#282686 - 11/01/16 12:27 AM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: Teslinhiker]
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Old Hand
Registered: 09/12/01
Posts: 960
Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada
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I really prefer a universal type lug wrench such as this one on amazon.com. Nothing special about that particular lug wrench, they're fairly generic, but that design gives you much better control and power over the cheap one size POS lug wrenches that come in your car's kit. If anyone is looking to purchase a 4 way lug wrench, make sure to get a 20" model as those little 14' models do not give a person a lot of leverage. Also depending on vehicle fenders (flare) and rims, the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel. Not to mention what could also happen to your face and head being that close to the vehicle when the wrench slips. Also, these wrenches are made separately in SAE and Metric sizes. However there are also a lot of hybrid wrenches on the market that are both SAE and metric combined which take a comprise fit on the different SAE and metric lug nut sizes. It is best to avoid those hybrid wrenches and determine which lug nuts your vehicle requires and purchase either the SAE or metric only. Yep, you bet. I got the larger metric wrench (better leverage) -2015 Ford Escape. Canadian Tire had both sizes. Then I walked outside and ensured it fitted the vehicle before driving away from the parking lot. "My Mamma didn't raise no dummies!"
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#282690 - 11/01/16 08:12 AM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: Roarmeister]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/08/02
Posts: 1821
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Try a ~36"/1m long 1/2" drive cheap breaker bar w/ deep impact socket. The impact rating on the socket is important. I managed to split a normal deep socket at the corner with the bar using it on lug nuts put on with an impact wrench. I always keep a little WD-40 in the kit as well. And a little trick I learned as a kid opening Mom's pickle jars -- by using sharp blows to vibrate the lug nut free. Why use excessive force when a little know-how and technique work better? But that's not where I often have a problem, its the seal at the hub itself. In the past I have resorted to mule kicking the rim to release the seal. These little tricks come from experience, you won't find any of these tips in the Owners Manual. A little coating of ceramic grease on the inner edge of the wheel that contacts the hub prevents that. It's the part of rusts a little and gets stuck to the hub. Don't apply grease on the flat surface, where the wheel touches the hub. It's not only the bolt holding the wheels, but also the friction of the surfaces on each other.
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#282698 - 11/01/16 06:16 PM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: Roarmeister]
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Old Hand
Registered: 05/29/10
Posts: 863
Loc: Southern California
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I always keep a little WD-40 in the kit as well. And a little trick I learned as a kid opening Mom's pickle jars -- by using sharp blows to vibrate the lug nut free. Why use excessive force when a little know-how and technique work better? But that's not where I often have a problem, its the seal at the hub itself. In the past I have resorted to mule kicking the rim to release the seal. These little tricks come from experience, you won't find any of these tips in the Owners Manual. I learned the same trick for breaking loose frozen machine screws. Place the driver in the screw and give the back of the driver a couple of medium hard whacks with a hammer. As for the little centering ring on the back of the hub freezing to the axle (I'm assuming it's metal). Have you looked at anti-seize compounds? My problem has always been breaking loose the lug nuts after the shop tightened them with a impact wrench! I usually end up bouncing up and down on the end of the lug wrench. My next automotive purchase will be a 2 ft breaker bar or telescoping lug wrench. The spare tire is 28" diameter, so I should be able to store the wrench in with it. FWIW, I have a cheap click type torque wrench from Harbor Freight with deep sockets that I purchased years ago. For torqueing the occasional critical nut and bolt (trailer hitches, lug nuts, serpentine belt tensioner), it's been worth more than what I paid for it.
Edited by Mark_R (11/01/16 06:20 PM)
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Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane
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#282709 - 11/03/16 02:53 AM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: Mark_R]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/08/03
Posts: 1019
Loc: East Tennessee near Bristol
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I usually end up bouncing up and down on the end of the lug wrench. BTDT on a motorhome. The lug wrench that came with it was a two piece affair that went together similar to one of the four way wrenches. End result was bent the wrench and called road service to send a truck with an impact wrench. We added an electric impact wrench to the tool bay when we got back from the trip.
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#282739 - 11/08/16 01:22 AM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: Teslinhiker]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 12/06/06
Posts: 390
Loc: CT
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...the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel... I always seem to end up bloody, no matter what. I told nephew1 that the first thing I do, when I have to work on the truck, is raise the hood, lay my left hand on the fender, and give it a good enough whack with a wrench, to draw blood. THAT'S my sacrifice to the gods. Sometimes it works, perhaps only enough to keep in the forefront: "Jeez, I don't want to do that again, today."
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Improvise, Utilize, Realize.
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#282741 - 11/09/16 07:59 PM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: UncleGoo]
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Old Hand
Registered: 05/29/10
Posts: 863
Loc: Southern California
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...the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel... I always seem to end up bloody, no matter what. I told nephew1 that the first thing I do, when I have to work on the truck, is raise the hood, lay my left hand on the fender, and give it a good enough whack with a wrench, to draw blood. THAT'S my sacrifice to the gods. Sometimes it works, perhaps only enough to keep in the forefront: "Jeez, I don't want to do that again, today." Mechanix makes a pair of gloves with soft rubber along the back of the fingers and knuckles. Dexterity, while not as good as single use nitrile gloves, is still surprisingly good for the amount of protection it offers. http://www.mechanix.com/automotive/m-pact**************************************************************************************** In other news: started passport applications for the wife and kids and got serious about my diet.
_________________________
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane
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#282785 - 11/21/16 09:43 PM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 2574
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upgraded the maps in my GPS, and bought a new 30 l backpack
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#282789 - 11/21/16 09:54 PM
Re: What did you do today to prepare?
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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We had our first snowfall today, accompanied by a pretty wicked wind. No snowbrush or scraper in the car. That's now corrected, along with adding a grain shovel, deep freeze washer fluid and some kitty litter. Switched out my day pack for a larger one, and went through all the contents. Changed all the batteries, charged everything, checked all the liquids/expiry dates/packaging/etc. Also added some more warm weather gear, a little more cordage, campfire cooking stuff including a bigger pot for melting snow, and a beefer fire kit.
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