bedford mk tyre change

[Rob2497]

i am quite a competent engineer, but when i suggest i am changing my own tyres on military Bedford 3pc rims i get a massive inhalation of air as a response !

i have the new 12.00r20 tyres, surely if the gap in the locking ring is within limits during assembly, the outer ring is locked ? 

can i have some professional opinions please, maybe from someone who has actually done it themselves for the first time ?

i dont want to re-invent the trebuchet but i'm sure common sense and brute force would get the job done ? or should i put down my keyboard and phone the local hgv tyre fitters ?

many thanks in advance

[Baz48]

I have done large commercial tyres in the past at the roadside but suggest this is not for the fainthearted - if you havnt done this type of tyre before go to your local friendly commercial tyre fitting person and let them do-it (in a cage) for a small fee taking note of how its done  - then decide if it's something you really want to do as flying locking rings can seriously spoil your day for all time 

[ploughman]

1 hour ago, Baz48 said:

I have done large commercial tyres in the past at the roadside but suggest this is not for the fainthearted - if you havnt done this type of tyre before go to your local friendly commercial tyre fitting person and let them do-it (in a cage) for a small fee taking note of how its done  - then decide if it's something you really want to do as flying locking rings can seriously spoil your day for all time 

When we were asked to change a number of tyres on our MK's we always took them to the Base tyre bay on RAF Bruggen where there was a cage.

An added incentive was the couple of holes that had been caused by rings coming off and going through the roof.

Make sure you never stand in front of them when inflating always stand to the side.

[David Herbert]

I think that the safety aspect is possible to cover with the aid of common sense and good research. However changing large tires that don't want to come off the rim is unbelieveably hard work without specialist kit. They just suck the strength out of you. I suggest that you do the first one by hand and then take the rest to a commercial tire fitters while you recover.

Have fun,

David

[2691H]

I been part of a two man team and changed MJ and TM tyres in the field without any major problems. The wheel and tyre are placed under the side of the vehicle with the split rim facing up whilst the air is removed and replaced, so if the rim blows it will hit the under side of the load bed. Mike

[Rob2497]

guys, thank you for your input. i may try a spare first  but as you point out they have been on these rims many years and stamina may be the biggest hurdle !

 

thanks again !