Author Topic: DIY Beadlocks (Read 25759 times)

RHG · « **on:** Jan 10, 2006, 11:47:44 AM »

Who is running Do It Yourself Beadlocks? I think they are ridiculously expensive to buy beadlock rims from a manufacturer so I am thinking of just buying a set of steelie rockcrawlers and adding a DIY setup. Who did you get yours from? How much? How is the quality? Oh and I did a search cause I remember seeing a thread that I think Kyota had of his DIY but I couldnt find it. Would anybody mind sending me a link? Thanks a bunch

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 11:51:44 AM »

We just dida set you can find a link in here. http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=18832.0 I would use them again. be sure to have a good welder and clean the wheels of all paint at the weld area.

Wayne

Hyena · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 11:54:26 AM »

KYOTA's thread - http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=12507.0

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 01:40:58 PM »

I am running them on 38.5" Mickey's and they work great, but I also paid nothing for them.

I had them made by my neighbor, he works at a steel plant with a lasor cuttor... they are made from 1/4", but next time I would make the inner ring 1/4" and the outer ring 3/8" because the outer ring bends when you tighten it down.
By the way, these will be going on my Toyota... I hope the cops down know the difference

RHG · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 06:41:21 PM »

Thanks Brad

BigMike · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 07:14:19 PM »

Quote from: RHG on Jan 10, 2006, 11:47:44 AM

Who is running Do It Yourself Beadlocks? I think they are ridiculously expensive to buy beadlock rims from a manufacturer so I am thinking of just buying a set of steelie rockcrawlers and adding a DIY setup.

RHG, I couldn't agree with you more

After running Marlin's 37s with beadlocks I am completely sold on them. I had about 2 or 1 psi in my back tires, and when I stood up on the tire to get access to the stuff in my bed, the tire litterally devoured my foot. My shoe must have sunk a good 5 inches into the tire and was engulfed. I would have no confidence doing that without beadlocks, especially as this was in the snow and I was bashing the truck all over the place trying to find lines. Man, running 1 or 2 psi makes a HUGE difference in wheeling offroad. The ride becomes 5 times more comfortable and you can feel the tires actually modling or forming over obstacles.

I will be doing DIY beadlocks this summer when I go 37s, no questions asked. New bl's are SOO EXPENSIVE.

I originally found this thread from picoguard: http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/diy_beadlocks/index.asp

But now after seeing KYOTA's bl's, wow, that is much easier because the ring sits inside the outer lip, instead of having to cut half the wheel off

I will definitely document my DIY bl's when I do them

See this guy cut the outside of his wheels off

I think that would be so much more work to get it all straight....

...Whereas KYOTA's lock ring fitted in the outer lip of the wheel, so it was much easier to center it and keep it straight

Man I can't wait to do that!!

RHG · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 07:41:09 PM »

Thanks also to ZukeIzzy. Exactly what I was looking for.

Volcom · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 10, 2006, 09:10:03 PM »

Rockstomper.com makes a sweet set as well
http://rockstomper.com/catalog/wheels/beadlocks.htm

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 03:32:13 AM »

The only problem with welding them to the lip is that your 10" rim turns into a 11.5" or 12"... I think that may be the purpose that guy cut the whole bead piece off of the rim.
My beadlocks are welded to the lip and they worked out great.

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 06:15:01 AM »

Quote from: RHG on Jan 10, 2006, 07:41:09 PM

Thanks also to ZukeIzzy. Exactly what I was looking for.

We will have to pass the thanks on to shoyrtt he was the one ho gave me the heads up on the DIYs I had done them from other vendors but the price of these is great. Rock buggy suplly. Rock4xfabrication (Rock Rat) and Rockstomper all do them as well. sorry no links.

Wayne

BigMike · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 06:33:20 AM »

Quote from: 1Bad4Runner on Jan 11, 2006, 03:32:13 AM

The only problem with welding them to the lip is that your 10" rim turns into a 11.5" or 12"... I think that may be the purpose that guy cut the whole bead piece off of the rim.
My beadlocks are welded to the lip and they worked out great.

That's why you should never ever own a 10" rim unless you are using 15" wide tire

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 08:24:49 AM »

Yea, My Mickey's are 16" wide.
So if I'm running a 14.5 wide tire I should use 8" rims with the beadlock?

BigMike · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 08:34:27 AM »

Quote from: 1Bad4Runner on Jan 11, 2006, 08:24:49 AM

Yea, My Mickey's are 16" wide.
So if I'm running a 14.5 wide tire I should use 8" rims with the beadlock?

Yup, there ya go.

My advice is to have a 4" difference from Rim to Tire width.

16" is a bit wide though :

Maybe they would ballon a bit too much, especially since I don't think the beadlocks are quite 2", maybe just 1.25-1.50" wider? So a 10" rim + welded outer locks = ~~11.5", which should be pretty good for 16" wheels.

I'll stick with 8" wheels + locks = ~~ 9.5" or so, and run 12.50 tires. I know that's not how I would like to do it (its only a 3" difference) but the beadlock will obviously keep the bead on, so it'll be good for me

hudlenutz · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 08:50:05 AM »

Has anybody ever tried the staun internal bls? For the money vs. non DIY locks, they might be cool to try. Or a DIY internal lock...hmmm?

http://www.staunproducts.com/harry_home.php

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 02:16:03 PM »

BigMike, The tires don't balloon to bad... they are great in the snow and not to bad in the mud, I never had them on rock much before though.

I really want to have a 12.5" rim, but the Toyo's don't come in 12.5"

RHG · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 02:24:13 PM »

you mean a 12.5 tire?

BigMike · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 05:10:49 PM »

Quote from: hudlenutz on Jan 11, 2006, 08:50:05 AM

Has anybody ever tried the staun internal bls? For the money vs. non DIY locks, they might be cool to try. Or a DIY internal lock...hmmm?

http://www.staunproducts.com/harry_home.php

Thanks for the link, those are pretty cool, but at $189 a wheel, that's $756 for my truck. ouch. I could have a second set of tires then.... Also, I read all the reviews and looked at the pictures, but it seems that you still have a 48psi air cousion there. Wouldn't that be a rough hit if you had 1 or 2 psi and you came off a rock, then it would compress the 1-2psi and then boom! hit the 48psi rock hard inner tube..

BigMike · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 06:26:17 PM »

http://diy4x.com/beadlocks.htm Go about 3/4 down for their "RockLocks," $65/wheel
Review: http://www.planet4x4.net/forums/diy4xbeadlocks.php

Note: DIY4x's beadlock kit does not include bolts, nuts, or washers.

RHG · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 06:26:18 PM »

I havnt looked at the link but it sounds more like a run flat then a beadlock. Kinda like that plastic ring on the inside on Hummvee rims. Those things are hell to change! Gotta take uhm apart with the bead busted and pull them out to get the tire the rest of the way off. I had to do a set when I worked at a tire shop. I'll never touch ehm again! CTIS is sure cool though

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 06:27:12 PM »

Yes, I mean tire.. thanks RHG. I'm just going a little

I was thinking the same thing Mike, it is a great idea though.

BigMike · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 07:00:07 PM »

Quote from: RHG on Jan 11, 2006, 06:26:18 PM

I havnt looked at the link but it sounds more like a run flat then a beadlock.

Well, it is a run flat and a beadlock, which is a great innovative product-

It is a beadlock in the same way that the beads are locked on a tire that is inflated to 48 psi.

The whole concept is that they have a different chamber of air that fits inside both beads inside the tire. So I guess you would put the inner tire bead over your rim like you normally would to mount a tire, then slip this chamber-ring over the rim, and then mount the outer bead being careful not to pinch any of the inner chamber-ring. Then I would imagine that you air up the tires normally, to maybe 10psi or so, bounce the tires on the ground a bit to make sure that the beads are positioned correctly and centered on the wheel, and then, using a different valve stem that you previously installed, you inflate the inner chamber-ring to 48psi. So as that ring inflates, it expands and contacts both beads of the tire. So what you get is an area inside the wheel that is always at a constant 48psi, which is putting a force of 48psi against both inner and outer beads thereby forcing the beads up against the wheel just like they would be if you put 48psi into your tires right now.

Then you can deflate the tire pressure to what ever you want, but the beads will always "see" or "feel" 48psi up against them. So if you don't think you could loose a bead at 48psi, then you also won't loose your bead with the inner chamber aired to 48psi and the tire chamber deflated to 0psi.

KWP · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 07:52:29 PM »

Does anybody make a DIY beadlock kit for aluminum wheels? I am fixing to get a set of 17x9 aluminum wheels with my 39.5/16.50x17 rockers and would like to beadlock them.

BigMike · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 08:02:16 PM »

Woah! Rockers! How do you like those tires??

KWP · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 08:11:18 PM »

Quote from: BigMike on Jan 11, 2006, 08:02:16 PM

Woah! Rockers! How do you like those tires??

Picking them up Saturday, along with my 60 front and rear. I will definatelly keep everyone posted on how well they perform

tj40ounce · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 08:52:36 PM »

Anybody have any experience doing DIY beadlocks on Reversed Center Wheels?? (2" BS)

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 11, 2006, 09:00:35 PM »

Quote from: tj40ounce on Jan 11, 2006, 08:52:36 PM

Anybody have any experience doing DIY beadlocks on Reversed Center Wheels?? (2" BS)

yes I have screwed up a set of wheels. they don't work unless the bead ring is really small. If you have to put the tire on from the rear of the wheel then you can't bead lock em unless you wanna have the lock on the inside. if you can mount the tire from the front then it can be bead locked.

HTH
Wayne

KYOTA · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 12, 2006, 06:14:11 PM »

Quote from: KWP on Jan 11, 2006, 07:52:29 PM

Does anybody make a DIY beadlock kit for aluminum wheels? I am fixing to get a set of 17x9 aluminum wheels with my 39.5/16.50x17 rockers and would like to beadlock them.

Sky use to have kits for aluminum wheels but not sure if he still makes them.
scroll half way down
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 13, 2006, 12:02:18 PM »

If there is a local metal shop around with a laser cutter, I have the dimensions for the rings... its much cheaper then buying them and if you can get metal cheap or free your set.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Beadlocks/Inner_ring.jpg
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Beadlocks/outer_ring.jpg
I'm not sure if you guys have any interest in this and you might have already seen it before from Billavista on Pirate, but I thought I'd post it just for reference because they are what I used to make my locks.

I couldn't get the pictures to show, I can only get the links

KWP · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 13, 2006, 04:14:41 PM »

Quote from: KYOTA on Jan 12, 2006, 06:14:11 PM

Sky use to have kits for aluminum wheels but not sure if he still makes them.
scroll half way down
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/

I couldn't find them on the site

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 13, 2006, 04:58:19 PM »

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/accessories.htm

KWP, they're half way down the page

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