Best type of reamer for opening a snowblower tire wheel from 7/8 to 1"?

[Sparky_NY]

This is a snowblower, right? Am I correct in assuming that it won't be used at highway speeds?

I'd just drill it out with a 1" drill and, if necessary, clean it up a bit with a rat tail file. These wheels will probably never travel more than five miles in their lives - you don't need a perfect fit.

-js

Many snowblowers have a cross drilled hole in the rim which is used with a pin to engage that wheel to drive, goes through the rim and the axle. That way it can be setup for either one wheel or two wheel drive, one wheel maneuvers easier, two wheel drive pushes harder. Something has to fix the wheel to the axle to transfer power.

Ones I have seen do not have enough "meat" to allow them to be opened up and the new rim might not have the cross hole either. Much better idea to use the OEM rim and mount a new tire.

[Jim Stewart]

This is a snowblower, right? Am I correct in assuming that it won't be used at highway speeds?

I'd just drill it out with a 1" drill and, if necessary, clean it up a bit with a rat tail file. These wheels will probably never travel more than five miles in their lives - you don't need a perfect fit.

-js

[nickel-city-fab]

I think I've chased this squirrel up the wrong tree.

Nah, she just wasn't interested!

Seriously, there has got to be a way to do it. Curious as to why you can't unmount it? At my work, they unmount semi tires with a real big hammer. Yep, a guy with a BFH. And a crowbar. Of course if the old tire is junk, I prefer to use a sawzall. Just cut it crosswise off the rim. .. laziness it the mother of invention!

[Jerrythepilot]

Buy a set of tire spoons, watch a YouTube video, change your tire. Maybe a new tube in case you pinch the tube. It happens. Patch it or replace it and move on.

Jerry

[gellfex]

I think I've chased this squirrel up the wrong tree. Almost every option except using what I have on hand or taking them to the mower guy ends up costing more than reordering the wheels. Never mind!

[Paul Alciatore]

I like that one. Step drills are self centering and make very round holes. You can probably do it in a drill press - a large one, at least.

If this is beyond your shop's capability, I have all that is needed. I can even run a 1" reamer down the holes after using a 25mm step drill. The 25mm size (0.984") takes it to the range of the 1" reamer and can probably reach both sides at once, keeping the two sides concentric.

I am not greedy like Doozer. $100 and you pay shipping both ways.

But I think I have given you enough to do it yourself.

Use a stepdrill.

[larry_g]

Use a stepdrill.

X2 on this or go at it with a grinder or a file. You have no need for a close tolerance here.

lg
no neat sig line

[Fasturn]

I vote for the bridge reamer. Cheaper and more crude...if you have a 1" multi flute counter sink, you might get it done with a hand drill ? Guys here would turn it on a lathe, or bore on a mill with a head or endmill. Just saying ?

[no704]

Use a stepdrill.

[reggie_obe]

Lathe is a 10". I guess the boring might work, but so much hassle! I might as well try a 1" S&D bit I have, might make a mess but these wheels are trash to me anyway with the wrong bore. Worst case I have to go back to the ass with the lawn care shop and get him to change the wheels to the old ones.

Set up on the mill table, drill to 15/16", bore to 1.00"

[gellfex]

You can't deflate and compress the tire enough to get a bite on the rim with the lathe chuck jaws?
Clamp it to the mill table with two strap clamps, rim supported by three spacers and bore it out.

Lathe is a 10". I guess the boring might work, but so much hassle! I might as well try a 1" S&D bit I have, might make a mess but these wheels are trash to me anyway with the wrong bore. Worst case I have to go back to the ass with the lawn care shop and get him to change the wheels to the old ones.

[reggie_obe]

You can't deflate and compress the tire enough to get a bite on the rim with the lathe chuck jaws?
Clamp it to the mill table with two strap clamps, rim supported by three spacers and bore it out.

[nickel-city-fab]

An ironworker's tapered bridge reamer would do it, you would need a large wrench... check eBay for a used one and touch up the edges with a small stone. Also known as a construction reamer, used to line up the holes in I-beams. They are usually turned by hand, and abused by the uncaring. You are supposed to run it all the way thru the hole till full-sized. Example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/38299815470...0AAOSwa5tc2IX3

[gellfex]

Break the bead and then they're easy to get off the old rims. *Get some inner tubes as they most likely won't seal on the new rims.

Forget about reaming the wheel. The bore is too long and too much stock has to be removed to use a reamer.

The wheel is made in 2 stamped pieces and the hole isn't continuous, like maybe 1/2" on either plate.

Is it really that easy to remount those little tires? it looks like a hassle because there's so little rim to stretch. What, just 2 flat screwdrivers? The old tires already have tubes since they leaked like MFers.

[gellfex]

Because you are really asking a lot.
I would do the job, but charge $500.
And I would not guarantee any tolerance.
I think you should try it and report back
your results. I get the feeling you believe
it is easier than the actual effort required
to pull off what you are requesting.

-D

I think you misunderstand, I was just asking the guy to unmount the tires and mount them on the old wheels.