Fun with Beadlocks, a photo essay...

[Cheese]

I tried doing this the other day, but the board was fussy. Now someone asked about OMF locks, so I am ready to try again.

When I went to 33's, I needed a 8" wheel and wanted to broaden my stance. So, I jumped on the stupid, heavy, hard to balance black steel Eaton bandwagon. After running those for a while and starting to wheel harder, I kept losing air. I refused to accept 12 PSI for this wheel and tire combo as being too low. After losing air all over, a couple beads and 3 flats, I went elsewhere.

I chose to drop the dime on OMF locked American Eagle knock-offs of the MT Classic II's. Called up Bones, asked for a local distributor, called them and they said they didn't sell them, called Bones again and got wheels straight from OMF.

The problem is, now I have to do all my tire work myself. Discount is great, but the questionable legality keeps them away. Oh well, it gives me a chance for things like this:

First, there is something missing.


And then get out the tools.




Don't forget safety shoes!


And the last bit of safety, Tough Country gloves, plus the fuel of summer!

[Cheese]

I begin with the rim and start 4 of the bolts on opposite corners. Then I fill in the rest. Back and forth, round and round. This is where the fuel comes in. I stop when all the bolts have been run down by hand.


Then I put on my rock domes. I really like these, have hammered on them pretty hard and am thankful that they keep both the bolt in the dome and the bare bolt next to it out of the rocks so you can put a wrench on them later.


Then run them all down, by hand, again. Round and round, back and forth, across and to the right, until they are all pretty snug. After that, I torque mine to 20 ft. lbs in the same round and round criss-cross pattern. Again, rely on the fuel. This is also the time to get the inflator ready as you can see.


Then get out your hose, or your hoes, depending on who does better work and fill it up.


I prefer using a 5 gallon pale to rest the rim on, gets the right height, etc. This was all just to put it together after I broke it down to have Discount pull out a screw.

Thanks for reading.

[AxleIke]

Your hose is limp and curled. Should get that checked out.

I need me some o those. Next year.

[Cebby]

Are those domes flat on the bottom? Wondering if I could run those on my Champions...

[Cheese]

Gotta curl it when you wrap around the waist. Not that excited for the project.

You can sort of see the dirt stains on the lock ring. They have a raised section that fits into the hole in the lock the bolt goes into.

Since these all end up about the same, I assume sharing is easy.

[reggie 00]

Your hose is limp and curled. Should get that checked out.

and a tad bit yellow.

not thinking they make a shot for that.


Otherwise thanks for the cool pictorial essay.

[calrockx]

putting on beadlocks is fun.

taking off every bolt so tediously, putting them back on so, ahh
i'll tell ya, it makes a great event for a date. one time i asked a girl out "hey, wanna beadlock some new tires with me?" yeah, what a night, we had a hoot. that's a true story i made up.

last time i was too lazy for the bucket method, so i had the tireshop (dis)mount the tires to the wheels, then i dealt with the bolts.

[AxleIke]

Can i ask a stupid question? Doesn't matter, i will anyway.

Why must they be done by hand? I figure there is a reason, i just wanted to know what it was.

Glad this came up, as i always assumed you could just blast them in with an impact, then finish up with a torque wrench.

[Cheese]

One day at the shop I got smart.

I needed to do 5 in 3 hours.

I cheated with a 3/8" impact dialed down so I could give it one more turn with the torque wrench and it was good.

I do them by hand when I don't have that gun. Even torque and not over torquing are important.

Sounds like a good date.

[AxleIke]

Good to know.

I agree, what is more romantic than wrenching on tires? Reminds me of that new song "dirty girl".