57 Shasta 1500 Rim Size

[mobiltec]

I can not get the wheels off this trailer without letting all the air out, breaking the bead and then collapsing the tires with big welding type C clamps. The rims are not original but they are 15 inch.

Does anyone know what the original rim and tire size for these trailers was? I'm thinking they MUST have been 14 inch because every tire I have tried on these rims will not go on or come off without breaking the bead and collapsing the tire. Also, is this a common problem or do I have a trailer built with the wrong size axle? Everything else on this trailer was done wrong at the factory. This would not surprise me at all.

[Hamlet]

It seems as though all of these (the Ham shapes anyway) have wheels that make it insanely difficult to change a tire. Not sure what the solution is, but Hamlet is waiting with bated breath for the geniuses among us to chime in.

[mobiltec]

Jan 14, 2013 19:49:09 GMT -5 Hamlet said:

It seems as though all of these (the Ham shapes anyway) have wheels that make it insanely difficult to change a tire. Not sure what the solution is, but Hamlet is waiting with bated breath for the geniuses among us to chime in.

I was afraid of that...

[schweetcruisers]

I don't mean this as a insult, but by chance are you placing the jack under the axle?

[Hamlet]

How do you do yours, schweet? Do you have the axle flipped? When we had the whitewalls put on, the guy commented about it being a bit tight, and he had Hamlet up on a lift. What are we doing wrong?

[mobiltec]

Jan 14, 2013 21:34:28 GMT -5 schweetcruisers said:

I don't mean this as a insult, but by chance are you placing the jack under the axle?

Good question but no. I let the axle droop as much as possible and leave enough room under the tire to let it drop down. I've changed wheels and tires on a hundred different trailers and never had a problem this bad. My 54 Westerner has tear drop wells and I thought it was hard to change those tires. Easy compared to this and I don't have to deflate the tires. Just have to hold my mouth just right.

[schweetcruisers]

if you lift by the axle you will compress the springs and push the wheel up into the wheel well, if you use the steel frame they should be tight but not impossible to take off. This is of course is a hypothesis on my part since I have changed out my rims yet, but I read about it earlier today when I was researching correct rim size for mine.

vintageshasta.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wheels&action=display&thread=5596

[mobiltec]

Jan 14, 2013 21:53:13 GMT -5 schweetcruisers said:

if you lift by the axle you will compress the springs and push the wheel up into the wheel well, if you use the steel frame they should be tight but not impossible to take off. This is of course is a hypothesis on my part since I have changed out my rims yet, but I read about it earlier today when I was researching correct rim size for mine.

vintageshasta.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wheels&action=display&thread=5596

Yes like I said I don't lift by the axle. After reading the other thread I can see that this too is an ongoing built in Shasta Factory problem.

[vikx]

I believe our 57 Shasta has 15" rims. The tires are equivalent to 205/75R/15s (F78/15) and we had to flatten them to clear the hub. They do fit but barely.

My 56 Aljo is still sitting on the dollies. 195/75/15s will not clear, even flat. We are going to try jacking it up and using a light weight scissor jack to drop the axle a little further. Haven't found any tires that will be tall enough for the trailer to clear the ground. In other words, 185s are too low profile... I bought new wheels from VTS and am anxious to get this girl on rubber...

Even enlarging the wheel well opening doesn't always help. My Hanson has 2 extra inches front and rear and we have to flatten 195s to fit.

Ah, the wheel well nightmare...

[Scott]

Hi Mobiltec, I resorted to removing the wheel well trim, cutting an inch off the radius, reinstalling trim and lifting from frame, not from axel. Still very tight, but I didnt have to deflate tire. I have 15x6 inch rims and 205-15-75 tires. Regards, Scott

[Scott]

Hi Mobiltec, Sorry for correction to last post. 1/2 inch from inside section of radius. Not full one inch as described above. Are you the Mobiltec of the "Restoring the Deville" Youtube video series for vintage trailers?

[Deleted]

Easy compared to this and I don't have to deflate the tires. Just have to hold my mouth just right.

[/quote]


Just to make it easier for everyone who reads this here, please share exactly which curse words your mouth has to be forming for this to work?? ;D

[desertman]

Not the same trailer or same size tire. But on my 67 Compact with 13" tires I moved my axle from the top of the spring to the bottom. Safer and better looking than flipping the axle and it gave me room to remove wheels. About 4 inches.

[mobiltec]

Jan 15, 2013 6:52:25 GMT -5 Scott said:

Hi Mobiltec, I resorted to removing the wheel well trim, cutting an inch off the radius, reinstalling trim and lifting from frame, not from axel. Still very tight, but I didnt have to deflate tire. I have 15x6 inch rims and 205-15-75 tires. Regards, Scott

Hi Scott. The trailer has already been painted and I don't want to do anything to mess it up. So carving out the wheel well is not an option I want to persue.

And yes I'm the same Mobiltec who restored the Deville. That was my favorite restore to date. I can promise you I will not do another Shasta without doing a complete frame off restoral.

[mobiltec]

Jan 15, 2013 9:06:18 GMT -5 desertman said:

Not the same trailer or same size tire. But on my 67 Compact with 13" tires I moved my axle from the top of the spring to the bottom. Safer and better looking than flipping the axle and it gave me room to remove wheels. About 4 inches.

I think this is where I will be going with this one. Flipping the axle would make it too high and like you say, more dangerous to tow. Might even just have new springs made for it. That way I can get just the amount of clearance I need and not over do it. I'll be sure to post what happens when I get there though.

[Scott]

Hi mobiltec,
Thanks for making those amazing vintage trailer restoration videos. When I am unsure about how to proceed with the work on my Shasta I visit this forum and then watch you explain and demonstrate various methods, techniques, and tricks for getting many of the necessary jobs done. I also like that you do your work without expensive tools or a high tech. shop.
Regards,
Scott

[mobiltec]

Thanks for the kind words Scott. I enjoy making them. I don't proclaim to be a professional but I figure if people get to see it being done, mistakes and all, they will get a better feel for what they are about to attempt. And I learn a lot from my viewers too. The comments on the videos can be a valuable resource.

I'm very glad this forum is here now. I don't usually do much in the way of forums. But when it came to this Shasta I finally said uncle LOL... I must say it has been the most interesting project I have ever tackled.

I'll put a link to this forum on my website and give it a shout out in my next video. You people have been a tremendous help already.

[Hugh Currin]

mobiltec:

Wow, if you have to let the air out to get the wheel off, do you have to let the air out to get the spare on? Seems counter productive, you already had a tire with no air on it. Maybe carry a bicycle pump? :-)

I'm convinced the springs on our '55 Shasta 1500 were tired and had taken a set. This would account for some of the clearance issues people are finding. In our restoration I put new springs on ours. Not trivial, I found they don't make springs of the correct center distance. I had to install hangers with a different spacing to use new springs.

We now have ST205/75R15/8 Prometer Radials on her. There wasn't much trouble putting them on, but she was on jacks at the time. I haven't tried to change them on the road.

[mobiltec]

There is a custom leaf spring builder near me. He can build me what I need to give me just enough lift to get the wheels on and off easilly and the plus side is that there will be new springs on it. One of my trailers broke a spring pack and ruined the tire when the trailer fell down on it. So I think this trailer may get new springs. Im sure just an inch or two more in droop will do it and I can test that theory with it up on jacks.

The springs come with all brand new hardware including greasable bolt bushings and even new shackles all for about $200 or less. Well worth it I think. Might be a little more now. This was a couple years ago.

Got them at,

Macs Springs
Highland CA.
909-862-4811

I don't know if they ship but it couldn't hurt to ask. You can bring in the old springs and tell them how much more lift you want and they can copy the eye to eye measurement so you don't have to move any spring perches. Custom built...

[hauswife]

I'm having the same problem, my wheels are 15".. A PITA to get off, I'm scared of putting them back on..

[mobiltec]

May 1, 2013 23:54:11 GMT -5 hauswife said:

I'm having the same problem, my wheels are 15".. A PITA to get off, I'm scared of putting them back on..

Don't put them back on just yet. I just bought a tire and wheel and I think it's going to work. I have been looking for this answer for a year and a half now. I will be trying it on Sunday. The wheels are brand new and Im sure the hole patern is the same... The tires are new and very thin. These tires are just a bit wider than what the trailer originally came with and on 13 inch wheels which is also what it originally came with. I'll post the results and all the specs on Sunday evening.