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Pat Anderson
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 8553 City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:59 am Post subject: Reflections on Flat Tires |
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Ever have a flat tire on your trailer? I just did, a nail through the sucker, fortunately it was in my driveway and not halfway across the country...but here is what I learned from this experience. First, the lug wrench in the Expedition is too shallow to fit over the trailer lug nuts. OK, a bunch of scrounging around in the garage, finally came up with a suitable lug wrench. Second, the lug nuts were almost like they were welded on. Some more scrounging to find the Liquid Wrench and a sledge hammer to whack the end of the lug wrench to get them loose. Third, didn't have a suitable jack in the Expedition, yet more scrounging to find a 4 ton bottle jack in the basement. Finally, the bottle jack needed about a foot of blocks to get ithe trailer up high enough for the tire to clear the ground. Now, if that flat tire happened on the road, I wouldn't have had any of the stuff I needed, plus we don't have a spare mounted on the trailer like we used to with the 22. So this, plus all the stuff about trailer bearings, brakes and other things about which I know nothing, has got me worried about leaving my driveway again... _________________
DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com
Last edited by Pat Anderson on Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Byrdman
Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 3320 City/Region: Cumberland River, Clarksville,
State or Province: WA
Vessel Name: " ? " After Rename Ceremony
Photos: FreeByrd and C-Byrd
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:17 am Post subject: |
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OK Pat... calm down. You have to feel like you have won a battle brother. Enjoy a nice train. Now, you have two things to take care of...
#1: Check all your insurance policies, clubs, organizations, and find out about tow insurance/tire replacements. Some things are just best hired out. No pulled muscles, busted fingers, or other body parts out of whack??? Good Job!
#2: Just realize, that either you, or some handy friend who might be more mechanically inclined than you are, might also do the at least annual maintenance on your trailer while he is doing his.....or.... just bring in a mini-keg of train to a nice local mechanic.... and have it done. Salt water bad...fresh water not a lot better.
Well....OK,,, I use pulled pork and ribs instead of a mini-keg.
_________________ Patrick Byrd "Byrdman"
Cumberland River TN home waters Puget Sound Summers.
Miss B - CD22A, Aug 2018
C-Byrd, CD18A, Hull #14 sold again.. May 2020
C-Byrd, CD18A, Hu #14 - Bought her again - May16
Aloysius, Sold to Brother Mike Mar16
Aloysius, Hull # 440 RF-246
C-Byrd, CD18A, Hull #14 Sold May09
TC24, Hull #51, Sold Feb06
CD16A, Sold Dec03
Never Deny Yourself The Pleasure of Helping Others. |
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dotnmarty
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 4196 City/Region: Sammamish
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: LIZZIE II
Photos: Lizzie
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Just take Crabby Lou. You don't even need the Expedition, you can pull it with the Subaru. _________________ MartyP
"...we're all in the same boat..." |
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5313 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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...and you and Austin can lift it up while Patty changes the tire.
I carry a long handle ratchet, extension and socket in the truck for the lugs. I have never tried the Dodge jack, but looked at it and figured it will work. It not, I'll figure out something alongside the road. _________________ TyBoo Mike
Sold: 1996 25' Cruise Ship
Sold: 1987 22' Cruiser |
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dotnmarty
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 4196 City/Region: Sammamish
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: LIZZIE II
Photos: Lizzie
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Mike, you're a funny guy. heh, heh |
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Da Nag
Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 2819 City/Region: Port Angeles
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: Taco
Photos: <a>Da Boats</a>
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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Anti-seize is your friend...every lug nut I ever install, gets a coating.
Just a tiny dab on the lug is all it takes - makes a huge difference, especially on the trailer. Between the surge brake heat and the salt water, those nuts will get frozen up in no time without it...
Plenty of choices out there - I've had a can of this stuff for about 5 years, and I've hardly put a dent in it. _________________ Will, C-Brat Nerd |
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Dora~Jean
Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Posts: 1504 City/Region: Simi Valley
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Dora~Jean
Photos: Dora~Jean
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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Absolutely Bill, I use the same brand but in the tube, works great, and I also check the lug tightness about twice a year or before every long trip for sure.
Hey, just thinking, would that be better to use on the prop shaft than marine lube, or would it wash off too easily. Hmmm. _________________ Steve & Carmen
"Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance" (Samuel Johnson)
Dora~Jean C-Dory 25 2002-Present
Corsair F-31 Trimaran 1996-2002
MacGregor 26X 1988-1996
Glaspar Seafair Sedan 18 (2)
StarCraft 19 & 22
Catalina 17 & 22
Crestliner 19
+4 Previous, 1/2 sail, 1/2 power |
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5313 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Dora~Jean wrote: | Hey, just thinking, would that be better to use on the prop shaft than marine lube, or would it wash off too easily. Hmmm. |
There is actually suspended particles of metal (copper, aluminum, who knows what else) in the stuff and I wonder if they might react in the salt water. We use a high-content copper anitseize compound in the pulp mill and it works great in all the bad stuff there, but I would be leery of keeping it underwater. Plus, I don't have to buy the shafts and props at the mill.
I do agree with putting it on the lugs, though. Works great. |
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Dora~Jean
Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Posts: 1504 City/Region: Simi Valley
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Dora~Jean
Photos: Dora~Jean
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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I hear ya Mike, a little too expensive to go experimenting with the props/shafts using something that wasn't made for that use. The marine grease seems to be adequate as long as you don't let it go too long between pulling the props. |
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Larry H
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 2041 City/Region: Tulalip,
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1991
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Nancy H
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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That product contains aluminium, copper and graphite.
All three can cause electrolysis in salt water. I would stick to what the manufacture recommends for prop shafts. Graphite based grease also can cause corrosion on SS shafts. _________________ Larry H
A C-Brat since Nov 1, 2003
Ranger Tug 27 ex 'Jacari Maru' 2017 - 2022
Puget Trawler 37 ex 'Jacari Maru' 2006-2017
1991 22' Cruiser, 'Nancy H'--1991-2006 |
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teflonmom
Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 415 City/Region: Red Lion
State or Province: PA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Snickers AUG 08
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: Flat tires |
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Sorry to say I have some experience in this field. I will give you the benefit of my experience.
Number one after you have lubed the lug nuts. Join BOAT US and their Trailering Club. It only costs $10.00 a year over your basic membership. This could be the best ten bucks you ever will spend. The 800 number gets you help when you are far from home and would not have a clue who to call. On one trip to FL we used the service twice. Both service companies were very helpful and got us going as quick as possible.
After that trip we have always carried a good jack and lots of wooden blocks, a good spare, and a grease gun to refill the hubs after a long run. _________________ Pat & Fred Messerly |
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CAVU
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 665 City/Region: Spokane
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: CAVU
Photos: CAVU
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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Pat,
Another thing to check: sometime the spare tire is bolted to the carrier with a different size nut than your lug nuts. I found this out the hard way with a flat on a different trailer. I now carry a long breaker bar and sockets for my truck tires, trailer tires and the spare tire carrier. _________________ Ken Trease
22 CD Cruiser, CAVU
Twin 40HP Hondas |
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Alasgun Guest
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject: Reflections on flat tires |
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Karma says: quit rooting for Seattle and you will not have flat tires!
Mike on Huda Thunkit |
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Alyssa Jean
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 2375 City/Region: Guemes Is.(Anacortes)
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: Alyssa Jean
Photos: Anna Leigh and Alyssa Jean
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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A little late to be rooting for Seattle I think. Only about 3 hours left before the great commercials start. I wish the breaks for the game were shorter! _________________ David and Kate
Alyssa Jean 16 Angler
Anna Leigh 22 Cruiser Sold 2005
Anna Leigh 25 Cruiser Sold 2014
K7KJR C-Brats #51 |
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DaveS
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 3204 City/Region: Arlington
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Shift
Photos: Sea Shift
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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Pat,
Quit listening to all the above advice! Go out, purchase a Dodge Diesel, hitch it to your boat trailer and drag it anytime, anywhere you want ....who cares if your surge brakes seize up or your tires are flat (they're only flat on the bottom), the Dodge Diesel, will "git 'er done"! _________________ Dave S.
"Sea Shift"
C-Brat #16 |
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