Cutting a wheel rim centre

[jack_c]

Have a guy has asked me to cut about 15mm out of the centre of his wheel rims to allow a different hub through.

I've heard the dangers of welding on a rim. What about plasma cutting?

I would do it in small amounts and cool after each time or is it a complete no no?

Not sure if the welding is dangerous as the heat is actually running directly into the air filled tyre?

Might be answering my own question here though.

Tia

 

[Will 1594]

Knock the tyre off and crack on , are you welding another middle in ,
local wheel boys would cut that out and reweld a new disc in , no bother

 

[jack_c]

Knock the tyre off and crack on , are you welding another middle in ,
local wheel boys would cut that out and reweld a new disc in , no bother

Problem is he doesn't have the tyres off. I'd have no issue with the tyres off.
He only needs it marginally bigger so thinking the heat input into the tyre would be limited with it being in the centre of the centre rather than near the rim itself.

 

[herman]

If you let the tyre down, take the valve out and break the bead assuming its tubeless it shouldn't be a problem.
Otherwise its a very dangerous thing to do. If it is has a tube take it out, so long as the tyre bead isn't in contact or very near to the extreme heat it should be fine.

 

[startinghandle]

I remember seeing a new tyre in a dealer's yard which had burst , I asked how it happened the answer was welding twin wheel lugs while tyre still inflated

 

[jack_c]

I remember seeing a new tyre in a dealer's yard which had burst , I asked how it happened the answer was welding twin wheel lugs while tyre still inflated

Yeah I can understand that scenario as the heat is directly into the rim which in turn heats the air in the tyre.

 

[jack_c]

If you let the tyre down, take the valve out and break the bead assuming its tubeless it shouldn't be a problem.
Otherwise its a very dangerous thing to do. If it is has a tube take it out, so long as the tyre bead isn't in contact or very near to the extreme heat it should be fine.

Will try break the bead and put something in so the tyre can't reseat hence leaving it open

 

[Rust]

Seem to remember footsfitter on the old BFF bringing this to everyone's attention.

I'm sure a broken bead was not considered safe.

 

[jack_c]

Seem to remember footsfitter on the old BFF bringing this to everyone's attention.

I'm sure a broken bead was not considered safe.

Is it not that it isn't safe as the tyre could reseat and hence rapidly increase in pressure? If something put in so it can't reseat? Only thinking out loud.

 

[Wombat]

6:40

 

[s~~t shoveller]

Weve done a few just by pushing bead off and leaving unsealed.always been ok.so far.

 

[KennyO]

F..k me I have heated nuts to get them off old lorry conversion trailers in the past. We also have rims lying here that someone (my bro I think) gased the centres out of to make spacers for converting double wheels to super singles on old trailers.

Edited to add that I never realised it was as dangerous. That video was well worth watching.

 

[e5c0rt.mk1]

I have seen tyres explode, and heard of them exploding after welding on the rim.

However about 3 months ago i cut the centres out of tractor rear wheels, with a plasma cutter and welded different centres with the tyres still on and inflated and i never had any problems. The outer rim didnt even heat up.

Personally on them, i'd probably knock them off the bead as they are only a small rim so the heat will be kept in more.

 

[fiatf130]

I'd have thought the point of cutting is far enough away from the actual tyre that there would be bugger all heat input into the tyre.
However just to be safe deflate and break the bead and insert something to stop reseating and crack on.

 

[Deutzdx3]

Let the tyre down and break the bead. It’ll be fine then. Plasma cut it out and weld in the new bit. Leave it to cool completely before putting the tyre back on. Have done a few on fordson major rims for a neighbour with no bother.

 

[Lazy Sod]

In my inexperienced, and stupid youth, I have welded dual wheel cleats onto rear tractor tyres. I can't remember if I let the air out or not, I certainly didn't break the beads as that would have required the wheels to be off and flat on the ground. My method of bead breaking was to drive another tractor up a plank onto the bead. What I did do however was to have somebody constantly running a cold water water hose around the area. I would stop welding frequently so that the welds were cooled.

Would I do the same thing again today? Not bloody likely!

 

[Netherfield]

To be honest I think taking 15mm out is going to weaken the wheel, you're getting close the stud holes.

 

[Lincsman]

To be honest I think taking 15mm out is going to weaken the wheel, you're getting close the stud holes.

What about the wheel that is normally fitted to this hub?

 

[Universe]

For my non-road going tractor, released pressure, placed wet rags around rim, plasma cut away. Once finished then force cooled some more. No issues years later.
No that I endorse such...

 

[jack_c]

Just to update this,

Thank you for all the help and suggestions.

The guy landed out with his wheels and then realised what he had bought was too big for the tractor to match the rear.

Thankfully worked it out before any cutting was done.