Another Simple twin beadlock idea

[coachgeo]

This thread started elsewhere. To keep confusion to a minimal I am moving it here.

How about bead locks made up of an inner ring split in half then bolted back together once the tire is on. Something like a skinny Hummer rim PVC bead lock ring. Think 1/2" flat iron in a circle. Using the verticle screw/bolt idea mentioned here at http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=340906 bolt the ring down in the same manner after the tire is installed. Could weld nut to the ring. This ring traps the bead between it and the rim. Do same for both inner and outer sides of the rim. Might only then need like 5 or six bolts with a solid ring. Maybe make it a ring of angle iron instead of flat iron?

Can you bend angle iron into a large cirlce?

NOTE: Lime Green= Angle Iron Ring


I have a "simple sounding" idea on how to locate the inner ring where you need it to bolt it on WITH TIRE INSTALLED.

[coachgeo]

Though this started on Pirate it was also discussed over at Benzeworld Unimog forum. Below is what went on there.

Dangerous Dan - 12/27/2005 5:16 PM

Is the angle bent into a ring so it goes all the way around? or seperate pieces?

My idea is to have it in a ring like you say BUT cut in half. This way you can get it into the tire. After it is in there then bolt the ring together. Welll.... that is one way. My thoughts on aligning it for starting the screws might elimate the need to bolt it back into a ring shape before inflating the tire.

How would you position and hold the angle to get the bolts started?

Well this is "sounding simple" idea I mentioned above.. maybe so simple it wont work? ok here goes, hope it makes since... you have the ring (or half ring) with six (three each half) bolt holes with welded on nuts. Once installed inside the tire you have a complete ring for both the inner and outter sides. Rim is drilled with matching bolt holes to the rings.

Install tire but before popping bead on, you put two matching ring halfs inside the tire. (here is where you I think you could either bolt them together into a complete ring or just keep them as halves) Put the other ring inside the same way. Make sure they are facing the correct direction. If you Jocky the tire around you should still be able to get your fingers in there at this point. Now run a fishing line or simular thru a rim hole.... thru its matching ring bolt hole, and then back thru another ring bolt hole (skiping one hole) and back out it's matching rim hole. This is like one sewing stich.. in oneside and out the other. Do this with all ring pieces. Now you have strings sticking out all over the place. Maybe color code them to not get mixed up? ok... now do what you have to do to ensure the ring pieces our INSIDE the tire (not between tire and bead). Pop the bead on next. Might have to use the ether technique.

ok now pull BOTH ENDS of one string. This will snug up the ring (or ring half) to where three of the holes align somewhat. The two with the string in it and the one between that you skipped the string over. Now use a aliment probe thru this hole you skipped. Do this to better align the hole. Pull out the probe and start the bolt in that hole. Maybe a bolt ground to a domed tip to help with alignment? Now pull one side of the string out. Again use alignement probe to assit in matching the holes to start the bolt the string got pulled out of. Now pull the string completely out to expose the next hole. Again use probe if needed. Continue on in this fashion with the other ring (or ring halfs) till all six bolts are installed. Do this on the opposit side now.

Bolts should have an Oring on them that will pinch between its own head and the rim's surface to give better air leak protection. A light thread lock should be used on each bolt's threads as well.

You could possibly have some bolts welded to the ring and use the string method thru holes that instead have nuts welded to them like above. You would use the string to wiggle around the ring (ring half?) till the bolts pop into their own holes. Use Acorn nuts on these. Pull out the string and put bolts INTO the holes where the strings were. Guess you would need 4 bolts per half ring to do this? Two would be bolts welded to the rings that stick out the holes in the rim once alinged, and alaternating between these would be the two holes with nuts welded on. These would be the ones you used the string gimick with. Put bolts in these.

What about something similar to what an atv rim has - a large lip that the bead has to go past ...

Actually tubless tire rims have this already or something simular. It is an old trick to build this up more as you suggest. My reading up on this long ago told me it has been tried but not had great success. If you raise a ring in there, getting the tire on is VERY hard. Getting the tire OFF is a major nightmare. You may have to detroy the tire to get it off. If you dont build the raised area too high you can get the tire on and off better butttt. then its not of any value in trying to keep the bead from popping off when running low tire pressure.

Now putting some raised area may be a bennefit to 404 era mog rims becaue they are not designed for tubless tires in the first place.

[coachgeo]

here is a real ugly drawing of 1/2 a ring, a rim, and the string used to pull the ring half into position to match holes for inserting bolts. Tire is not mounted in this drawing.

[Vortec_Cruiser]

If you ever get this to work, then post some pics.

[usmcdoc14]

i could probably cut from flat sheet, drill, weld, and install a complete set of beadlocks from scratch in the same amount of time it would take me to screw ONE of those in place

[crimsen]

it sounds like a good idea. but instead of angle iron, use some flat stock. alot easier to work with. as for getting the location, drill holes in rim, assemble as you would without an inner ring. then deflate tire, break the outter bead, insert ring one, use a spring loaded center punch or similar, mark holes, drill or tap, and then assemble first ring, repete with second ring, and then finish with the outter ring.

[coachgeo]

hahaha.... I never knew that making beadlocks was a Newbie thing. We must have the most knowledgable newbies on the planet. I could have swore I put this in the General 4x4 tech.

Roxywheel or Mo when you get the chance would you pop this thread over the general 4x4tech.

[coachgeo]

Originally Posted by crimsen

... as for getting the location, drill holes in rim, assemble as you would without an inner ring. then deflate tire, break the outter bead, insert ring one, use a spring loaded center punch or similar, mark holes, drill or tap, and then assemble first ring, repete with second ring, and then finish with the outter ring.

To a newbie that sounds like it would work. But.... to one little more experienced you would see that you can't assemble the rings INSIDE the rim while the tire's bead is broke. Not sure you would have room to assemble it with only one bead broke anyway. Not much room for fingers there. If you could put it togther as you suggest then you could not reseat that bead. The tires bead will not pop back into place with the ring in the way. This is because the tires bead edge can't pass over the ring. Even with a flat stock ring this would doubtfuly allow the bead to seat. If the bead could pass over the ring then this would mean the ring is worthless as a bead lock device anyway.