Gonzo. Done for. Outta here. Yup, there isn't a truck tire made that we haven't figured out how to slash. But since we're usually too lazy to break out the spare, we've also gotten pretty durn fine at getting down the trail on patched, stitched, and repatched rubber. What if the air just refuses to stay inside? A small hole isn't a big deal--just break out the Safety Seal kit and plug the sucker, er, blower (see "The Hole Truth," July '96). It's the big hankin' sidewall gashes that get fun, but we figured out a way to stitch them up so you can limp home if you're spareless and slashed. However, consider this a temporary emergency repair and not one you should ever use at speeds above a trail crawl. TOOLS *Air compressor *Needle-nose pliers *Tire-plug rasp *Two large pliers SUPPLIES *Bailing wire The problem? A 1/2-inch or longer cut in a sidewall. It's too big to just stuff with multiple tire plugs because the sidewall flexes and spits them out. But when you're stranded, you have to find a way to get off the trail. Our brainstorm repair began by reaming the hole with a pointed rasp we keep in the tire-plug kit.The problem? A 1/2-inch or longer cut in a sidewall. It's too big to just stuff with multi Next, we had one guy pull the gash open with two pairs of large pliers while another used the angle-bent-type needle-nose pliers to poke lengths of bailing wire through the sidewall from the inside out. We were careful not to place the wire stitches too close together to prevent the sidewall from ripping more.Next, we had one guy pull the gash open with two pairs of large pliers while another used After we fed about five lengths of wire through the gash, we closed the hole as much as possible while wrapping the ends of the stitches together with an end cutter, but the needle-nose would have worked, too.After we fed about five lengths of wire through the gash, we closed the hole as much as po The resulting wound looked like it belonged on Frankenstein's forehead. Pretty spiffy, but still not good enough to hold air.The resulting wound looked like it belonged on Frankenstein's forehead. Pretty spiffy, but Since the stitches had partitioned the sidewall slice into a number of smaller holes, we were able to use the good, sticky Safety Seal plugs to fill them. We stopped counting at 22 plugs, since we had to keep feeding them in while airing up and listening for new leaks.Since the stitches had partitioned the sidewall slice into a number of smaller holes, we w We aired up with our handy ARB portable compressor. The trick was to find the right pressure--we needed enough to seat the plugs, but not so much that they puked out. Too little pressure also induced sidewall flex that worked the plugs out or enlarged the incision. So, yes, it's an iffy repair that won't always work--and should never be used on the highway. But, hey, it got us off the dirt.We aired up with our handy ARB portable compressor. The trick was to find the right pressu SOURCES ARB 2-06/-264-1669 www.arbusa.com Safety Seal/North Shore Labs P.O. Box 129 Peabody MA 01960 Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
