing the rims, work is keeping me busy at 60 to 80 hours/week, not including commuting time. If I land this next job, that should keep me rolling at that pace through Christmas. Meanwhile, fall is here, snow is coming - maybe?. At the rate I'm going, I'll probably be paying someone to mount/un-mount the tires and pump the calcium. If so, that will give me a short window to do the rim repairs.
If I go that route and get new/slightly used rims, I could save the old and repair them in my spare time then sell them (or keep them as I have a hard time getting rid of something I "might" need later).

As for the calcium... I'm going to price out what that is running on the pump out/refill, as I did hear of a set of axle weights not far from one of my jobs.

How do axle weights compare with loaded tires? I'm not familiar with them. Do they slide around on the axles? Fall off easy on hills/bumps?

Also, I like the idea of the truck bed liner on the rims - great idea. Will probably do that either way.

Thanks

Tony
 

[souNdguy]

axle weights are rare.. and bolt onto the trumpet.

wheel weights are more common.

both are spendy.

tire ballast is cheap cheap... in comparison
 

[Jim.UT]

To me, the only reason to swap centers is for appearance sake. Some prefer the scalloped centers with loop rims and hat centers with hat rims. If the "look" doesn't bother you, no need to change.

When I got to that point, I just paid Tucker Tire to send me new tires with new tubes mounted on new loop rims. They arrived a week later and the whole deal cost me $700, including shipping. THat was in about 2005 and the cost has probably gone up, but it was cheaper than I could find having a local shop do the work. I later filled them with RV antifreeze.
 

[awhtx]

Here are 2 sets of the axle weights. I will sell the blue set for $350. Located in Central Texas.

 

[TonyIN]

Thanks! Wish this had happened earlier... I was in Texas for work at the end of July. Would have been easy. Probably wouldn't make sense at this point, but the pics helped a lot to understand what they were.
Just curious, how much weight do they add and do they fit other '01 through early 4000 series axles?

Thanks

Tony
 

[awhtx]

They weigh about 350 lbs each and they will fit '55-'64 4 cylinder tractors. I'm guessing they will also fit N's and post '64 2000/3000's.
 

[Matt L]

I wouldnt do the truck bed liner thing. Im not really that impressed with it. Ive sprayed about 5000 trucks too.


Ive been painting my wheels lately in chassis saver. It sticks way better then the bedliner does.
 

[showcrop]