It Happens

[Iowa Dave]

Did I ever tell you about the time........ his voice trailed off and they looked up, Iowa Dave had fallen asleep or passed out, mid sentence. We were at Denny’s and his face was in his meal.
True story, still a couple guys still alive that may remember.
Iowa Dave

 

[UncleTim]

Did I ever tell you about the time........ his voice trailed off and they looked up, Iowa Dave had fallen asleep or passed out, mid sentence. We were at Denny’s and his face was in his meal.
True story, still a couple guys still alive that may remember.
Iowa Dave

Please tell me someone has pictures of that.

 

[Donna D.]

Y'all are funny!

 

[gbaglo]

Pete McMartin?

Nope. Deni Eagland. Most of his adventures involved sidekick Danny Scott. ;D

 

[cpaharley2008]

We need a rally!

I'll drink to that....

 

[Centex]

The red-flag phrase more often than not immediately preceding a youthful misadventure:

"Hey, guys, watch this ...."

... ... ...

Yep, one sometimes marvels at what we managed to survive.

 

[Ron in BC]

The red-flag phrase more often than not immediately preceding a youthful misadventure:

"Hey, guys, watch this ...."

... ... ...

Yep, one sometimes marvels at what we managed to survive.

Yup, in the good old days all you got was a busted up head or a cast, now you can make money posting it on youtube.

Ron

 

[Centex]

Yup, in the good old days all you got was a busted up head or a cast, now you can make money posting it on youtube.

Ron

And I marvel at that, too . I must be getting old (thankfully) ;D

 

[emers382]

We need a rally!

I agree, especially one with Dave there although he manages to keep us updated with his stories on the forum

Two references in this thread to 1970's. Ronn mentioned a 70's Maverick, we actually saw one this week! Then there's old VW's. Beth learned to drive standard on her brother's VW in 1978 when I'd taken our car on my first transfer (Toronto to Saskatoon). She was doing a u-turn and one wheel fell off. She'd take our dog in the car for short trips and once the pup jumped out of the VW after being subjected to some rough starts in first gear.

 

[yangstyle]

Y'all are funny!

At least the guy working on the air conditioner is not standing on a stool on the ladder.

 

[Ronn]

She was doing a u-turn and one wheel fell off. She'd take our dog in the car for short trips and once the pup jumped out of the VW after being subjected to some rough starts in first gear.

: laugh: It sure doesn't take a lot to humor me, that created a laugh out loud picture.

 

[dfandrews]

Well, under "Young and stupid" and "Old VW":
In the 70's, I had a 1956 VW (small window) bug, that had a hitch, so I could tow my dune buggy (Made out of another VW chassis/belly pan/etc.).

One day, my girl friend's Chevelle died, so we (of course) towed it with the VW, over back roads, about 15 miles back to her home, where it eventually got repaired. We used a VW tow bar, lashed to the front of the Chevelle with chains. The only smart thing we did was that she was in the Chevelle under tow, to apply the brakes occasionally.

 

[dfandrews]

Ref. back to the original post: On Monday I was hauling some furniture in my utility trailer, when we slowed to pass a flat deck tow loading a disabled SUV. The tow driver was having to drag the front corner of the SUV onto the deck, because tire, wheel, drum, etc were missing. Only the spindle and some broken suspension remained. I wonder where that wheel (still attached to a brake drum or rotor) went rolling off to......

 

[schmidjo]

Having grown with parents that were always towing this or that, i've seen a fair share of wheels coming off...

For our new 17a this summer I un-did all the lugnuts and greased them and re-torqued, right away. I also do that with the tow vehicle.

Checked again after arriving at our first campground and again before each trip (along with tire pressure). Lubricate (grease or oil) is very important to make sure you get a good consistent preload given the torque (on threads AND the contact surface). Make sure to replace any galled nuts. I use torque wrench on one or two to make sure I am in the ball park, then just by feel/by hand ( toyota highlander lugnut wrench with an steel tube extension).

 

[Ron in BC]

For our new 17a this summer I un-did all the lugnuts and greased them and re-torqued, right away. I also do that with the tow vehicle.

Sorry but that goes against well established protocols and manufacturers' instructions.

I'd say do it at your own peril.

Ron

 

[Rossue]

Sorry but that goes against well established protocols and manufacturers' instructions.

I'd say do it at your own peril.

Ron

Isn't it more likely at the peril of someone like Peter Mays, 82 who was minding his own business in the passenger seat last Friday when a wheel came off a trailer going the opposite way and struck his car and killed him?

 

[Ron in BC]

Isn't it more likely at the peril of someone like Peter Mays, 82 who was minding his own business in the passenger seat last Friday when a wheel came off a trailer going the opposite way and struck his car and killed him?

Could be, the grease will lead to over torquing, not a good thing. Or help the lug nut come undone. Easy on, easy off.

All that's needed with wheel studs is a light wire brushing if they have a bit of surface rust and you can't spin them on with your fingers.

I hate to see advice like this posted knowing so many newbies hang on every word they read on the forum.

Ron

 

[Centex]

Lubricate (grease or oil) is very important to make sure you get a good consistent preload given the torque (on threads AND the contact surface).

I beg readers to disregard this 'advice' - please refer to your vehicle's workshop manual.

I'm sorry but that's simply 100% contrary to fastener torque procedures I've encountered in a long lifetime of working on vehicles. With extremely rare and very specific exception, torque specifications are based on CLEAN AND DRY fasteners. Road-wheel lugs / nuts are NOT one of those rare and specific exceptions.

ALL contact surfaces involved in the mounting of road-wheels should be CLEAN AND DRY to ensure proper fitment, function, and safety of the assembly. That's not just my opinion, if you read manufacturer workshop manuals I'm 100% confident you'll find that's consistent with those procedures / specifications for all road-wheel assemblies of the sort that folks will encounter with an Escape / Escape tow vehicle.

 

[bdornbush]

I always torque my lug nuts before starting on a trip but I wonder... If someone else has installed the tire and OVERTORQUED the bolts, is that a problem? Is the proper procedure to loosen the lug nuts then torque to the proper spec? Or is it OK to just be sure that the minimum torque is reached?

 

[Centex]

I always torque my lug nuts before starting on a trip but I wonder... If someone else has installed the tire and OVERTORQUED the bolts, is that a problem? Is the proper procedure to loosen the lug nuts then torque to the proper spec? Or is it OK to just be sure that the minimum torque is reached?

Fastener torque specifications are 'absolute' (usually within a range of specified tolerance), not a 'minimum expression'. Over-torque can lead to fastener failure and/or distortion / damage of the components being fastened.

One should be cautious about re-tightening fasteners that have been in place for a time without removing them to ensure the surfaces are CLEAN of accumulated corrosion which can lead to false torque values.