A wheel problem

I have a PIK20. The main tire was in need of a change, so I took the
wheel off today, took out the three bolts that hold the wheel halves
together, then spent over 2 hours trying to get the wheel halves to
separate.

I am stumped. Light tapping has proves that one wheel half will
rotate independently of the other, so that seem to rule out being
corroded together, but the two still won't come apart.

It is a pre-production PIK, serial number 2 and there weren't any
markings on the wheel that I could see to tell what kind it is.

Does anybody have any thoughts?

TJ Johnson

TJ:

This procedure has worked for me. A word of warning: avoid separating
wheel halves when the valve is installed in the stem.

Re-install 3 bolts to hold the wheel halves together. Use a bolt length
of about one inch or more. Spin nuts on fully then back them off about a
1/4 inch. Remove the valve stem from the wheel. Air the tire SLIGHTLY.
The halves will likely separate. Once they separate, completely deflate
the tire before removing the nuts and bolts. NEVER remove those nuts
until the tire is completely deflated.


Paul
ZZ








TJ Johnson "FN" wrote:
> I have a PIK20. The main tire was in need of a change, so I took the
> wheel off today, took out the three bolts that hold the wheel halves
> together, then spent over 2 hours trying to get the wheel halves to
> separate.
>
> I am stumped. Light tapping has proves that one wheel half will
> rotate independently of the other, so that seem to rule out being
> corroded together, but the two still won't come apart.
>
> It is a pre-production PIK, serial number 2 and there weren't any
> markings on the wheel that I could see to tell what kind it is.
>
> Does anybody have any thoughts?
>
> TJ Johnson

Thank you everybody for the advice. I will try again after work today
and I really appreciate now having a a few things to try. I had
noticed that the bead was extremely tight when I was working with it,
and I had aired it down, but I didn't remove the valve stem core and
air it down all the way. I did also notice the bushing in between the
bearings was in there pretty good, but I really hope that isn't it, as
that really will be a monster to get out.

Anyway, I really do appreciate the advice. Thanks for helping me out!

Steve - Yep. This is Lloyd's PIK. I only have two flights on her so
far, but she is pure magic in the air!

TJ

It is done! In the end I had to cut the tire and tube off then drive
the wheel halves apart. The issue was corrosion in between the wheel
halves. I had gotten them to rotate very slightly by tapping with a
hammer and block, but not enough to get them loose enough to pull
apart. Interestingly, the old tire had a mold date of 72 and the old
tube was stamped January 73. I think it is very possible that this
PIK has never had a tire change.

All is right with the world again. Thank you everybody for the
advice!

TJ