widen rear wheels

[sqrlgtr 3,911]

I thought I had seen on here where someone had cut a set of wheels with an angle grinder to widen them but cannot find it now. Also There use to be a video of widening wheels also but its no longer there, thought someone may have video saved and could share. Has anyone tried this before and what kind of luck did you have? Wanting to widen a set for some 26x12x12 tires. 

[ebinmaine 80,689]

@kpinnc or @19richie66

 

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[ebinmaine 80,689]

@kpinnc or @19richie66

 

?

 

 

 

[kpinnc 18,956]

I've done this before just to see if I could- but will just spend the money next time on a wide set of wheels. It is alot of work. 

 

But yes I used a side grinder with cutoff wheels and a narrow strip of steel to align both sides when finished. I also used the tractor itself to both mark and cut the wheels. Just jacked up the rear and let the wheel spin in low range and don't try to cut much. Just let the grinder do what it does. 

 

The good thing was because of where my cuts were, the leftover parts make up some nice 6 inch wide spares. 

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 80,689]

6 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

wheels

 

You may very well be money and time ahead of yourself to find a pair of wheel blanks like pullers use and weld in the centers to the correct backspacing.  ....?

[JoeM 10,266]

There always seems to be wide wheels at the big show. I know Miller Tire sells them on line.

I'm with KPinNC, lots of time involved not to mention you need two sets of wheels.

[sqrlgtr 3,911]

8 hours ago, kpinnc said:

I've done this before just to see if I could- but will just spend the money next time on a wide set of wheels. It is alot of work. 

 

But yes I used a side grinder with cutoff wheels and a narrow strip of steel to align both sides when finished. I also used the tractor itself to both mark and cut the wheels. Just jacked up the rear and let the wheel spin in low range and don't try to cut much. Just let the grinder do what it does. 

 

The good thing was because of where my cuts were, the leftover parts make up some nice 6 inch wide spares. 

I didn't even think about using a strip of metal at the joint. I was just thinking I could cut them off good and square and weld them back together.

 

2 hours ago, JoeM said:

There always seems to be wide wheels at the big show. I know Miller Tire sells them on line.

I'm with KPinNC, lots of time involved not to mention you need two sets of wheels.

I do have enough wheels, 2 sets, to make them with but may have to rethink this projecto.

[mrc 1,119]

years ago i wanted a set of wider wheels.   i bought the 10 inch wide ones form miller tire along with the center blanks.   weld in for whatever backspacing you desire

[19richie66 17,935]

I bought blanks and welded the centers in. Easiest way to do it.

[sqrlgtr 3,911]

1 hour ago, mrc said:

years ago i wanted a set of wider wheels.   i bought the 10 inch wide ones form miller tire along with the center blanks.   weld in for whatever backspacing you desire

 

5 minutes ago, 19richie66 said:

I bought blanks and welded the centers in. Easiest way to do it.

 

I checked on doing that, but I could by whole wheel cheaper than buying blanks and centers ( 306 compared to 216 for a set of 2). Found some 12x10.5 fer 108 free shipping and would probably be hard to beat that price but only thing is valve stem is on outside and was really needing them on the inside because of the WH wheel weights I was wanting to run.

[kpinnc 18,956]

3 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

didn't even think about using a strip of metal at the joint. I was just thinking I could cut them off good and square and weld them back together.

 

I welded up one with, one without. The band made things much easier. Probably much stronger as well. But it's 3 welds all the way around. Two outside and one inside. 

 

 

[JoeM 10,266]

Picked a set of these up at the show $75, but that was an insider price from Fast Eddie's. 

That valve stem on the outside is a luxury, but I have welded them shut and drilled new on the other side.

[sqrlgtr 3,911]

13 minutes ago, JoeM said:

That valve stem on the outside is a luxury, but I have welded them shut and drilled new on the other side.

Agree they are handier about access but do interfere with some types of wheel weights (i.e. Wheel Horse) . 

[sqrlgtr 3,911]

8 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I welded up one with, one without. The band made things much easier. Probably much stronger as well. But it's 3 welds all the way around. Two outside and one inside. 

 

 

 

I had it pictured in my head that I could cut em all good and square than just set them on top of each other and tack them a few places then go to welding but sum times them pics in my head don't pan out like I want um too . 

 

20 hours ago, kpinnc said:

I also used the tractor itself to both mark and cut the wheels. Just jacked up the rear and let the wheel spin in low range and don't try to cut much. Just let the grinder do what it does. 

 

This was my plan also.

 

@kpinnc which way did you find was the best way to run grind wheel and rear wheel? Opposite each other or same direction (both clockwise or one clockwise and other counter clockwise). 

[kpinnc 18,956]

2 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

 

@kpinnc which way did you find was the best way to run grind wheel and rear wheel? Opposite each other or same direction (both clockwise or one clockwise and other counter clockwise). 

 

I ran the wheel opposite of the direction of the grinder. With both wheels off the ground the differential makes it difficult. 

 

Again regardless of direction- don't bear down on the grinder just let it run. The cuts are far better if the grinder creates a straight groove to follow.