Wheel removal

[RonNBama]

I know removing a set of 22.5" rear wheels and tires is a job best left to a professional. But, if one was in a bind and had the jacks, stands, impact wrench and appropriate pry bars and such, can one person accomplish a removal/replacement alone or is the job too big to handle?

22.5 275's on aluminum rims.....

[Perry White]

I move mine all the time 315/80/22r. Just jack it up high enough to take weight off and use two 2 x 4s and you can walk it off the hub. The trick is to not let it lay over.. once off and away from studs just roll it up against the side of the couch. I pull my hubs with the brake discs still on with my motorcycle lift. Rolls it right off the spindle. No weight lifting at all. I use a 1/2" impact after I loosen the 33MMnuts with my 600lb torque wrench. Same going on. Then cross torque to 450lbs.

[Martind4]

Perry,

Where did you find your 1/2" impact wrench with 600 ftlbs of torque? Did it cost 2 arms and a leg?

I've been looking for one and haven't been successful yet.

My wheels aren't as large, but I have removed and polished them many times with no problems.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martind4 Perry, Where did you find your 1/2" impact wrench with 600 ftlbs of torque? Did it cost 2 arms and a leg? I've been looking for one and haven't been successful yet.

I got one that goes to 650 ft lbs at Harbor Freight. Cost was about $70 as I remember. I knew it wouldn't be used much so I didn't look for (or pay $$$$) an industrial rated one.

[autofish]

Take mine off yearly to clean. Use a 3/4 in. impact from sears. Lift wheels just off ground with levelers. Not a hard job.

[DAN L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonNBama I know removing a set of 22.5" rear wheels and tires is a job best left to a professional. But, if one was in a bind and had the jacks, stands, impact wrench and appropriate pry bars and such, can one person accomplish a removal/replacement alone or is the job too big to handle? 22.5 275's on aluminum rims.....

i use my hwh jacks to jack the moho. for safety, i support the axle with a jackstand.
i use a harbor freight 1/2'' drive ''earthquake'' 600'# impact wrench with a 33mm socket to remove the lug nuts. i use a harbor freight 42'' long 3/4" drive 600'# torque wrench and long extensions, supported by a jack stand, to torque the lug nuts. per the workhorse manual, the torque is 475'# on my wheels. when a wheel is reinstalled, the lug nuts should be retorqued within about 1000 miles.
i have seen a commercial tire provider replace a front tire with the rim still installed using tire irons. the bead is very easy to break loose. i carry an unmounted spare tire and tire irons.

[bbeane]

Any of you guys that pull the wheels once a year to clean them, can come over and do mine if you get bored. Any way if you have a flat concreate place to work and a decent impact wrench it's not a big deal.

[RonNBama]

OK, I am encouraged that this is possible. Had not considered the level of torque required though. My 1/4" drive SnapOn torque wrench ain't gonna make it.

Thanks for the info.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonNBama OK, I am encouraged that this is possible. Had not considered the level of torque required though. My 1/4" drive SnapOn torque wrench ain't gonna make it. Thanks for the info.

If you don't have a compressor to power an impact wrench, you can get a torque multiplier to do the job manually. Harbor Freight may also be a good source for that. You will need to check out the torque specs for your particular motorhome, but keep in mind it will be in the 400-500 lb-ft range and choose a torque multiplier accordingly.

[donandmax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz If you don't have a compressor to power an impact wrench, you can get a torque multiplier to do the job manually. Harbor Freight may also be a good source for that. You will need to check out the torque specs for your particular motorhome, but keep in mind it will be in the 400-500 lb-ft range and choose a torque multiplier accordingly.

Got one of those and the lug nuts come off with no sweat. No more impact wrenches and pounding with a hammer. If you are going to do that kind of work yourselves its the only way to go.

[Clay L]

I didn't find a torque multiplier that would handle 475 ft pounds at Harbor Freight.
I got my 3 to 1 multiplier at Northern Tool . Also got a 250 ft pound torque wrench there.
The multiplier input is a 3/4 drive and the output is a 1 inch drive. I got the 1 inch drive 33mm socket at Grainger along with a 1 inch drive 10 inch extension. I had to make a extension for the reaction bar from a piece of pipe.

Looking back it might have cheaper to buy a 500 or more ft pound torque wrench from SnapOn.

[Cruzer]

I have a 3/4" drive 600 ft-lb torque wrench but don't use it on the Bus. It's too hard to handle. I do have a 600 ft-lb impact wrench but that too won't always get them loose because they tighten up after time so the original 475 ft-lb torque doesn't mean that much when it's time to remove them. Sooner or later you will need more force to get them off. That's where a torque multiplier comes in.

I have a 1/2" breaker bar to break them free. It inserts into the 4:1 torque multipler, which has 3/4" output that I run through a 10" long extension and a 33mm impact socket. Once they are started IU then use the impact wrench and socket to finish removing them.

When it's time to put them back on I use the impact and socket to get them close. Then I revert to the torque multiplier and my 0-250 ft-lb Snap-On torque wrench to torque them to 119 ft-lbs, which yield 475 ft-lbs at the lug nut.

I also have tire irons and rubber lube and can remove and replace the tire on the rim if I need to. A 4 lb hammer and crowbar make it easy to walk the rim off of the hub. HWH leveling jacks are a lifesaver in that regard, although I use a 12 ton bottle jack in some cases - at the very least as a safety stand once the screw is extended.

These things aren't light so this is not for everyone. But there are times where road service is slow or unresponsive and it might be a lifesaver to have that ability. If nothing else, just having the tools might just allow someone younger and stronger to do the job for you.

[GaryKD]

I have removed all the wheels from my coach at least once. Several wheels more than once. I'm no power ranger. 163 lbs and 6' 1" tall. The tools mentioned in the previous posts are required and remember it is all done with leverage. If you consider doing this, practice on a level concrete pad. Try a front wheel. That will tell you if this is something you want to consider.

[TDiGuy]

DON'T FORGET THAT THE LEFT SIDE IS LEFT HAND THREAD.
I use a 3/4" craftsman breaker bar and a 4'pipe...