Question about changing tire in the field

[commandojeff]

I have been thinking about how our troops change tires out in the field. Specifically what wrench do they use for the singles and how hard is it for them to do? Ever have issues of not being able to break lug nuts loose and so forth? Do they have any other tools besides just a normal lug wrench? Any information would be much appreciated. Trying to get a grasp on this as soon as I can.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[scottjhl]

A Geared lug wrench is invaluable for working on tire changes...

 

[commandojeff]

Do they make one for the singles? I haven't seen one. Got any pictures?

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

Do they make one for the singles? I haven't seen one. Got any pictures?

'

Its the same wrench as for the duals.

 

[commandojeff]

'

Its the same wrench as for the duals.

No kidding? I have a couple of those wrenches and I didn't think they worked for anything but budd nuts. huh, maybe I overlooked this...

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

No kidding? I have a couple of those wrenches and I didn't think they worked for anything but budd nuts. huh, maybe I overlooked this...

You use the large bar through the budd socket braced against the ground.

 

[commandojeff]

Huh, thanks for the info! I know what you are saying now. I just figured I got the wrong wrench!

 

[quickfarms]

Are the bars for the geared lug wrench hardened steel or just cold roll? Additionally how long are they?

 

[patracy]

I cheat. A impact gun, gladhand hose, and budd socket are standard equipment any time I'm going outside the county.

 

[MWMULES]

We used the aluminum camo net pole as a cheater/breaker bar on the Budd wrench. They are tougher than they look.

 

[commandojeff]

I cheat. A impact gun, gladhand hose, and budd socket are standard equipment any time I'm going outside the county.

You answered another question I was throwing around in my mind. I was wondering how well the truck could supply enough air to run a large impact for an amount of time. I guess it is useable though.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[SCSG-G4]

The GI's that were/are doing tire changing, have much newer tires/wheels/nuts to work with, not the ones that have been rusting solid for the past 10-20 years (or longer). Best thing you can do for your truck is to take them off and give them some anti-sieze while you are at your shop/home/lz. That way you are not dealing with 'frozen' parts on the side of the road, usually in the wind and rain.

 

[patracy]

You answered another question I was throwing around in my mind. I was wondering how well the truck could supply enough air to run a large impact for an amount of time. I guess it is useable though.

Thanks for the info guys.

Don't expect to bust off all the nuts at one time, I can tell you that for sure! You'll also run it low of air. Just give it a few minutes before going back at it. I want to say I get six lug nuts off per "charge". Course I've got anti-seize on them. I haven't done it in a 900 series truck though. I know my 931 has much larger air tanks than my deuces.

 

[greenmonster]

I used the harbor frieght 3/4in wrench set and a cresent wrench becuase on mine you have a 9/16 line a 5/8 bolt holding valve on front and a 1 1/8 holding valve on rear axle and the lug nuts are 1 1/2 so you need to have a couple of sizes to get it done. I just changed out the blow out I had on the way to vegas putting a new tire on the spare and that was a miserable job between carc paint on studs and the liner ring I am not looking forward to the other six tires I plan on doing.

 

[sandcobra164]

In the field, we do the best we can. In private hands, a air powered impact is nice. We just did a tire change on an M923. We broke the top of a budd nut off with a 1" impact and had to call in some "experts". Sometimes they are put on there "that good". We did break a brand new manual wrench that was included in the BII before we put the 1" impact on it. On my first Deuce, I bent a 3/4" T slide while getting the lugs loose. It's a mixed bag though. I've had some loose enough to get free without the cheater pipe.

 

[BigWill1985]

Don't expect to bust off all the nuts at one time, I can tell you that for sure! You'll also run it low of air. Just give it a few minutes before going back at it. I want to say I get six lug nuts off per "charge". Course I've got anti-seize on them. I haven't done it in a 900 series truck though. I know my 931 has much larger air tanks than my deuces.

I agree with this completely. I recommend breaking free every single lug nut at least once a year. You'd be amazed at the difference is in breaking loose lug nuts when you use some anti-seize or graphite on the threads. It's honestly a day/night difference. Much better to waste an hour a year doing this compared to wasting several hours on the road in the rain/cold/snow/dark!

~Will Courtier~

 

[73m819]

DO NOT let the DOT catch ANTI-SEIZE on the studs, bud nuts, a fine could be got, if the DOT inspector has had a bad day, he can make you CLEAN all the anti-seize OFF BEFORE the truck goes down the road, GREASING/ANTI[SEIZE on studs/bud nuts is a BIG NO NO, If you use anything after you clean the threads real good, use a LITE spray of WD40

 

[m16ty]

DO NOT let the DOT catch ANTI-SEIZE on the studs, bud nuts, a fine could be got, if the DOT inspector has had a bad day, he can make you CLEAN all the anti-seize OFF BEFORE the truck goes down the road, GREASING/ANTI[SEIZE on studs/bud nuts is a BIG NO NO, If you use anything after you clean the threads real good, use a LITE spray of WD40

Ron, you may be right about the DOT but we've been anti-seizing the outer nuts for at least 30 years. I will admit I've never been through a DOT inspection where they looked at the nuts that close though. What we've found is the instances of the thimble spinning while trying to remove the outer nut will drop to almost zero if you anti-seize the outer nut. We've also had zero instances of the outer nut becoming loose from using anti-seize.

We don't use much, just a little to keep the rust out. I honestly don't think the inspector could even tell unless you removed a nut and inspected the threads.

 

[greenmonster]

Ron, you may be right about the DOT but we've been anti-seizing the outer nuts for at least 30 years. I will admit I've never been through a DOT inspection where they looked at the nuts that close though. What we've found is the instances of the thimble spinning while trying to remove the outer nut will drop to almost zero if you anti-seize the outer nut. We've also had zero instances of the outer nut becoming loose from using anti-seize.

We don't use much, just a little to keep the rust out. I honestly don't think the inspector could even tell unless you removed a nut and inspected the threads.

I thought about anti-siezing my studs but my concern is that on most things like that I leave them bare so that they do not collect dirt and debris sticking to the anti seize? How much do you use yours off road? If a lot have you seen any problems with it gumming up? If not them I am doing it the heck with dot!

 

[m16ty]

I thought about anti-siezing my studs but my concern is that on most things like that I leave them bare so that they do not collect dirt and debris sticking to the anti seize? How much do you use yours off road? If a lot have you seen any problems with it gumming up? If not them I am doing it the heck with dot!

We run 3 civilian road tractors and my experience I was speaking of was with them. I really don't see how you could collect debris inside the threads even if used mainly off-road though. We only anti-seize the outer nuts, not the studs. The only reason we do this is to keep the thimble from spinning while trying to remove the outer nut (you want the nut to come off and the thimble to stay put until you get the outer dual off). If you've ever had a thimble come loose before you have the outer nut off you'll know what I mean.

You shouldn't take lightly what Ron (73m819) said though. He may very well be right about the DOT not liking it.