Weld on beadlocks....

[Stang5lgt]

Helped a friend (Dylan) with his weld on kit. Started with some 15x10 soft 8s. Dylan ordered some custom rings from the same guy I got the Merc rings from. Pics below.

Set up a table to make it easier to work. I welded the valve stem hole closed and drilled a new one deeper into the rim make it easier to get to through the outer ring. Took the tires to Discount to dismount. Then back to them to have inner bead mounted they did it for free.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0390.jpg
Weighed out 8oz. of airsoft BBs.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0391.jpg
One done.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0392.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0394.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0396.jpg

Dylan said the tires feel balanced better then they did before the airsofts. So when I get new tires for the Merc I am going to do the the same. I had the Merc wheels static balanced and it is ok but sucks sometimes on the highway when I hit grooves.

[Stang5lgt]

Should be doing these on the wifes TJ in the next couple weeks.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0327.jpg

[Popsgarage]

Where'd you get the rings.

[Stang5lgt]

http://www.jdpfab.com/fabrication/

[Popsgarage]

They help balance the bigger tire/wheel combos'.

[Beefy]

Excellent balancing method and common for motorcycles. I use dynabeads in my motorcycle and they work great and you get rid of the ugly wheel weights.

[Popsgarage]

Josh, what're they charging you a set.

[Stang5lgt]

stupid question coming...why 8 oz of BB's?

Here is a chart. I went on the high side since the rings are heavy.

http://www.imiproducts.com/lib/pdf/equal-quantity-chart.pdf

[Stang5lgt]

Josh, what're they charging you a set.

It is around $250 shipped. The grenade ones on the Merc were a design he had already. I asked about the cherry bombs and he did those for me. I have had them for awhile just been busy at the shop so have not made time. Dylan had been begging me for awhile and he bought me a ticket to Lions vs Broncos game so I figured I better get them done. He will make custom ones you just have to ask.

[Stang5lgt]

We ended up only using one container with few left over. So it only cost 15 bucks to balance.

[Robert B]

i have a Question......to weld on is it just line it up make super sure it is centered and just start welding or what ?? cause i cant see spending the great amounts of money for pre made bead locks .....so this is cool

[Stang5lgt]

i have a Question......to weld on is it just line it up make super sure it is centered and just start welding or what ?? cause i cant see spenging the great ammounts of money for pre made bead locks .....so this is cool

If you look at a steelie the outer lip turns out all the way around. The inner ring actually sits down inside the lip and then you just weld to the lip. It is super easy. Testing for leaks is the hard part.

[Stang5lgt]

Here is a pic of when I did the Merc rings.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/CIMG0544-1.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/CIMG0550-1.jpg

[Robert B]

Testing for leaks is the hard part.
yaaaa... well i need to get some 16 inch rims and i wont be useing my aluminum 15 inch rims :)

[Mporter]

Those are really sick. I especially like the transformer ones.

[Brody]

Those look nice!

[glacierpaul]

Those are sweet! The red Autobot one's look killer on that Cherokee for sure!

[Cr33p3r]

Turned out looking good!

[jesse05lj]

Looks freaking amazing! how much did that run $$$?

[Stang5lgt]

Looks freaking amazing! how much did that run $$$?
The kit run just over $250 for 4 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Diy-Beadlock-Kit-Weld-On-15-wheel-CNC-Plasma-Cut-/170706892854?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item27beec7836

[jesse05lj]

wow that is a good deal. you can use any steel wheel?

[Stang5lgt]

wow that is a good deal. you can use any steel wheel?

Pretty much, D windows, Wagon wheels, Soft 8s, and 5 star or any other style that does not have simulated beadlocks. The fake beadlock wheels block weld on set up.

[Popsgarage]

The inner ring actually sits down inside the lip and then you just weld to the lip. It is super easy. Testing for leaks is the hard part.

Best welding technique I've ever seen for this type of beadlock was a rose bud torch set up in front of a mig stinger run with a little electric motor. Torch heated the wheel and inner ring so the welder could be set to a lower power setting and it warped a lot less. I wish I'd written down all the info he gave me that day. He said he had maybe one out of one hundred leak.

[Stang5lgt]

Well the paint melting and fumes getting into the weld is the main problem. After I run a bead around I go back with soapy water and put air noozle inside the rim I can see the holes plan as day. Then I mark them weld the holes test again repeat if needed.

[jesse05lj]

and are they street legal? if so i may ask you in the near future to help me do this to mine

[Stang5lgt]

Are they DOT approved no. They are perfectly safe I driver 85 mph done the freeway with mine no problem already have 6k miles on mine . You won't get pulled over for having them cause most people don't even know what they are. I have a cop that wants me to help him do some on his XJ. And yeah I can help you do some if you want to do it. It is a lot of work but worth it.

[jesse05lj]

cool would you charge labor for the welding?

[Stang5lgt]

cool would you charge labor for the welding?

Depends on how much help you want. And how much you are willing to help.

[jesse05lj]

I'll do everything but the welding. I can't weld

[Hypoid]

Well the paint melting and fumes getting into the weld is the main problem. After I run a bead around I go back with soapy water and put air noozle inside the rim I can see the holes plan as day. Then I mark them weld the holes test again repeat if needed.
Trash in=Trash out

The production manager at my shop has made it plain: If he catches anyone striking an arc without the required cleanup and prep, he's pulling that person's welding certifications. Our shop's reputation is worth much more than the few minutes spent on prep. Myself, I'd grind off a poor weld before anyone could see it.

[jesse05lj]

welding takes lot and lots of practice! i installed everyting on my jeep lift kit and engine mods and such, excpt i did not do the welding required on my long arm kit i had a buddy do that. the last time i did any welding or tried to was in high school and that seems so dam long ago

[Stang5lgt]

I don't weld to the paint. LMAO! It is the paint that melts about 3/4" down the rim and fumes rise up. I would rather leave the heavy duty factory paint in place as much as possible. Keep the wheel from rusting as much as possible. It only results in few bubbles. If my Miller welder didn't burn so hot probably wouldn't be issue at all, but if it didn't burn so hot the weld wouldn't be as strong.

[Hypoid]

I don't weld to the paint. LMAO! It is the paint that melts about 3/4" down the rim and fumes rise up. I would rather leave the heavy duty factory paint in place as much as possible. Keep the wheel from rusting as much as possible. It only results in few bubbles. If my Miller welder didn't burn so hot probably wouldn't be issue at all, but if it didn't burn so hot the weld wouldn't be as strong.
So, what you are saying, is that you allow a condition that you believe contaminates the weld, and have little to no control over the process.

My day job beckons. I'd ask some of the older guys about this, but, they'd beat me up, take my lunch money, ask me what I effed up this time, and laugh about it over lunch.

[Stang5lgt]

Uhhh no lol. I noticed when I was done. When I did the Merc wheels it didn't happen. The Merc wheels are about probably 10 years old. Dylan's wheels are brand new. Also Dylan prepped his wheels I prepped the Merc wheels. Merc wheels already have close 7k miles on them since the weld ons no leaks. ;) I guess you had to be there to really know. Since you were not then you don't know. :D

[Hypoid]

Uhhh no lol. I noticed when I was done...
Also Dylan prepped his wheels...
I guess you had to be there to really know. Since you were not then you don't know. :D
When I started as a helper, one of my leads had me prep for him to weld. First, he'd tell me what he wanted. If what I did was not what he wanted, he showed me. He can be one harsh sumbeach, but I never heard him blame any helper for his own workmanship.

I don't "have to be there" to know you missed a detail or two when "paint melting and fumes getting into the weld" displaced your shield gas...if that's the actual problem.

I'll state the obvious or the sake of the uninitiated. If your weld process uses a shield gas, and something disrupts that shield of gas: The arc acts different, the puddle looks different, the sound changes. It's time to stop, determine what is going on, and correct the problem. Then, back-grind into good weld before re-starting.

It's those pesky details that make all the difference. Miss them or ignore them, they'll come back on you later. :mad:

[Stang5lgt]

Yeah after the first wheel I stopped him and told him he needed to do a better job cleaning the paint. Only the first wheel was a problem. The next 3 were just fine. Considering the damage I would have had to do get the ring back off(rim would have been destroyed) I just ground down the weld and welded it again. Once I was done it was leak free. I was never blaming him since he had never done it before. I just didn't pay close enough attention to how much paint was still left. We got it and locks are working good.