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welding on wheels

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:28 pm
by John *.?-!.* cub owner

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:46 am
by Bigdog
Boy - that will make you think!!!

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:09 am
by Jeff Silvey
WOW Thanks for shearing. I watched some other video's as well. It make you think.

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:26 am
by Rudi
WHOA! :big what:

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:28 am
by Gary Dotson
Oh My, that is scary! Every mechanic I know has, at one time or another, heated a wheel to get it off the hub. I hope they all get to see this video! It sure increased my respect for tires!

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:34 am
by bob in CT
Wow. I hope everyone on the Forum sees this.

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:26 pm
by Jim Becker
I wonder if the people that use lighter fluid (or whatever) to explosively seat tire beads are coming near to this result when they try that stunt.

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:38 pm
by Song
Jim Becker wrote:I wonder if the people that use lighter fluid (or whatever) to explosively seat tire beads are coming near to this result when they try that stunt.


Ether in the tire then igniting to seal the bead. Seen that done for many years where I was raised. It's all logging in that area and that's a very popular trick when they have tires break the seal on the location. I saw it just the other night on Swamp Loggers and the guy popped one with ether. I don't think I would try it.

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:34 pm
by bob in CT
Probably not enough BTUs.

Clever idea. I can't imagine seating a bead in the swamp on a skidder with a portable air tank! They use a little bit of hydrogen to blow-mold plastic. Leaves no residue.

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:16 pm
by scotlem
Jim Becker wrote:I wonder if the people that use lighter fluid (or whatever) to explosively seat tire beads are coming near to this result when they try that stunt.

Good question, we routinely did this in the shop with ether for tuck tires with out incident for years until a few months ago when we finally got a bead blaster. I'm glad we never found out. Scot

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:56 pm
by Carm
Fantastic information!

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:29 pm
by Yogie
scotlem wrote:
Jim Becker wrote:I wonder if the people that use lighter fluid (or whatever) to explosively seat tire beads are coming near to this result when they try that stunt.

Good question, we routinely did this in the shop with ether for tuck tires with out incident for years until a few months ago when we finally got a bead blaster. I'm glad we never found out. Scot


We also used starting fluid the inflate tubeless truck tires for over 20 years before my brother built us a bead blaster.
I've been very lucky, in 30 odd years of working with tires I've blown 3 split rim truck tires apart. The older split in the center rims are the worst and were dangerous even when new. The last one I had come apart was this type and because you can't see the area that goes together I mounted it on the inside duel before airing it up. When it came apart it blew the 20 bottle jack all the way out from under the truck. :shock:

I'm so glad most everything truck tire wise has gone tubeless now, we still run into the split ones now and then...

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:43 pm
by scotlem
still do the split in the center and split ring type on comparatively smaller tires for fork trucks at 125 to 150 psi I use a clip on air chuck and remote air regulator and stand well out of range.

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:32 am
by johnny j
Thanks Big Dog ! I'm looking at welders now and that is a life saving warning. I have been neglecting the safety forum. Thanks "John" That was a eye opener. :) Johnny

Re: welding on wheels

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:18 pm
by bythepond88
I've used the ether trick a few times myself, and immediately thought of it when I saw the video. I sure won't anymore. I've never had a lug nut or bolt so stuck I was tempted to take a torch to it, so I'm glad I saw this before I was.

Do I understand correctly that the whole pyrolisis reaction started from that few seconds of welding, then the tire blew two and a half minutes later? Scary indeed.