24-08-2019, 07:02 PM
At a local Steam and Stuff gathering I met Austin Ruby today and I'm getting my version into print first! today I had a puncture! I was in my three-wheeler (no spare non removable wheels) on the way to a pub outside Harrogate when the steering went funny,I saw the tyre was deflating pulled over as soon as poss and climbed out. I always carry a tyre inflator but it was not there, then I remembered I'd put it in the Austin 7 for le Puy N-D and Guildtown. Still I had the squirty can and I was surprised it was still active as I bought it in 2008 when the Pembleton Brooklands was ready.
It blew up the tyre and I went on my way for 3 miles wondering how I was going to sort it but at least there was the possibiilty of assistance at the gathering. I just made it to the pub car park before it went totally flat.
Graham said he had a 19" tube on a motorcycle wheel so up to his shed looking for the wheel (BSA C12) and tyre levers. I took the tyre off and extracted the tube and checked it for pressure. Back to the pub and I had to use his savage tyre levers with card and plastic protectors to take the tyre off the wheel, still on the car on a jack/axle stand.
A nice tiny hole in the side but no trace of anything to cause it. I had to fully remove the tyre to find a small screwdriver which I have been looking for since I fitted the tyre in the first place. I'd used it to guide the valve stem into place and it had obviously fallen in unnoticed. STUPID BOY!
Still, the experience was useful but I did feel like the Cabaret as there were about 8 blokes sitting on chairs with pints offering helpful (?) comments and suggestions. I managed to get the tyre back on without the levers using my feet and a wooden punch rescued from the traction engine firebox.
It blew up the tyre and I went on my way for 3 miles wondering how I was going to sort it but at least there was the possibiilty of assistance at the gathering. I just made it to the pub car park before it went totally flat.
Graham said he had a 19" tube on a motorcycle wheel so up to his shed looking for the wheel (BSA C12) and tyre levers. I took the tyre off and extracted the tube and checked it for pressure. Back to the pub and I had to use his savage tyre levers with card and plastic protectors to take the tyre off the wheel, still on the car on a jack/axle stand.
A nice tiny hole in the side but no trace of anything to cause it. I had to fully remove the tyre to find a small screwdriver which I have been looking for since I fitted the tyre in the first place. I'd used it to guide the valve stem into place and it had obviously fallen in unnoticed. STUPID BOY!
Still, the experience was useful but I did feel like the Cabaret as there were about 8 blokes sitting on chairs with pints offering helpful (?) comments and suggestions. I managed to get the tyre back on without the levers using my feet and a wooden punch rescued from the traction engine firebox.