M35A3 bead lock suggestions

[Sgt Jiggins]

Hello All,

For those of us who are still struggling to find where Soldier B disappeared to...

I (along with couple buddies) was able to get a M35A3 tire mounted the other week. But man, it was no small effort to get that bead lock installed. Even with copious amounts of tire lube. Which leads me to ask: does any one have any practical experience/suggestions to share regarding how to get bead locks installed in the tires before mounting them on M35A3 wheels?

If that process were any easier, just 2 of us could easily roll through the rest of the tire/wheel mounting process.

Thanks,
SJ/JD

 

[MAdams]

These videos are a little boring but there are a couple good tips, like using a high lift jack and the ratchet strap to the roof trusses. This is for the 16.00's but the concept is the same for a 14.5

 

[cattlerepairman]

Just watching the video makes me mentally drive to a tire shop for this!

 

[sue]

Just watching the video makes me mentally drive to a tire shop for this!

Just watching the video makes me mentally drive to a tire shop for this!

 

[Sgt Jiggins]

Just watching the video makes me mentally drive to a tire shop for this!

Yea, right?! I don't normally consider myself all that stubborn, but perhaps I just need to step back from this one...

 

[sue]

We don’t understand,? We changed tires and with the wheels split we slid the tire down and the put the bead lock insert in, lubed up the o ring installed the other half of the rim and run the nuts down and done.

 

[sue]

We don’t understand,? We changed tires and with the wheels split we slid the tire down and the put the bead lock insert in, lubed up the o ring installed the other half of the rim and run the nuts down and done.

Sorry just remembered to say we used a small tiedown strap to squeeze the rubber bead lock down to install in the tire first.

 

[Sgt Jiggins]

Sorry just remembered to say we used a small tiedown strap to squeeze the rubber bead lock down to install in the tire first.

Going to be taking that approach with it this weekend.

Thanks to all for the helpful posts!

Cheers,
SJ/JD

 

[hgun]

Going to be taking that approach with it this weekend.

Thanks to all for the helpful posts!

Cheers,
SJ/JD

I just changed 14.5 to 395/85/20 used engine hoist to separate rims and put a chain around bead lock used hoist to remove then squeezed tie down and ratchet strapped it put it in tire spun lock around release strap positioned it in place and remounted wheel

 

[HDN]

Speaking of bead locks - what are people buying for bead locks? I'm going to go through each of my wheels and replace them as needed as I do the tires. I see that Eastern Surplus has them for about $50 each (not including shipping), but I'm not sure what other options are out there.

 

[glcaines]

Speaking of bead locks - what are people buying for bead locks? I'm going to go through each of my wheels and replace them as needed as I do the tires. I see that Eastern Surplus has them for about $50 each (not including shipping), but I'm not sure what other options are out there.

What is wrong with the original bead locks? The ones on my A3 are in perfect condition. Also I have a set of forks on the front of my John Deere tractor. When removing the tire from the wheel it is very easy to simply press the tire down with the forks. I adjust the forks so that they are barely touching the wheel and then press down. Works great.

 

[HDN]

What is wrong with the original bead locks? The ones on my A3 are in perfect condition. Also I have a set of forks on the front of my John Deere tractor. When removing the tire from the wheel it is very easy to simply press the tire down with the forks. I adjust the forks so that they are barely touching the wheel and then press down. Works great.

I'm not sure if there's anything wrong with them. I thought it would be a good idea to have a spare or two in case they got damaged during removal.

I've seen something similar done with an engine hoist, where the tire it put under the two front legs and the bead lock is chained to the hoist.

 

[glcaines]

I'm not sure if there's anything wrong with them. I thought it would be a good idea to have a spare or two in case they got damaged during removal.
I've seen something similar done with an engine hoist, where the tire it put under the two front legs and the bead lock is chained to the hoist.

Those bead locks are very tough. If you tried to damage them, you would have a difficult time.

 

[HDN]

Good to know! I've never removed bead locks before but got a little spooked when I saw this video:

Perhaps @Gunzy can speak more about what happened here

Maybe I'll hold off on buying bead locks. How much do they weigh? I know Eastern Surplus wanted $180 to ship two to my home...

 

[glcaines]

Good to know! I've never removed bead locks before but got a little spooked when I saw this video:

Perhaps @Gunzy can speak more about what happened here

Maybe I'll hold off on buying bead locks. How much do they weigh? I know Eastern Surplus wanted $180 to ship two to my home...

I'm guessing 35 - 40 lbs each. After watching that video I'm not surprised that you thought you needed new bead locks! Getting them out of your tires isn't that hard. Re-installing is simple if you have a ratchet strap to turn them into a figure 8 shape and simply place them in the tire.

 

[Gunzy]

Good to know! I've never removed bead locks before but got a little spooked when I saw this video:

Perhaps @Gunzy can speak more about what happened here

Maybe I'll hold off on buying bead locks. How much do they weigh? I know Eastern Surplus wanted $180 to ship two to my home...

That is not a bead lock I removed there. That is a runflat and isn't the same as a bead lock. Bead locks are just a rubber or rubber/metal piece that forces the tire bead against the rim and will not allow it to slide in under low air pressures. Weight of a bead lock can be from 5-10 lbs. The runflat being removed here is around 200lbs and is designed to prevent you running all the way down to the rim if the tire is flat and you still need to drive. Bead locks are only necessary if you plan on off roading with very low air pressures. In civilian life I don't see a need for runflat inserts.

 

[HDN]

That is not a bead lock I removed there. That is a runflat and isn't the same as a bead lock. Bead locks are just a rubber or rubber/metal piece that forces the tire bead against the rim and will not allow it to slide in under low air pressures. Weight of a bead lock can be from 5-10 lbs. The runflat being removed here is around 200lbs and is designed to prevent you running all the way down to the rim if the tire is flat and you still need to drive. Bead locks are only necessary if you plan on off roading with very low air pressures. In civilian life I don't see a need for runflat inserts.

Learned something new - bead locks are different from run flats That video is in my YouTube favorites list by the way

 

[tobyS]

Beadlocks that say they are 11 x20 are the right ones for the A3 11" wide wheel....they measure 10" wide.

I have quite a few new beadlocks for the A3 (not run-flats).

Combat 5 ton rims are 10" and the beadlock is 9" wide. They do not interchange

 

[Sgt Jiggins]

I'm guessing 35 - 40 lbs each. After watching that video I'm not surprised that you thought you needed new bead locks! Getting them out of your tires isn't that hard. Re-installing is simple if you have a ratchet strap to turn them into a figure 8 shape and simply place them in the tire.

This man beadlocks!

Until I figured that out, I was really struggling to mount up a pile of tires on M35A3 wheels.

On a somewhat related note, I really hope the 395/85R20s I just mounted up on M35A3 wheels are going to fit on the M105A2.

 

[HDN]

I have a little update to share with my project - I managed to pull the bead lock insert out of the old tire with a floor jack, chain, two 3.5 ft pry bars, and a 4x4 wood block. I probably didn't even need the floor jack, or could've substituted it with another pry bar. I'll make a video when I move on to the next tire.

Now I'll get to see how hard it's going to be to put the insert in the new tire!