Hummer double beadlock questions.

Tacoma747

Tacoma747

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem
Well, I my centers finally showed up from USA 6x6, they sent me five since it took so long. Got the centers welded in, and the wheels are back from powdercoating, below is a picture.


My question is:

I cut down the magnesium beadlocks instead of spending $160 on PVC ones from USA6x6 or wherever. I bolted two tire/wheel assemblies together, one leaks a little, the other leaked all the air out in less than an hour (only 15psi though).

These things are VERY hard to tighten down, and I have heard the MAG. locks are too wide for thick beaded off-road tires. I should tighten them down until the two wheel halves touch all the way around correct? Is there ever any need to put something extra around the sealing area other than just the O-ring's that come on them, or should I just wet the o-ring in WD-40 so it will seal a little better?

Tips or tricks? I don't want to have to do this more than I have to...


2007_0414Image0013.jpg
 
I am in the process of welding the new centers in a set. This is the first set I have messed with, but from looking at the way the old tires were mounted I think the two halves should touch each other. If they don't, I don't think the o-ring will seal properly. I don't know that from experance, just my observation. The o-ring's in the wheels I have were covered in some nasty greese when I got them, so something like that is defanatly used to help them seal.

Luke
 
Try using dawn or similar dish washing soap on the o-ring. may also want to smear some on the bead. Yes, the two halves should bolt together tight.
 
its possibly you just need new o-rings, or possible the valve stem ? I ran my centers on evenly with an impact on a low setting, then checked em after.. (They should be hard to tighten, thats the crimp nut doing its job.)

That grease is just that :) They install the tires with 1 or 2 grease packets taped to the run flat, and when the tires goes down the packet pops and that help lube the tire on the runflat.

I had 2 that wern't holding air.. so i cleaned the o-rings up and hit the spot where the o-ring seals with some fine sandpaper, then used some water w/ little dish soap in it.. been sealing well enough. 1 or 2 of mine will leak down from 30 to 10 psi after 4-5 weeks...

If you really have probs. mine had these strips on both sides of the mag that 'could' be removed, maybe 1 or both ??
 
Mine are 12bolts, but the sealing should be similar.
I cleaned mine real good (sealing surfaces and o-rings) and then smeared an ample amount of grease on both (filled up the V, a film on the flat part, and a film on the o-ring). Torqued the bolts to spec, and all 5 are still at the same pressure as they were when I built em over a month ago.
 
Since I work with these all the time at work....,
We always use GAA (grease, automotive, artillery) on the o-rings before assembling the wheels. Any automotive grease should work. Put some in your hand, and run the oring through it, just enought that the whole thing is covered.

And yes the two halves should be touching. The newer 12 bolt rims are designed for a tire with a thicker sidewall/bead area. Compare your new tires to the old goodyears that came off. You might need to modify the runflat.

9 times out of 10, when these things don't hold pressure, it's the o-ring. A little lube goes along way!
 
I cut the rings with a saw-all. A wood with nails blade is all I had at 3:30 am so that is what we used. A fine tooth metal blade might work better. It took 2 or 3 hr and lots of beer. I also used caulk to seal the rings.
 
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