Post by scottwp72 on May 25, 2009 4:58:07 GMT -5
What's goin' on...
I too am a trailer mechanic /tireman/ welder fabricator (last 18+ years). I know from experience what a tire will do when run flat several times because I had one explode on me. An 11R24.5's sidewall blew (zipper break) while I was gauging the tire less than a foot away. Busted my right arm 3 places. (As far as you can tell when the sidewall gives from the cords popping and time to react that's BS!!! this happens in the blink of an eye!!!) I have a titanium plate the length of the radius bone in my forearm and I lost some supination rotation in my wrist. 7 years later as I type this my arm/wrist still has a dull ache that probably will never go away.
As hipacriticle as this may sound (coming from an experienced and prideful mechanic) sometimes gauging the tires all the time just isn't doable but at least gauge the steer tires. If you are or were a driver,inspector,or mechanic in a lightning fast paced fleet you know this and that thumping a tire is better than nothing. I started my career at M.S. Carriers in 91 or 92 in the fuel inspection lanes/pits and there wasn't time to gauge the tires. I've worked for a couple dump fleets where the drivers got paid per the dump and sometimes they had drop and hook still getting paid per dump on top of that they had to get a certain number of loads per day or they got wrote up. It all boils down to this if ya have time to gauge them DO IT if not a quick thump is better than nothing.
I too am a trailer mechanic /tireman/ welder fabricator (last 18+ years). I know from experience what a tire will do when run flat several times because I had one explode on me. An 11R24.5's sidewall blew (zipper break) while I was gauging the tire less than a foot away. Busted my right arm 3 places. (As far as you can tell when the sidewall gives from the cords popping and time to react that's BS!!! this happens in the blink of an eye!!!) I have a titanium plate the length of the radius bone in my forearm and I lost some supination rotation in my wrist. 7 years later as I type this my arm/wrist still has a dull ache that probably will never go away.
As hipacriticle as this may sound (coming from an experienced and prideful mechanic) sometimes gauging the tires all the time just isn't doable but at least gauge the steer tires. If you are or were a driver,inspector,or mechanic in a lightning fast paced fleet you know this and that thumping a tire is better than nothing. I started my career at M.S. Carriers in 91 or 92 in the fuel inspection lanes/pits and there wasn't time to gauge the tires. I've worked for a couple dump fleets where the drivers got paid per the dump and sometimes they had drop and hook still getting paid per dump on top of that they had to get a certain number of loads per day or they got wrote up. It all boils down to this if ya have time to gauge them DO IT if not a quick thump is better than nothing.