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3 blown tires and 12 hrs later. . . (long read)
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Posted by ShepFL on August 09, 2004 at 21:48:19 from (63.175.91.84):
Hello Matt E. and thanks from all of us. The '49 H is now sitting safely here at my place. It was a pleasure to talk with you and thanks again. Watch this site periodically for progress reports. Prepped trailer for the haul and found a bad tire, replaced it. Ride up to Atlanta was uneventful, tractor loaded without major effot. Went to other side of Atlanta for breakfast at a buddy's house (braggin I was). Got a 2nd flat on the trailer. No sweat, bought a used tire, got it mounted on my rim and we are and homeward bound. Here is where it gets FUN -
About 3 hours from home in Cordele, GA about 3:30pm when right rear tire on the truck blew out (bad luck comes in 3s). Believe you me my backside puckered up tighter than a gnat's a$$. All I could think of (scared to death) the trailer would fish tail, snap free then trailer & tractor would be a$$ over tea kettle in the middle of the freeway. Got the rig pulled over and stopped. Checked everything out on the trailer and nothing even wiggled loose (Thanks GOD!) and thanks to 4 point tie down. Got out the jacks and began prep work to change tire. Real FUN now begins -
Last jacka$$ to rotate and balance tires used an impact wrench set to BALL BUSTER or KILLER! Got 5 of 6 lug nuts off but the 6th one refused to even BUDGE. Ended up twisting the cheap factory lug nut wrench, got out the 4way lug wrench and using cheater pipe I managed to snap it trying to get this lug nut off - it is now 5:30. Called local sherriff's office to send patrol car with (hopefully) new 4way lug wrench. Deputy shows up and with his wrench we rounded the corners off the nut @#$%@#!@#$!! - it is now 6:00pm. Called local TA Truckstop (mile marker 97) asked to have service truck dispatched. Young mancub with more metal on his face and ears than I had pocket change shows up, deputy departs - it is now 6:30pm. Mr. Titanium goes to service truck and comes back with 9/16 socket and 3/8 drive ratchet - YGTBSM!! Inform Mr. T that he needs impact wrench, 2.5# sledge hammer and a socket smaller than 22mm. Go figure a service truck with no tools. Mr. T drives back to TA to get more tools at unknown mileage rate. Mr. T returns at 7:30pm with 21mm socket, no impact gun, no air and a tire bead breaking hammer and spoon. We pound socket onto lug nut, then using his ratchet and cheater pipes we manage to make ratchet for reaching around corners. Mr. T now decides to repeat this stunt with a different ratched drive but we now round the nut even more. Time is 8pm and I got 3+ hrs. to drive. Mr. T is now stumped (Well I ain't never . . .), me, I am severly peeved, kids are whining about gnats and my buddy is concerned that he will be late coming home (What time can I tell wifey we will be home?). Me and Mr. T go back to service truck looking for ideas on how to tackle this, still ain't no tools on the truck. Tell Mr. T to go back to shop and bring COLD chisel, heavy hammer and preferably impact gun with chisel point. Off goes Mr. T and he nearly gets smashed by on-coming traffic. 8:30 Mr. T rtns. with 12oz ball peen hammer and 3/4" wood chisel. I say What the he11 you gonna do with that. Ah says Mr. T, ancient Chinese secret - use chisel to drive nut off. After 30 min. of ancient Chinese secret I get out portable drill and drill edge of stud and thru lug nut. Tell Mr. T to use his little silversmith hammer and chisel to try and bust nut apart. Unbeknownst to Mr. T wood chisels are brittle and edges break when using as a cold chisel. By now I am way pi$$ed but maintaining my composure. 9:30 send Mr. T back to shop (mileage rate still unknown) to get heavy hammer and cold chisel or portable torch. Mr. T returns quickly with big screwdriver and 16 oz. ball peen hammer. Begins to chip away parts of the nut. Finally I tell Mr. T to put up tools, get in truck while I drop trailer. I will limp truck down the shoulder to his TA work shop. Oh it gets better - mo' fun !!
Mr. T then follow me with flashers going while I watch in rearview as he attempts to navigate road pylons by weaving in and out of them. Get to shop at 10pm only to find out "our" side has no air. Mr. T gets small hyd. bottle jack and he resumes silver smithsmithing efforts. He is now satisfied rim will come off with few smart smacks from tire bead breaker hammer. Nope - still stuck. Now Mr. T decides smoke wrench is in order. Instead of cutting off stud Mr. T attempts to heat lug nut remnants and blow them out with O2. Time is now 10:30pm and we find out Mr. T can braze aluminum and steel nut to the stud bolt. O glee!! I take torch from Mr. T and cut off the dang stud myself, beat wheel to break Mr. T's brazing job. Mount the spare, use Mr. T's ratchet and tighten lugs. It is now 11pm. It's your payday, uh huh, it's your payday -
Mr. T directs me to "Mr. I have more metal than Mr. T" to settle my bill. Mileage, hourly rate, service call fee, misc, etc. now comes to $387.62! Read that again $387.62!! Bull$hit I say it will be cold day in h#ll before I pay that. Me and Mr. More Metal Man heatedly discuss incurred debt. Finally settle on $100 cash. Locate ATM, pay the metal man highway robber, jump in the truck and leave TA to get my trailer. Wouldn't you know it, that used tire is now LOW!!
Screw it, hook up and let's roll. Finally locate gas station with 75cent air and fill used tire.
It is now Monday 12:03am Drive, drive some more then get to GA/FL line and drive some more. Eyes are heavy, mentally drained and everyone is snoring to high heaven. Pull into driveway at 3am, tell boys to wash up and get in bed. Go outside to get chores done. Come in an cleanup hit the sack at 4am. Alarm rings at 5am, hit snooze twice then get boys up so they can catch bus at 6am (poor lil fellas are plum WORE OUT!!). Shave, get some sweet tea and leave for work. Get to bus stop and boys asleep under tree waiting on bus that has been there and gone. Wake them up, load 'em up and drop them at the Middle school. Long day at work. Get home and planned to haul rig over to show my FL buddies. That danm Atlanta tire is low again. Screw it, let's just go have supper at Gene & Ruby's and convey this story. Tractor and everyone arrived home safe and sound and no less for wear and tear. However I do plan on leaving TA a letter to Sr. Mgmt. about pi$$ poor service truck expereince, lack of knowledgeable staff and what a fantastic public image Mr. T and Mr. More Metal provide for TA. 12:28am Tues. Just finished givin' ya'll the update on the free 1949 H. Make a mental note to yourself to DO NOT use TA at mile marker 97 around Cordele, GA. Who knows, maybe Mr. T will come out in a tu-tu with his silversmithing tools to visit ya! Good night, will check feedback from work.
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