Tires are the number one maintenance cost for your customer, so making sure they are taken care of properly is necessary not only for your customer’s safety, but for his bottom line as well.
Heavy-duty tires are big, weigh a lot and are awkward to handle, so the appropriate equipment is vital if the technician is to do his job efficiently and without injury. The products below are some examples of the kind of tire servicing equipment you should have in your shop.
New Tire Changer
The 426HD tire changer from Accu-Industries now is available. It changes super singles up to 31.5″ wide and eliminates back strain by lifting tires up to 73″ in diameter, said the company.
The four-jaw chuck evenly applies pressure on the wheel avoiding rim damage, and it can clamp 14″ to 26″ rims, including tubeless rims or tires with rings. Single-piece steel frame construction provides added strength and durability, and a low voltage, moveable remote control is available for added safety and versatility, the company said.
Accu-Industries
Heavy-Duty Tire Changer
The Hunter TC2450HD tire changer features two bead-loosening arms that can be operated independently for service on heavy-duty tires and wheels.
Each arm has two bead rollers: One conical, which loosens the bead, and one cylindrical, which pushes the shoulder of the tire. All bead rollers are made of a polymer material that will not damage rims.
The forward arm also facilitates tire mounting and positions the patented bead-lock tool to guide the tire around the circumference of the rim in order to eliminate mounting damage as well as reduce stress on the tire bead.
All operations are hydraulically controlled from a convenient, ergonomically-positioned console which allows both right- and left-handed operators to work in an upright position, according to the company.
Hunter Engineering Co.
Wheel Grabber
The Kiene Wheel Grabber is said to quickly and safely remove seized hub-piloted wheels from steering, drive and trailer axles. It works on steel or aluminum wheels, and features a compact and portable design, said the company.
The product is furnished with one set of pulling chains for steel or aluminum wheels, and one hub socket for steer, drive or trailer axles.
The company explained how it works. Pulling chains are hooked into the hand holes and their safety hooks are attached to the Wheel Grabber. Next, the hub socket is centered on the wheel hub. An impact wrench, applied to the forcing screw, uniformly tightens the pulling chains until the seized wheel is freed. There is no damage to the wheel or hub, according to the company.
In addition to heavy-duty applications, the Wheel Grabber can be used on school buses and Ford 450 and 550 medium-duty trucks, the company said.
Kiene Diesel Accessories, Inc.
Tire Dolly
The TD-1000 high rise tire dolly is available from Mohawk Lifts. It has a 1000-lb. capacity, a 46″ lifting height and its 6″ side shifting ability is said to make lug hole alignment simple.
The dolly can be used with any above-ground or in-ground lift or any time heavy-duty truck tires must be removed. Heavy-duty conveyor-type rollers on lifting arms aid in realignment of bolt pattern, and two rear 360-degree swivel casters are equipped with caster locks.
Tilting lift arms aid axle realignment and provide additional stability to the fully-loaded dolly, and a high gear ratio brake-winch allows for easy one-handed operation, making tire removal and replacement a one man job, according to the company.
Mohawk Lifts
Wheel Dolly
The model 5105 high-lift wheel dolly is available from SPX/OTC Service Solutions. An air-powered hydraulic lift system allows the unit to be used as a multi-purpose lift in a variety of applications, according to the company.
Weighing 360 lbs., it has a 1500-lb. capacity. It has a 42″ lifting range so you can pull wheels even when they are on the ground, the company said.
A 6″ lateral adjustment is said to provide precise positioning of the wheel assemblies, and four swivel casters, two locking, are said to enhance mobility.
The tilt adjustment of +15 degrees to -8 degrees ensures easy alignment.
SPX/OTC Service Solutions
Automated Rim Polisher
After extensive development, Vehicle Inspection Systems launched the new VIS-Polish automated wheel polishing system, an automated aluminum rim polishing machine for the trucking industry.
The product is said to produce a deeper, lasting polish in a fraction of the time with no manual polishing labor.
This patented system makes scratched and pitted rims shine, can polish previously unpolished rims (tire on or tire off) and produces an exceptional quality polish, the company said. It can refurbish all the visible rims on a truck in about the time it takes to change the tires.
Purchasers of the VIS-Polish machine are given sales and operator training and on-going marketing support.
VIS Service Automation
