Men who cannot change a tire

[jcommin]

A few years ago, I owned a MB CLK500. It was a winter that had snow/ice on the road when I hit a pot hole and my rear passenger tire went flat. I pulled over and pondered to either call for help or change the tire myself. I decided to fix it myself. The road was miserable: ice and snow. I opened the trunk and found a full size spare, a scissor jack and a lug wrench. The scissor jack looked like 1/2 of what I normal scissor looked like and the lug wrench had a handle probably no longer that 12 inches. I struggled to break loose the lug nuts - I wished I had a breaker bar or a pipe to gain more leverage. Once that was done, I placed the jack under the car. I couldn't get the jack level on the ground because of the ice and snow, it slipped a few times. I finally got it stable or so I thought when it slipped and cracked the roll pan under the door. I'm at a point to either stop or continue. I proceeded to change the tire. Now I'm frustrated and upset because not only do I have a flat but body damage to the car.

I'm put everything back into the trunk when a VW hits the same pot hole and flattens a tire. The car pulls behind me and the driver opens his trunk to get his spare, jack and lug wrench. Offering to help, I look at his jack and it looks like mine. German cars I thought - POS jack. He is deciding to call for help or change it - the same decision I faced. Looking at his jack and knowing what I went thru, he decides to call for help. Probably money ahead I thought to myself. He waited for help and I moved on. I went back home, changed my pants and changed my shoes, I couldn't help but think how much this flat tire did actually cost me.

Next time - I call.

[2porscheguy]

OT but it definitely applies to this thread....

About 3 years ago my BIL Bob's furnace pilot light goes out on him on a Sunday evening in the middle of January. So, what does he do?.....in a panic he calls his 78 year old mother! She offers to call (and pay for !) for a service call from an LNG technician (probably about $250 as it's after hours). Luckily my other now former BIL Scott, who was living with her at the time (it's a long story...) grabs the phone and tells Bob that the instructions to re -light the pilot light are pretty simple and should be clearly indicated on a sticker on the side of the furnace. Bob confirms with him that there is such a sticker.... BUT he just can't do it himself as he's "just totally stressed out!!"

So Scott drives over to Bob's place at now 10 pm and lights the pilot light for him.....took him all of 30 seconds!

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by red-beard

X5. Oh, it is a rip-off! I'll be doing it myself using parts purchased from our HOST! I'll take the wheels off this weekend and look at everything. I'm just incensed that this "mechanic" was trying to take advantage of my wife. The shop was very good with our 2000 X5. I think the ownership changed between 2011 and now.

The M12 reverse-gender torx bolt to get the caliper off is the thing that will ruin your day. Don't do it with the wrong tool.

My dealer had new ones in stock, with an idiot surcharge.

[JackDidley]

Last time I got a flat was 2012. I changed it in the supermarket parking lot. Maybe 5 minutes. No way do I see a service truck getting there in 5 minutes. I hate waiting. The Porsche has no spare but I carry this.

[Mark Henry]

My 15yr/old changes the snows on both DD's every spring and fall, he's done that since he was 12.
Likely one of the very few kids to take a 911 case to school as part of an auto shop project.

Daughter had to make a how to video for class, she did "How to Change your Oil and Filter".

Couple years back I came across a 20-something girl, flat tire, dead cell, way out on a deserted gravel back road without a clue. No F'in way are my kids going to be in that situation.

[GothingNC]

It was easier to change tires when most imports only had 13 or 14 inch wheels and the wheel weighed about 10 pounds .

Usually took me 10 minutes tops to change a flat on my old 78 Honda Accord or 77 Rabbit.

[ted]

Those of us that do any towing make preparations for changing a trailer tire.
Just inside my trailer door, a charged electric impact gun and a torque wrench.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

Last time I got a flat was 2012. I changed it in the supermarket parking lot. Maybe 5 minutes. No way do I see a service truck getting there in 5 minutes. I hate waiting. The Porsche has no spare but I carry this.

Oh wow, never seen that before. Have you used it? Probably good for a passenger car tire. Does it say the ply rating on it?

[stealthn]

Last flat I changed was for a girl driving a Google Street View camera car; I just wanted to see how it worked. The whole back of the car was foam slots filled with removable hard drives.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Oh wow, never seen that before. Have you used it? Probably good for a passenger car tire. Does it say the ply rating on it?

No, I have not used it. If you go to their site, the have kits for all sorts of tires, including motorcycles.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

I have a nephew that is a transvestite. I doubt he could even start a lawn mower and I know that he wouldn't even know what a spare tire is.

It shouldn't matter what country he is from - he should know how to change a tire.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

It shouldn't matter what country he is from - he should know how to change a tire.

Funny chit.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by 2porscheguy

grabs the phone and tells Bob that the instructions to re -light the pilot light are pretty simple and should be clearly indicated on a sticker on the side of the furnace. Bob confirms with him that there is such a sticker.... BUT he just can't do it himself as he's "just totally stressed out!!"

Funny but at the same time almost tragic. How do guys like this function in their daily lives? Man Up!!

[manbridge 74]

I can understand why those who have the means and are good communicators wanting to pay for basic services. I could afford them easily and it would save me some time. But I enjoy challenging myself by learning and doing.

[rusnak]

There is nothing wrong with calling a tow truck when you have a flat tire.

The concept here is that is you can't change your tire, even if you have a spare, then there is something wrong with you.

It's similar to not being able to back up a boat trailer, or not being able to carve a Thanksgiving turkey, or not being able to put up a Christmas tree. If you can't do those things either, then there is something wrong with you. Oh, and if you always wear flip flops when doing man stuff, then there is definitely something wrong with you.

[fastfredracing]

Don't even get me started on men who wear flip flops . That deserves its own thread

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Don't even get me started on men who wear flip flops . That deserves its own thread

Double bonus demerits if they also have a man bun or a murse.
The only thing worse would be wearing ragged out black and white checked Vans, no socks, and posting pictures of themselves all the time.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Double bonus demerits if they also have a man bun or a murse.
[/COLOR]

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

It shouldn't matter what country he is from - he should know how to change a tire.

Hilarious, Joe!!!

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Don't even get me started on men who wear flip flops . That deserves its own thread

I wear flip flops all the time......but not while working. Then again I live on a barrier island.....

Originally Posted by stevej37

Ha....good one, Steve!

I actually took a pic of the last time I used my repair kit - the one for tubeless tires. It was in front of a client's house and I borrowed his floor jack instead of using the one in my truck. It was a screw that I could pull out with my channel locks. Didn't even have to remove the wheel. My helper couldn't believe it. He's one generation behind....

[Gretch]

Among the pussies, it is ok to be a pussy, and there are plenty of "explanations" offered.

Just know that real me are laughing at you............. and expect you will have a miserable day.