Wheel Repair Info

only a few places I know of have the machines and they are expensive , but nice to have but the tire still has to be manhandled and thats where most of the injurys arise from , as for speed I know several of my tire shops I deal with can knock out a set of tires faster with the hammer and spoon method than a machine almost 2 to 1

as for change outs most are just that , complete unit exchange , tire and rims . its easier and more cost effective at both ends , one thing is employee training , car tires are one thing , but the explosive force of a truck tire has been known to take peoples head off there necks or cause serious or fatal injuries , if your not trained properly in it stay away or get factory training . 20 pounds in a car tire is nothing ,but the shear volume a truck tire has its deadly ..

as for repair most of the repair i have done is from tread punctures , and they ussually are plug patched , and are simple . it takes longer to dismount the tire than the repair , second is side wall failure or holes , no fixes just change out .

one thing you have to consider most truck tire repairs aren't done at a shop but on the roadside . as dragging a low tire with a load will often destroy the tire or will walk the tire of the rim and can get us a ticket .

as for wheel inspection , have to go to school for this ..

as for tools 1 inch impact ot a large breaker bar to remove the nuts , covers for aluminum wheels , scratch a drivers polished alcoa and you will hear about it . a 20 ton jack minimum and cribbing to set it up for the different grounds and axles like I said before if your not doing it don't consider it as the insurance will kill you ,the overhead will kill you ( on new or recapped tires) and inexperiance will kill you .. literally .

 

FMCSR (Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations)

393.205 Wheels

(a) Wheels and rims shall not be cracked or broken.


so i ask, how do you propose to repair a cracked wheel..??

you cannot weld them....if they are steel, as the welding will weaken the area.

if they are aluminum or cast, and they get "curbed" you cannot bend them back into shape, as they will crack as well. you cannot use heat to repair them either...

given the tonnage a big rig carries, its SAFER to replace the wheels with new ones. do you want the liabilities of lawsuits on your mind when something goes wrong, and it will too.....

now if you mean to ask, "flat tire repairs" then that equipment is expensive as well. plus you really need to know how to examine a tire to see if it is even reparable...

unless you are a mechanic, i suggest you stay away from this venture...the first lawsuit will see you poor and maybe in jail.

i think from what i was reading into this, he wants to repair damaged wheels/rims.....

not a good business venture, given the weights the trucks carry and the lawsuits for repairing broken wheels/rims....

 

I too believe the OP is thinking of wheels not tire repair. With that being said short of buffing out scratches I wouldn't want repaired wheels on my truck. I know car wheels can be repaired as I'm sure truck wheels can be too BUT NOT ON MY TRUCK.

 

I agree everyone i know would rather just buy a brand new wheel or good second hand wheel, then take the chance of using a wheel that was damaged and repaired, to high a risk to take . Could risk the drivers life, the publics life, risk being sued , insurance may not payout, wheel could explode / fall apart and cause major damage to the truck or/and trailer. um not for me either.