So...There I was*...This past week, enjoying a few beautiful fall days. Sunrise and Sunset, composed of beautiful fires of yellow, fading to orange, melding into red and fading to black. Depending on time of day and which direction your gaze is moving...of course. Nevertheless, the Big Guy is doing great at his painting hobby.
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| Daybreak at Casa juvat |
Or alternatively.
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| Sunset at Casa juvat. "Yes Dear, I would like a glass of Tempranillo" |
However, rather than sit idly by sipping on a coffee (watching the colors get lighter) or sipping on something more adult in nature (colors getting darker), retirement does involve some activities, many of which can only be put off for so long.
Chief among these requires a little cinematic flexibility on the reader's part. Simply substitute Texas for Louisiana and you'll understand.
You see, we have two horses. Horses, like humans, have biological functions that require action being taken pretty much daily. Horses, unlike humans, have little (OK, No!) abilities to clean up after themselves.
Yes, Beans, this past weekend was "Muck the Stalls" weekend.
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| In the beginning..... |
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| The "Ugly" part over. Second Load...Oh! My aching back! |
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| New flooring distributed and inspected by the occupant. |
Next Lesson learned.
When LJD's arrival was approaching and LJW came back to the States on advice of her obstetrician, we put her up in one of our guest houses. It gave her a bit of privacy and alone time etc. She was always welcome at the main house, but sometimes it's good to get away. In any case, when LJD signalled arrival would be early and Little Juvat was summoned. It became more of a logistical necessity. But, it was July, in Texas. It was fortunate that we had relatives living in the guest house as the Mini-Split was having difficulties keeping up with the Texas Heat and paying guests might not be so forgiving. So, after LJD's arrival and while LJW and she were still in Hospital, Little J told us that coming home in the afternoon, the house was quite warm. After a cursory look over by me (temperature was not set in Degrees Celsius), Mrs. J authorized a visit by the air conditioner folks.
They showed up shortly thereafter and gave the system a good lookover. While their temperature sensors confirmed the cottage was warm, the system had nothing wrong with it. Coolant levels were good, no leaks, nada. He then taught me something I didn't know.
Apparently, a Mini-Split is different than a large air conditioner. (Caveat: I may get some terminology wrong here, but I'm not a trained AC guy.) AC's have thermostats which adjust the temperature of the air going into them. Mini-Splits have no such thermostat. The air that comes out is a constant temperature set by you which mixes with the ambient air in the room. Setting the temperature on the Mini-Split means that the unit will come on when the air goes above the set temperature's upper range and will stay there until it goes back down. But, if say you set it at 75 and the outside temp is in the 90's and the insulation isn't the best in the world, the unit will bring the room back down to 75, but it will immediately start going back up. So, he advised setting our unit in the low 70's high 60's to bring the average temperature down to the mid 70's and keep it there.
Interesting. Yes, we are awaiting the bill for that little tidbit of knowledge. However, Little J hasn't mentioned temperature lately. Of course, since it's October and outside temps are in the mid 80's as highs, who knows if this is solving the problem. Well...At least until next May that is. Any reader, with more experience/knowledge on this subject, feel free to pony up your two bits. I've worked with y'all long enough that my skin is pretty thick.
On to the next subject, as part of the stall mucking, disposal of the "You know what" involved driving to the forested part of the property. Forested round here being defined as "Infested with Mesquite trees/bushes". In one of the depository trips, I had to have run over a thorn. Now, legend has it that the local Indian Tribes used Mesquite thorns as needles for sewing. Running over them, whether in moccasins or GoodYears, is definitely "Not Encouraged."
Yesterday morning at "Oh Dark Thirty" as we were leaving for Church, I fired up the truck and started to drive when shortly thereafter the Master Caution light came on. Glancing at the warning panel, the low tire pressure light was on. Pulled back into parking and gave the crew chief the "Chalks in" signal. Jumped to the spare, lovingly called "The Clown Car" alternatively called "Mrs. J's Car.", a Transit Connect, and took off only a couple of minutes late..
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| Same year, same model, same color as Mrs. J's, but not. | Source |
However...
Neither I nor Little Juvat (6'5" 250lbs, basically half my age and in pretty good shape) could get the tire off the truck. Tried every trick the internet could suggest, Nada.
Then Little Juvat ran across a site that said this is an increasing problem with aluminum wheels getting too hot and essentially welding itself to the axle.
WTF?
Now, I'm betting that when I get it to the tire center today, they'll be able to break that free. (The plan being to fill the tire (it's a slow leak) and drive it into town, 10 minutes max.) However, what would I be able to do stuck on a farm to market road not very far west of here where traffic is slight and cell phone service is slim to none. Seems like a poor/unsafe design decision on the part of Ford. Gonna be having a discussion with the tire guys this morning.
Finally, last Friday, Mrs. J and I went to visit our youngest Granddaughter, AKA LJD. Walked in and the NICU nurse OT Doctor was giving her physical therapy.
What's not apparent, in my wonderfully set up photo, is the Nurse's Doctor's left hand is on LJD's stomach and applying a bit of pressure, while her right hand is massaging her upper back and shoulders. Apparently, Preemies are prone to draw a breath using their stomach muscles rather than their chest muscles. The problem with this is their normal breathing muscles (Chest) won't have developed appropriately and breathing will become increasingly more difficult as the stomach muscles start to take over the job their supposed to do, digest food. And difficulty breathing is officially...Bad.
One more thing I did NOT know. One more reason, NICU folks are Angels on Earth!
She also got some good news, She is no longer in the Incubator Crib she's been in since birth.
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| One day old, in the incubator |
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| Her new sleeping quarters |
Not only did this make things easier for her caregivers, but there was a lot more room for visitors. AND...It helps her make the transition from the NICU to normality.
But...she is doing well, growing appropriately, and much more aware of her surroundings. Thank you, Lord!
Finally, Mrs. J was reviewing the pictures of our Med Cruise earlier this month and ran across this one. MG (my other Granddaughter) and myself, playing 'Bloons on our balcony.
She picked up on the strategy pretty quickly. It is designed for kids, not retired old guys. Which may explain why she did better at it, after 5 minutes of watching me, than I do after playing for several years.
Ahhh, well!
Closing Addendum: The tire was indeed punctured by a Mesquite Thorn. The correct procedure for removing the wheel from the axle is to: 1) Loosen and remove the lug nuts. 2) Jack up the Ford (They're notorious for this issue). 3) Move two jack stands under the axle on both sides, extending them to touch the axle. 4) Take a rubber mallet and beat the Holy 5417 out of the inside rim of the wheel, not the tire 5) Continue until the tire and wheel break free. 6) Remove tire and replace with spare.
juvat's immediate prep plan. Get on Amazon and buy required equipment in steps 3 and 4, store with tire changing equipment behind rear seat.
Peace out All Y'all!
Ah, new sleeping quarters for LJD, excellent! Got to get that tire done otherwise the next "muck the stalls" weekend will be delayed. Ford engineers aren't the only ones designing poorly, look at Kia/Hyundai with some of their models being able to be......ah......"acquired" using a USB cable, much fun for local law enforcement here.
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteYeah, there seems to be a "lot to be desired" in product design (not strictly limited to automobiles) these days. I'm assuming that in your comment "Acquire" has a synonym that is pronounced the same as a structural metal widely used in building construction. If so, I can see the enthusiasm on the part of Law Enforcement.
You are correct sir!
DeleteThought that might be the case.
DeleteHey, look!! I'm first...maybe!
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about splits, but I am interested in this and learning stuff I might be able to use in my upstairs.
LJD looks SO MUCH bigger in that first pic then when she was brand new...yay!!!
You should put some of that lovely horse fertilizer on Mrs. J's flower beds!! Roses love it!
And I feel your pain on the tire. I found a nail someplace and had a slow leak for about 2 weeks until I could get in and find out why and get it fixed. Altho, thankfuly, pretty sure my wheel wasn't welded onto the axel!!! Yikes!! Good luck with that one!
Nylon12 obviously types faster than I do ;)
DeleteSuz,
DeleteNow that I understand (better, not completely) the functioning thereof, it makes more sense. Where the AC has a computer that figures out what the air temperature the AC should provide to maintain the desired temperature, that costs more. Since the MiniSplit is usually to provide less expensive or less important AC, that responsibility falls on you. Now that I understand that, I can make the informed decision on what I want to room temp to be, and whether it's important to keep it in that proximity (E.G. setting the MiniSplit temperature lower) or whether saving money (E.G. my woodshop and a higher temp) is.
I'll discuss the fertilizer option with Mrs. J. After this week, I'm not sure what her response will be.
Thanks
He's a speedy one!
DeleteHey Juvat,
ReplyDeleteI’m chiming in about the stuck rim on your pickup. I’ve learned, from all places, from an innernet vidyou to back up to the fender of the stubborn wheel (free hanging on the tire jack, lugs nuts off the rim of course), raise your favorite foot out, then apply a hard mule kick the edge of the tire. It will loosen unless your mule kick is to timid.
Franknbean
PS I’ll go back to waiting patiently for the next installment of military stories now.
Franknbean,
DeleteWhile we were trying to figure out how to remove it, we came across a similar suggestion. Taking a solid piece of wood and a mallet and banging on the wheel. No joy on that option. At a very late point in the game, Little J took out some frustration with your suggested plan of attack. I wouldn't say that kick was timid. The truck rocked on the jack. However...Still no joy.
The Bubbas at the tire store will have their opportunity.
Re: the PS. I'm assuming you're referring to the Boss's stories. All my Fighter Pilot stories were exhausted years ago.
Back when I worked at the front end shop if it was stuck I used a 5 pound dead blow hammer and REALLY smacked the rim on the inside to get it off.
DeleteRob,
DeleteI have one of those available. The tire doesn't look like it lost too much air last night, so gonna refill it, drive to town and let the pros handle it. I am going to ask their advice however. And, depending on that might have a sledge hammer under the back seat shortly.
Probably works for me b/c i mule kicked on a compact sedan wheel. Your pickup wheels are a lot bigger. Glad it didn’t break over the jack.
DeleteA 10# or 16# BFH didn’t do the trick either? I surrender.
:- (
FranknBean,
DeleteWhen I discussed the problem with the tire guy, he said he'd banged it with a hammer. I told him we did also, He asked "From the inside?" Now it all makes sense. But, as I said in the addendum, I'm going to bet some Jack Stands as hitting something fairly hard that's only supported by a jack, sounds kinda risky to me. A pair of jack stands under the axle might reduce that to acceptable parameters.
Agree on the jack stands. As mentioned my success was achieved on a compact sedan. Your beastly pickup wheels would be a greater challenge indeed.
DeleteFranknbean
My back feels your pain. Fixing fence and hauling winter's wood here....Glad the Grand is moving up in the world!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteBen-Gay and Naproxen, and maybe a wee dram of Rum, were my hero's that evening.
Juvat, one of the items we discovered to our dismay following thing purchase of our Dodge Caravan was that apparently they had sized the discs on the brakes too small for the actual size of the van, thus causing warped discs and and more frequent replacements. It became a rather expensive piece of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about mini-splits (but probably should have). In lieu of replacing the unit itself, is it just more insulation?
As always, wonderful news about LJD. Prayers Up.
THBB,
DeleteIt's been 20+ since we owned a Chrysler company minivan. BITD, they were pretty well made and reliable, albeit difficult on a Fighter Pilot's Ego to be seen driving one ;-) I've heard the same thing about them recently. Seems to be increasingly common.
Insulation helps, but what the AC guy said, it's not an overall cost increase, unless you have an extended really hot spell, as 65 degrees intermittently by a minisplit is not usually as expensive as a sustained 75 from an AC. Again, that's my interpretation of what the guy told me. If there's someone out there more knowledgeable, I'd be happy to hear their knowledge.
A Luzianne moment; "Down in the barnyard shovel'n s**t, darn good job but think I'll quit". Then again, strawberry futures may be the next comer...
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteDon't think I've heard that, but I'm pretty sure the next time Mrs. J and I are in the horse barn, she will. Thanks.
Strawberry futures? Haven't had enough coffee this morning...yet. I don't understand.
Good news on LJD, she seems to be progressing very well. MG looks focused in that picture, your expression is more or less "stunned," as in "how did she do that?"
ReplyDeleteThe mini-split is an interesting beast, apparently to heat the house it takes in whatever heat is in the outside air and does some magic with the compressor and refrigerant and then pipes that air to the units inside the house. Apparently the opposite occurs to cool the house. I guess that's why they don't function as well at temps 32 and below. (Ain't much heat in that air!) Anyhoo, good article on all that here.
Looking at the stalls for the horses and the "flooring," the first thought that entered my mind was "I wonder how many bags of 'horsey-litter' did it take to cover the stall floor?" I mean kitty litter, horse litter, what's the difference?
It would take a large team of scientists to figure out exactly how my mind works, and most of them would go insane doing so. 😎
Most excellent way to start a Monday. Good post.
Sarge,
DeleteIn answer to the Horse litter questions, it's a math thing. The stalls are 12'x12' so 124 sq ft. Each bag is supposed to cover an area 5.5' by 5.5' or 30.35 sq ft. So roughly 4 bags per stall should do it. We bought 12 bags and used 5 on the one stall we did before old age and muscle capacity limitations kicked in. But it's a pretty good coverage and we'll have a couple of bags left over for JIC.
Your explanation of MiniSplit functioning is right along the same as mine. Good find on the article though.
Re: "Stunned". Exactly!!!
Thanks
12 * 12 is 144 not 124. That's probably why you needed 5 bags :-)
DeleteWhen I got my first car with alloy wheels I had the same problem after a puncture. The AA guy (like the AAA, only British) after he finally got the wheel off recommended copper-based grease. Anti-seize should work as well.
BiC,
DeleteI knew and used 144. Typo this morning. We went with 5 per to get a little deeper coverage. Not sure I've seen copper based grease or would recognize it if I did. Truck successfully made it to the Tire place this AM, waiting for the call back...and then the interrogation begins. ;-)
Another handy thing (for slow leaks) is a small air compressor that plugs into the 12V power outlet on the dash. My own dealings with the iniquities of car engineering was a low tire pressure warning 3/4 way to a Dr appt. Got to a small-town gas station. No small leak-could hear the air hissing out. Had an hour time margin to change it. The spare was one of those that winch up under the bottom of the car. Mechanism was clogged solid with dust from gravel roads. Spare jammed halfway down and would go no further. A cancelled appt, 15-mile tow to a tire shop, two new rear tires (the other was almost in the same shape). Back home, there was an hour's struggle to get the spare to lower (with a proper crowbar). Then a blasphemous half hour cutting the cable with a dull hacksaw. The spare now rides inside in the back.
DeleteDon,
DeleteSounds familiar, especially the blasphemous half hour part. Not sure if my spare will fit behind the seat, but probably worth exploring. Thanks.
Those mesquite thorns are boogers. I stuck one in my foot when I was a youngster. The crosswalk lady helped me home (just across the street from scruel). Dad figured out how to un-nail my sneaker from my foot without killing me. IHe put my foot in a bucket of water as hot as I could stand and put epsom salts in it. I sat in the kitchen and soaked it for hours. No swelling or other problems.
ReplyDeleteMy little roller skate 94 Toyota pickup had that welded wheel thing. I bought some tires and the tire place couldn't get them off. I came back home, jacked it up and started banging away on the sidewalls with a 4x4 treated post I had. They finally turned loose. Dissimilar metals like to exchange electrons... Watch Wes Work on YT runs into that regularly. He uses some kind of silicone grease on the wheel hub to mitigate that.
Seeing that little baby the size of a guinea pig growing up to an armful brought tears to my eyes. God is smiling on the Juvat clan. He's even been sending you technicolor earth turns to prove it.
Have a good week neighbor.
STxAR,
DeleteHad a similar thing happen as a Kid while playing in our "Fort" at Webb AFB, Big Spring Tx. The "Fort" was a grove of Mesquite trees. It provided enough cover that my Best Friend Mike and I could take our BB guns with us and shoot at birds and bottles and stuff without interference from the AP's (SP's now) Much like you, stepped on a large one that went through my shoe. Getting home and then to the Base Hospital was...painful. The Doc used a similar treatment although I think a penicillin shot was also in the mixture. I did get a pair of boots thereafter, so it wasn't all for nothing. I also was a lot more careful with where I stepped. Sometimes the most effective teaching technique is also the most painful.
Gonna see what the bubba's say at the tire store shortly. I have a sledge hammer in the garage. If they use a similar technique to what you used, it's new home might be under the back seat.
Yes, He is. And we're very grateful.
Thanks
Thinking back on the tire thing, I bashed it on the rim with the 4x4. Since the wood was softer it deformed. Mine was steel rims on cast iron, but they'd been there too long. I buzzed the hub hole in the rim with a sanding roll (split a dowel and stick a sandpaper strip through it, chuck it up and let it rip). I also used a wire wheel on the hub. Cleaned right up, and a little silicone spray on the offending parties going back together worked a treat.
DeleteSTxAR,
DeleteBashing was apparently the correct action. Logic would have dictated bash it OFF the axle (AKA from the inside towards the outside). Unfortunately, Logic seemed to be on vacation yesterday. But. Hard Lessons learned are learned best.
Crusty Old TV Tech here. I channel my inner Col Sherman T. Potter on your stall mucking-out, "That's Horse Hockey!!!"
ReplyDeleteOn the aluminum (or is it aluminium?) wheels on cast iron hubs, I have a "there I was" on that. Early 80's on Da Griff, and I had a flat on my 1982 Plymouth Turismo with aluminum wheels. It'd been through one winter to that point of what the locals called "fender solvent", so the offending wheel would not come off. Serious (SERIOUS!) corrosion on both the aluminum and cast iron mating surfaces. Tried the kicking trick, and the "put the lug nuts back on and drive a little forward and reverse" trick to break the corrosion seal loose. No joy. Next, I applied a bit of heat from a propane torch, CAREFULLY, so as not to damage sensitive bits. That did the trick, expanded the wheel just a little, it came off. To prevent recurrence, down to the Auto Hobby Shop we went, and up on the lift the car went. All 4 paws off (yes, 2 more had to be heated), and I used a drill and wire cup to remove corrosion on the wheels and the hubs. Then, the trick a long-timer Northern Tier SAC base AF NCO told me, a thin film of anti-sieze compound on the mating surfaces of wheel and hub. Not enough to fling off onto the brake rotors in front, a thin smear is all. No more troubles again with getting wheels off.
Crusty Old TV Tech,
DeleteInteresting solution. As I've said earlier, I am going to talk to them about prevention. I'll try to work that solution into the question.
Thanks
Saw your pickup doing stall duty, you need a "Loadhandler" pickup bed unloader. They have them on Amazon, less than $150.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago I spent $100 on one, the best money spent ever! They really work well...
Rob,
DeleteThanks for the info. Looks like that might be the right way to go.
The first time you unload the truck with it you won't have a doubt, especially if you used you back to fill it...
DeleteRob, is the gearing on the crank sufficient to move heavy loads? To empty these, I grabbed the edges at the front of the truck and had Mrs. J drive it out from underneath. I had to brace myself fairly carefully, but managed. The demo on that site showed only a small load of rocks. Also, is it permanently installed or relatively to put it on/take it off?
DeleteJust crank it out, a scoop of gravel with no problem, filled with chicken manure or firewood no problem. The scoop of sand was ALMOST too much for the truck but the loadhandler empire it fine.
DeleteThe bottom of the mat is slick..
Rob, OK, thanks
DeleteThank God for continued answer prayers, and NICU staff! If you decide that shifting to different wheels (steel vice aluminum) it's cost prohibitive, a good whack with a sledge hammer could break that wheel free in the future, assuming it's not so good as to damage the rim. Ammonia can break loose the "weld" but keep it off the steel. Or, the easiest fix could be loosening the lugs (not removing them), then driving back and forth with abrupt stops. I know, a lot of good that does you now.
ReplyDeleteTuna,
DeleteCost Prohibitive, yeah, I thought that would be the case. Truck's got 100K+ on it. I like it and am having no mechanical difficulties with it as of yet, so would like to keep it longer. But....
As several of you guys have recommended. the "Whacking" option seems to be a somewhat regular option. That and driving it with loosened lug nuts, sure does seem to indicate a design flaw as I can see a whole lot of things going wrong and only one thing going right. Suffice it to say, upon deciding on a new truck, a bit more attention will be paid to the wheels.
Thanks, Tuna, good info.
Ah, tires. Last Thursday, pulled out at 0830 (when, normally, we wake at 1200 due to issues...) and the Right Rear tire sensor went off, and the van (Ram Promaster City, a Fiat built in Turkey badged as Ram, basically the Ram version of the above Juvatwagon) started feeling slushy in corners. Took Mrs. Andrew to her appointment, and me and Kegan the wonderdog went to the tire store.
ReplyDeleteMuch worrying and... cold tires. And a little low. Cold and low. Free tire sensor system check and free refill and, et voila, system works. Made it back to Mrs. Andrew's appointment (at 0900, God, waaay too early) and van has been driving fine since.
Bleh.
Tires.
At least they last longer, usually, than 5-15k miles like in the old days...
Congrats on LJD.
And mucking? What you need is a skid loader and the ability to swing out the stall doors so you can just scoop everything up easily. Or a mini-backhoe. I'm sure Mrs. Juvat will approve the purchase.
Beans,
DeleteAfter the shoveling 5417 episode (gotta get the word past Sarge's automated bad word blocker), I'm positive Mrs. J would be on board.
Thanks.
What automated bad word blocker, shit happens. The only word I self-censor on is fire truck, or f**k, if you will. The only word I absolutely block or delete starts with an "n" - a word I cannot nor will ever abide.
DeleteHeh, 5417 ...
Sarge, I'm good, and agree, with those. But...got to give the powers that be a little....grief!
DeleteDuly noted.
DeleteYa know this goes on your permanent record, right? 😎😲🙄🤣🤣🤣
Ahhh, Well...c’est la vie!
DeleteThat's the fighter pilot talking, innit? 😁
DeleteYup!
DeleteWow, I had to pull a juvat comment out of the spam folder, yet good old Sarah Elizabeth keeps showing up. Nice own goal, Gargle.
DeleteVery happy to see that LJD is out of the woods. All our three of ours were well underweight, but the last one was ... well the docs and nurses were walking by in hushed tones saying, "You have two good, healthy kids... just what we wanted to hear - and this was back in '79. Now she's got a straw-colored boy, three years old that I keep trying to harness to a generator; think I may have discovered a way to keep the electric costs down.
ReplyDeleteBut getting to the point: not one of mine came with washing instructions (as shown on the photo with the nurse giving breathing instruction); we had to learn that all by ourselves.
Boron,
DeleteNot out of the woods yet, but the forest is starting to get brighter. Little J has to get a report from the hospital in order to start processing for LJD's travel back to HK. Unfortunately, the hospital has added a lot of "Yeah Buts" and "unless" to the form. He's a bit concerned that they (State) won't begin processing until it says LJD is perfectly healthy and could fly herself if an airplane isn't available.
Good to hear that your family, and others around here, have had good results from this issue. Give one hope!
Retirement! Where every day is a Saturday.....NOT! I can only imagine the complexities that running a small B&B can entail.
ReplyDeleteMucked stalls out daily when I was 10 and spent the Summer at my cousin's appaloosa ranch in Twin Falls, ID. Lots of work, but the hunting, fishing, and camping we did made up for it. And the "Ranch Food" was excellent.
Have a reverse situation with our all-electric heat. If you set them to a degree number that should be comfortable, it'll roast you! Our first Winters electric bills clobbered us, until I realized that 1) ALL the thermostats had a dial "calibration" that was consistently off the same amount, and 2) A reading of "60" on all the dials kept the house "just right" per my Sweet Little Wife.
We always used to put a little grease on the hub where it contacted the aluminum of an alloy wheel, and a bit on the ridge that centered the rim, if you had that kind of rim. I've read that when moisture creeps into the alloy wheel/iron hub interface (and it will), the galvanic corrosion that forms is what sticks the wheel on so solid. If the rims aren't regularly removed/replaced, say to rotate the tire, the corrosion builds up and sticks them together pretty good.
Really, really good to see your preemie doing so well. We've been through this this, and God Bless the whole NICU!
DrJim,
DeleteTru' Dat! first sentence.
The tire guy said they did add a little lube to help prevent (I noticed he didn't say "prevent" by itself) future occurrences. He did say that this occurrence was fairly common on Ford trucks. More's the pity.
Try not to hammer directly on the aluminum. Use something in between, like wood or a piece of heavy rubber, or even some plate steel. In the early days of mag wheels, you could pound on them, they were nearly indestructible. However, since CAD/CAM design days, they, like most all parts, are lacking the traditional fudge factor of excess strength. I've seen aluminum wheels shatter. Pickup wheels are stronger than car rims, but you can break them.
ReplyDeleteThere were a few times that I've had to jack a frozen rim off the axle. Run a jack from the frame to the rim, or from the other side's wheel, depending on the type of jack that was handy. I've seen a video of a shop that chained a backhoe bucket to the rim to pull it loose, and it was a fight!
Lube on the mating parts should help. Did the shop pull all the wheels off? If not, do them now, instead of the side of the road. Make sure the wheels and rotors/drums are cleaned before lube and mounting. I reccommend a 1/2" drive 24" flex bar with socket and ~3 inch extension be carried in the car/truck for lug nut removal. The stock lug wrench is near worthless for most people, especially when the shop uses an impact gun for installation. They are supposed to use a torque wrench, but virtually no one does, and they are almost always over tightened with that gun. Get the 24 inch, ignore the 18 inch tool, as it doesn't give enough leverage. The short extention is to allow you to get the bar parallel to the tire. Don't use a 6", as that tends to add too much side load to the socket. Make sure the socket will fit inside the wheel, as some don't give you much clearance around the nut. If your other vehicles use a different size lug nut, add that size to all, as you may have to make a service call for them. Generally, you will find 19mm and 21mm to be the most common. However, in my experience, oddball vehicles tend to have odd sizes of nuts or lug bolts.
Will,
DeleteThanks, That's a lot of good information. I got started on my augmented spare tire kit yesterday (rubber mallet and jack stands). Leaving to go visit LJD shortly. I'll re-read this and take notes when I get back. Thanks Again!