Tires - Komatsu 730E Operation & Maintenance Manual

Safety - Section 20
Page 20-12

TIRES

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.
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.
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.
2. A stand-off inflation device which permits a per-
son to stand outside of the potential trajectory of
the wheel components.
• 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.
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:
• Welding the rim.
• Welding near the wheel or tire.
• Smoking or creating open
flames.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
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.
OM2036 06/06