reliability in an emergency

[boristhespie]

Had fun Sunday. Pothole killed tyre. Bloody roads are a disgrace.

Anyhoo!

This was the second handle this has happened to. Really poor quality soft metal. Either than or I am Doctor David Banner.

http://www.snapfish.co.uk/snapfishuk/sl ... napfishuk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So got bolt off eventually and then this happened. Woohoo. I AM Doctor Banner!!

http://www.snapfish.co.uk/snapfishuk/sl ... napfishuk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And we couldn't get the bloody wheel off. It had seized on. Weird after only five months of the wheel having been put on. Took an hour of hammer and wood. All done in a field. Need new jack etc.

Any hints on good ones to get?

Ps. Luckily the Goodyears had a free puncture guarantee. Just had them done.

[CitroJim]

Boris, the pictures aren't showing

[Xantidote]

And we couldn't get the bloody wheel off

I guess this is an alloy wheel, and you've got a bit of corrosion of the wheel's inner radius where it engages the spigot on the hub. If so, clean up and apply a bit of grease.

I've read suggestion on the Forum (IIRC) that to free off a stuck wheel, slacken the wheel nuts (say 1 turn?) and roll/drive the car gently forwards/backwards very short distance. Never had to do this myself - us paupers can't afford alloys

[boristhespie]

Steel wheel but as you said. Stuck in the round. Sandpapered it after and new wheel on. The spare was immaculate. Never used.

[myglaren]

Check your 'steel' wheels with a magnet Boris.
Most C5 wheels are alloy, even LX ones. There was a problem with the steel wheels. My local ATS replaced 800 of them

As for the wheelbrace, get one of these:

[Old-Guy]

I guess this is an alloy wheel, and you've got a bit of corrosion of the wheel's inner radius where it engages the spigot on the hub. If so, clean up and apply a bit of grease.

Use ordinary HMP grease, NOT copper grease - the addition of a third (and even more elctro-positive) metal will only make matters worse!

I've read suggestion on the Forum (IIRC) that to free off a stuck wheel, slacken the wheel nuts (say 1 turn?) and roll/drive the car gently forwards/backwards very short distance. Never had to do this myself - us paupers can't afford alloys

It does work a treat regardless of what metal the wheels are made.

[boristhespie]

[/URL]

[/URL]

[citronut]

you do know the rule of thumb i presume " lefty loosy righty tighty "

[Hell Razor5543]

Just seen the pictures. Hello Dr Banner! Please don't get mad at me!

[Northern_Mike]

Had fun Sunday. Pothole killed tyre. Bloody roads are a disgrace.

Anyhoo!

This was the second handle this has happened to. Really poor quality soft metal. Either than or I am Doctor David Banner.

http://www.snapfish.co.uk/snapfishuk/sl ... napfishuk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've done this to the "wheelbrace" on a couple of Xantias and a 306. I think they are made of a particularly soft French cheese.

I managed to snap the end off a 3/8" extension bar last week. I'm sure the quality of tools is getting worse. I'm certainly not getting stronger.

[jacksun1987]

Ill get a trolly jack or bottle jack.
I dont trust them sizer jacks never have done never will.
When my suspension collapsed the sizer ones broke. Had to buy a trolly one to get undernieth

[boristhespie]

This is the second handle this has happened to. You are right, cheese indeed. It's like a soft alloy.

I think the only thong regarding jack is size. Would love a trolley jack but carrying on of them about would take up too much room would it not?

[CitroJim]

You are right, cheese indeed. It's like a soft alloy.

French cheese even!

No, it's not that, it's the fault of the gorillas they use in tyre places to do wheel nuts up who leave their rattle guns on 'near-shear'

If the tyre people took more care over their job then the supplied bar would be quite adequate for the job...

[Sean602]

"scissors" too

+1 for grease and the copper stuff is good for that sort of thing, loosen the nuts and re tighten with the brace you carry then you know its up to the torque applied grease monkeys like to punish you by rattling up the nuts to unfeasable torques

[andy5]

I wrecked a scissor jack years ago by stripping the thread

Ok, that probably means I hadn't greased it, but it did make me wonder about how many times I had actually used it, and of course the load is always on one side of the thread.