DETACHABLE RIMS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 27

DETACHABLE RIMS

METHODS OF HANDLING

USE OF THE LRVEK

The detaehablo split rim 5s used on probably more than half llio cars in use at the present time, mainly bocause of its cheapness, and not because of any superiority which it possesses over other forms of wheel equipment. Much trouble can it bring to its owner if ho attempts to take a tire off in. an improper way, but actually it ia not nearly so troublesome a fitting as many people would have one believe; In removing a ,tire the first thing to do is to break the joint, and, although one may eventually achieve this by prying about with a stout screwdriver, the best method to follow is to place a block of wood on the floor and drop the deflated tire and rim on to it vertically, with some force just to one sicle of the break, and on that portion of tho rim which is designed to fold in over the other. It is then quite a simple matter to contract the rim with one of the many excellent tools on tho market, but it is worth pointing out here that a tire can be removed quite easily from such a rim, using only a tire lever. The lever should be worked between the tire and rim just at the point where one end of tho rim has been folded in over the other, and working round its contracted portion the whole of one side of the tiro can bo lifted over the head of the rim. Then the. other side can be worked over in the same way. In replacing the tire without a rim contractor tho tire and tube are fitted into, the rim first on the end which is outside, and then tho tiro and tube worked over with the lever until the whole is in position. The break may be joined by levering the two ends back into their catches with the tire lever or a stout screwdriver.

By the way, an important part of tho assembly when split detachable rims are used—or any straiglit-sidea rim, for the matter of that—is the *„?'. a len&th of canvas which is fitted just inside the tire after the tube has been replaced. This shoula never be omitted under any circumstances, for it keeps the tube away from tho steel of the rim. When the now popular well-base rim is used the tube should be deflated fully, and the walls of the tire pressed together near the valve and pushed right into the well of the rim. This will allow the tire on the opposite side to come away from the rim, and it can bo levered over the edge, sometimes with the lingers alone, and invariably with a lever no bigger than a toothbrush if the job is done properly. A tube that is cut badly should always be vulcanised; preferably by an expert in such matters; but small cuts and pinholes can be repaired successfully with the ordinary tire repair outfit or with a small portable vulcanising set. Clean the rubber surrounding the puncture thoroughly with both a scraper and petrol and then apply the solution, which should bo allowed to become "tacky" before the patch is put on. Then the patch should have a weight placed upon it while it is allowed to set.