Just when you least expect it!
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:04 pm
There I was.......beautiful day out, chores all caught up, so I get to work on a tractor. As I open the shop door, I find my '74 down on the back left tire. It's had a very slow leak, so no total suprise. So, I kick on the air comp. and air it up......using the eyeball and tire thump method to determind the pressure. When I'm done, I roll it outside in the sunlight to enjoy the 60ish weather and to put my replacement hood, fuel bowl, and craft a metal fuel line using George Willer's technique. All is going well, soaking up the sun, birds chirping nothing but a slight breeze could be heard. Then, as I'm squatted down on the left side measuring for the fuel line..........KAAAAAABOOOOOOOOM! The 40 year old tire decided to let go. Dust, tools, and bits of rubber went flying. Stunned, I just rolled over into a ball, not knowing at first what had happened. I thought the gas tank may have exploded, but as I began to get my wits re-aligned, I saw nothing was on fire and the tank was intact. As I got back on my feet, I noticed the tire. It had blown the side wall out along a spot I thought was just a little weather checked. Man, my heart was in over-drive. Took me a few minutes to get my hands steady again. Then I couldn't do nothing but laugh. I don't think I'll be seeing those birds around for a while.
Moral of the story........don't trust yourself not to over inflate a tire, and, don't put a lot of faith in a 40 year old weather checked tire.
Moral of the story........don't trust yourself not to over inflate a tire, and, don't put a lot of faith in a 40 year old weather checked tire.