Perhaps I was enthused by our recent visit to Scotland but I felt it was time to do something to the Top Hat project.
Before our holiday, I collected the wheels from the metal treatment place. The PO had re-spoked the wheels thirty five years ago but then skimped on the painting, and fitted them with remould 4.00 x 19 tyres! I stripped off the (by now rotten) rubber and had the wheels grit blasted and powder coated. I acquired 4 tyres on eBay a few months ago, the vendor had a Russian motor bike and chair outfit with 3.50 x 19 Triple Duty tyres. He'd decided to change them for something more robust and was selling the used tyres. One was unused, two were near unused and one was about 2/3 tread. I bought another new one to complete the set and put them in the attic.
Fitted them this afternoon, boy that was a hard afternoon's work!
Funny, I remember doing a full changeover of tyres years ago, 5 off, another 5 off, 5 on and another 5 on. All in an afternoon! Now I'm sitting here, nursing my back after just doing 1 set!
Age huh?
BTW, bought some professional "Tyre Cream" instead of using washing up liquid. Seems to work OK and provided easier fitting but it does make a mess and it's quite difficult to wash away. Best plan seems to be to remove most when the tyre has been fitted, then leave it to dry and then polish the residue off.
Before our holiday, I collected the wheels from the metal treatment place. The PO had re-spoked the wheels thirty five years ago but then skimped on the painting, and fitted them with remould 4.00 x 19 tyres! I stripped off the (by now rotten) rubber and had the wheels grit blasted and powder coated. I acquired 4 tyres on eBay a few months ago, the vendor had a Russian motor bike and chair outfit with 3.50 x 19 Triple Duty tyres. He'd decided to change them for something more robust and was selling the used tyres. One was unused, two were near unused and one was about 2/3 tread. I bought another new one to complete the set and put them in the attic.
Fitted them this afternoon, boy that was a hard afternoon's work!
Funny, I remember doing a full changeover of tyres years ago, 5 off, another 5 off, 5 on and another 5 on. All in an afternoon! Now I'm sitting here, nursing my back after just doing 1 set!
Age huh?
BTW, bought some professional "Tyre Cream" instead of using washing up liquid. Seems to work OK and provided easier fitting but it does make a mess and it's quite difficult to wash away. Best plan seems to be to remove most when the tyre has been fitted, then leave it to dry and then polish the residue off.