Safety - Section 20 OM2036 06/06 Page 20-12 TIRES Tire Maintenance If the proper procedure for performing maintenance or replacement of the wheel or tire is not used, the wheel or tire may burst, causing damage, serious injury, or even death. When performing such mainte- nance, consult your authorized regional Komatsu dis- tributor, or the tire manufacturer. Handling Tires Rim and tire maintenance can be hazardous unless the correct procedures are followed by trained personnel. Improperly maintained or inflated tires can overheat and burst due to excessive pressure. Improper infla- tion can also result in cuts in the tire caused by sharp stones.
Both of these conditions can lead to tire dam- age, serious personal injury, or even death. Refer to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), SAE J1337, Off-Road Rim Maintenance Procedures and Service Precautions, Section 4.2 for additional information on demounting the tires and rim assem- blies. Also, refer to Section 4.4 of SAE J1337 for assembly and inflation recommendations. To safely maintain a tire, adhere to the following con- ditions: Inflate the tires to their specified pressure. Abnormal heat is generated, particularly when the inflation pressure is too low. The U.S.
Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) addresses tire repairs in its Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations, 30 CFR 57.14104. NOTE: To prevent injury from the wheel rims during tire inflation, use one of the following: 1. A wheel cage or other restraining device that will constrain all wheel rim components during an explosive separation of a multi-piece wheel rim, or during the sudden release of air. DO NOT stand in front of a rim and locking ring when inflating a tire mounted on the machine. Observers must not be permitted in the area. 2. A stand-off inflation device which permits a per- son to stand outside of the potential trajectory of the wheel components.
DO NOT weld or heat the rim assembly with the tire mounted on the rim. Resulting gases inside the tire may ignite, causing explosion of the tire and rim . Use the specified tires. The tire inflation pressure and permissible speeds, given in this manual, are general values. The actual values may differ, depending on the type of tire and the specific operating conditions. For details, please consult the tire manufacturer. Storing Tires After Removal As a basic rule, store the tires in a warehouse in which unauthorized persons cannot enter. If the tires are stored outside, erect a fence around the tires with No Entry and other warning signs.
When the tires become overheated, a flammable gas is produced inside the tire which can ignite. It is par- ticularly dangerous if the tires become overheated while the tires are pressurized. If the gas generated inside the tire ignites, the internal pressure will sud- denly rise, and the tire will explode, resulting in dan- ger and/or death to personnel in the area. Explosions differ from punctures or tire bursts because the destructive force of the explosion is extremely large. Therefore, the following operations are strictly pro- hibited when the tire is pressurized: Stand the tire on level ground, and block it securely so that it cannot roll or fall over.
If the tire falls, flee the area as quickly as possible. The tires for mining equipment are extremely heavy. DO NOT attempt to hold a tire upright when the tire is falling. The weight of these tires may lead to serious injury or death. Welding the rim. Welding near the wheel or tire. Smoking or creating open flames. Mounted tires stored as spares must be inflated to the minimum inflation pressure necessary to keep the tire beads properly seated. Maximum inflation pressure of the stored tire must, in no instance, exceed 15% of the tire’s cold inflation pressure.