Beadlocks

[brendanm]

Has anyone tried to get RMS Certification on mechanical beadlocks through an engineer in NSW. I was interested in the Terrafirma 6 spoke rim (TF100) and the associated rings (TF103A). I need a 8 inch wide rim to suit the 35's that are already legal. Terrafirma advertise that they are able to be balanced due to the alignment dowels and recessed locking rings that the system uses which sets it aside from other mechanical beadlocks. I have posted the product link through to an engineer that has engineered other aspects of the car. He has looked through the regulatory documents that deal with wheels and can not find anything to say it can not be done, though is taking a while to get back to me. I have seen the Walker Evans Mechanical beadlock on a vehicle that was supposed to be signed off, though am very light on details.

[n plus one]

Has anyone tried to get RMS Certification on mechanical beadlocks through an engineer in NSW. I was interested in the Terrafirma 6 spoke rim (TF100) and the associated rings (TF103A). I need a 8 inch wide rim to suit the 35's that are already legal. Terrafirma advertise that they are able to be balanced due to the alignment dowels and recessed locking rings that the system uses which sets it aside from other mechanical beadlocks. I have posted the product link through to an engineer that has engineered other aspects of the car. He has looked through the regulatory documents that deal with wheels and can not find anything to say it can not be done, though is taking a while to get back to me. I have seen the Walker Evans Mechanical beadlock on a vehicle that was supposed to be signed off, though am very light on details.

No, but I've got TF100 rims and am watching with interest.

To the best of my knowledge the relevant documentation will be the Tyre and Rim Association of Australia Standards Manual - suspect however it isn't the ultimate authority in the sense that it relies on a number of O/S developed standards?

For your awareness, there are a number of DOT (US standard which seems to carry weight in Australia) approved beadlock wheels around, including Hutchinson and AEV. I don't think the TFs are DOT, but that doesn't mean they're not up to spec (so to speak) rather that they simply haven't been checked because they're not for the US MARKET (which, FYI, is actually done by the manufacturer not some independent body).

Hope this is of use.

[Steve223]

I run second air internal beadlocks on Defender and D2 and have them engineered I don't think any engineer will sign of on mechanical ones

[brendanm]

Thanks Steve
I currently have second air in the rims being run at the moment, though as part of an upgrade was hoping to not have to pay the extra of fitting the internal units at each tyre change. The engineer I have been speaking to has not ruled out mechanical beadlocks and has not found documentation in his rim bible that prohibits their use. I was after someone who may have already trod this path as a way of guiding the engineer.

[Steve223]

Thanks Steve
I currently have second air in the rims being run at the moment, though as part of an upgrade was hoping to not have to pay the extra of fitting the internal units at each tyre change. The engineer I have been speaking to has not ruled out mechanical beadlocks and has not found documentation in his rim bible that prohibits their use. I was after someone who may have already trod this path as a way of guiding the engineer. would be very keen to know if you get external beedlocks engineered (do you have your internals engineered?) I spoke to quite a few engineers and my standard engineer in Orange is quite progressive in what he engineers for example the inner beadlocks which no other engineer I spoke to would engineer.

[n plus one]

Thanks Steve
I currently have second air in the rims being run at the moment, though as part of an upgrade was hoping to not have to pay the extra of fitting the internal units at each tyre change. The engineer I have been speaking to has not ruled out mechanical beadlocks and has not found documentation in his rim bible that prohibits their use. I was after someone who may have already trod this path as a way of guiding the engineer.

If he does yours, I'll be right on your heels!

Edit: in the interests a getting a bit of skin in the game on this, I've got a spare TF rim if that would be of use. I don't have the bead lock section, but I could be convinced to order some if things are looking possible.

[brendanm]

Thanks n plus one
That is a good offer and I will let you know how I get on.
This whole line of thought started with ordering some Mach5 rims from the UK. They are similar to the ZU alloys though in 8 inch wide(which I require for the 35's). It was only after I paid for them that they found they were out of stock in the anthracite grey. They offered black, silver, money back or a 6week wait. My intention was to fit these Mach5 rims with the internal beadlocks I already have. With the wait I started looking at other rims like the TF100 and the TF103 rings thinking they might be more bush friendly being fitted in remote areas if needed.
Speaking to the engineer yesterday he said that if I could give him the manufacturers compliance stamp on the rim then it could be certified. An Australian retail supplier did not think that the rings could be used on road and my guess is that no certification stamp exists on the rings only the wheel.
So I am in the position that I could add a few extra dollars to purchase the TF wheels & rings and have them shipped immediately not knowing if they would be certified or continue to wait for the Mach 5 rims. I did look into powdercoating another colour though it is a lot of money for a short term wait. My feeling is that an engineer may see the stamp on the wheel and knowing that it is a kit may approve the package subject to testing as he has said he is not against the idea.

[n plus one]

Thanks n plus one
That is a good offer and I will let you know how I get on.
This whole line of thought started with ordering some Mach5 rims from the UK. They are similar to the ZU alloys though in 8 inch wide(which I require for the 35's). It was only after I paid for them that they found they were out of stock in the anthracite grey. They offered black, silver, money back or a 6week wait. My intention was to fit these Mach5 rims with the internal beadlocks I already have. With the wait I started looking at other rims like the TF100 and the TF103 rings thinking they might be more bush friendly being fitted in remote areas if needed.
Speaking to the engineer yesterday he said that if I could give him the manufacturers compliance stamp on the rim then it could be certified. An Australian retail supplier did not think that the rings could be used on road and my guess is that no certification stamp exists on the rings only the wheel.
So I am in the position that I could add a few extra dollars to purchase the TF wheels & rings and have them shipped immediately not knowing if they would be certified or continue to wait for the Mach 5 rims. I did look into powdercoating another colour though it is a lot of money for a short term wait. My feeling is that an engineer may see the stamp on the wheel and knowing that it is a kit may approve the package subject to testing as he has said he is not against the idea.

Cool, what do you need? If you PM me an email or ph I could send you some pics of the markings if that would help?

[n plus one]

Any updates! You get my email ok?

[brendanm]

Hi n plus one
I was looking for your email though did not see it. I get close to 40 emails each day through work so I will go back and have a closer look. I was starting to think the Mach 5 might be nearly the fall back.

[n plus one]

I think I sent it pretty much the same day, or the day after if that helps.

[brendanm]

I got an email from the bloke in the UK where I am purchasing the Mach 5 rims and they are now available to be sent. I told him to send them through as this saves me about $600 on the rims as opposed to going down the TF line then engineering.


Sorry I overlooked the original images you sent through. I will try to dig up the engineer contact and can PM them through. He is located at Narellan, so about 2.5 hours easy freeway drive from you. If you send through the same images along with the Terrafirma promotional images of the locking rings he may be able to give you an answer that would justify a trip up.

[n plus one]

I got an email from the bloke in the UK where I am purchasing the Mach 5 rims and they are now available to be sent. I told him to send them through as this saves me about $600 on the rims as opposed to going down the TF line then engineering.


Sorry I overlooked the original images you sent through. I will try to dig up the engineer contact and can PM them through. He is located at Narellan, so about 2.5 hours easy freeway drive from you. If you send through the same images along with the Terrafirma promotional images of the locking rings he may be able to give you an answer that would justify a trip up.

No worries mate.

Would greatly appreciate details if you can find them - pretty keen to follow up on the rings.

[TD50WA]

http://www.ncop.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19&p=34&hilit=Beadlock#p34

Above link has interesting reading on bead locks.