Ovalled wheel rim holes - how would you deal with them?

X344chap

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Central Scotland
What's the best way to deal with badly ovalled wheel nut holes in a tractor rear wheel rim?

I was thinking of welding the hole closed - then re drilling the wheel stud hole with a mag drill and broaching cutter - then putting the taper seat back in using a chamfer countersinking bit.

Getting everything lined up would be a challenge though - could maybe make a wooden pattern of the 8 stud holes then mark this onto the wheel rim?

Any suggestions gratefully received.
 

TheTallGuy

Member
Location
Cambridgeshire
I would be inclined to broach them out first then weld plugs in rather than drilling through the welds.

Maybe I've dreamed this but someone told me that welding a wheel voids your insurance? Maybe a difference between rim and centre though
Would depend on the insurance policy, but I can't recall ever seeing it in any of my own policies though.
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Had some issues on our telehandler. After doing some research it was decided to replace the wheel and the studs and it wasn't too expensive really. I appreciate the front wheel of a telehandler is certainly Something you don't want to be bodging compared to a rear tractor wheel unless it's a heavy road going machine.
 
I would be inclined to broach them out first then weld plugs in rather than drilling through the welds.


Would depend on the insurance policy, but I can't recall ever seeing it in any of my own policies though.
It was a former case IH fitter who told me but like you,never seen it written down
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
What's the best way to deal with badly ovalled wheel nut holes in a tractor rear wheel rim?

I was thinking of welding the hole closed - then re drilling the wheel stud hole with a mag drill and broaching cutter - then putting the taper seat back in using a chamfer countersinking bit.

Getting everything lined up would be a challenge though - could maybe make a wooden pattern of the 8 stud holes then mark this onto the wheel rim?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Surely you meant to post this in the existing bodge it thread?? 😂🙈

I wouldnt weld the holes.
New or second hand rim or centre.

Or if the studs are long enough make a single reinforcing plate up with new holes to weld over the rim/centre.
 

X344chap

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Central Scotland
What tractor?
New, ebay or breaker.
There are people who can cut out wheel centre and insert cnc cut replacement.

Reading other of op's posts it could be a Leyland 272 project.
It is indeed the 'running and driving' 272 synchro.
Its got 4 out of 8 wheel studs fitted on one side the rest are nuts and bolts and all with big washers pulled into the ovalled holes, dished under the pressure - to try and take out the slop. One wheel stud and nut is undamaged.

Its not going to be used on the road or pulling huge weights. About £800 for 2 new rims and centres if ones that fit could be found - which is 3/4 the cost of the tractor
 

Wisconsonian

Member
Trade
In that case, there's no need to drill anything out. Use the welder to build up the wallered out parts, grind them smooth and roughly to shape with a die grinder. Make sure the center hole is tight also. Take out the bolts that are loose, build up axial ridges on the part that should grab, then grind them sharp, enough to grab and hold the bolt from turning, but not enough to crack the hub.

Beware of tire pyrolisis if the rim gets warm. Best to remove the tire if welding near the rim. Welding in the center, keep the rim wet and cool at the least.
 

Flatlander

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lorette Manitoba
get a centre water jet cut to spec the cut the rim to match the size and weld it in. I’d only do it in an emergency rather buy the rim and make the first loss my last. If this unit goes down from rim failure 800 pounds is cheap. Someone hurt or killed fir the sake of some money isn’t the smartest idea.
 

Richard Smyth

Member
Arable Farmer
I’ve done a few wheel rims exactly as you described. Weld the hole send the mag drill through and re countersink. One wheel was on a sprayer and it has done 20,000 hectares since being fixed.

Luckily the hole wasn’t completely flogged and found still mag drill from back to front.
 

X344chap

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Central Scotland
Can't just figure out the wheel set up from the photo. Something very odd looking about that rim.What size are the tyres?
Well spotted - yes these are very odd rims with16.9 r30 tyres -standard fitment on the 272 should be 12-36. Its the other side to the photo that has the damaged rim. This side seems not too bad but not had the wheel off this side yet.

The rims have some remnants of white paint - but mostly rust.

Checking through the Leyland parts catalogue the only combination that could have 16.9 r30 tyres is an option for a 472 or 482 - but the 472 or 482 would have silver wheels and not white. I dont think these are Leyland rims but off what i dont know. Maybe when i'm wire brushing them i'll find a number stamped on them.

The tyres are shot - but the tractor doesn't look out of place with the wider tyres
 

Sharpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
It is indeed the 'running and driving' 272 synchro.
Its got 4 out of 8 wheel studs fitted on one side the rest are nuts and bolts and all with big washers pulled into the ovalled holes, dished under the pressure - to try and take out the slop. One wheel stud and nut is undamaged.

Its not going to be used on the road or pulling huge weights. About £800 for 2 new rims and centres if ones that fit could be found - which is 3/4 the cost of the tractor
Is the Leyland stud pattern and hole size not the same as Ford? Can't see 30 inch Ford wheels being that hard to find.
 

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