Last Time You Had a Flat

With those stupid Presta Valves that came on my new way overpriced bike, tires were near flat every couple of days. Leaving those required adapters sure didn't work a micro sized nut has to be tightened. But still came loose with tire vibrations.

Claim to fame on these things are thinner stems, yeah a lot thinner, 6.5 mm hole as compared to a 7.5 mm hole on good old reliable Scharder valves. Only had to open those holes 0.020" to fit in standard Scharder valves, now the tires hold for weeks.

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Scharder valves were also used on R-12 and R-22 systems, very reliable, inexpensive and even have a tool to change a valve without discharging the system. So what does the EPA do with these very reliable valves? Replaced them with completely unrepairable quick coupler service ports with large neoprene disks that never reseat properly. All in the view to protect the environment.

Yet another well proven reliable fitting was the double flare that was replaced by this positively stupid idiotic bubble flare used in hydraulic brake fittings. First off the bubble flare is less than a quarter of thickness of a double flare using the same cheap ass steel brake tubing, and far more subject to rust and leaks. If you tighten the fitting too much, will distort it and get leaks, not enough, will leak anyway. And that bubble has to be absolutely a perfect sphere.

Only advantage of it I can think of, saves a single manufacturing step, but the **** if you get killed if your brake fluid leaks out.

So help me, I give up, going backwards instead of forwards. With the Cruze with this tire monitoring system, instead of a 75 cent new Scharder valve, now a 40 buck valve for replacement. Instead of three bucks, now 160 bucks. If you don't know your tires are low, should not even be driving. But is the law now, and our idiots in congress view us as idiots as well.

So why didn't congress pass a law that all gas stations offer free air with an accurate gauge? What good is a tire monitoring system if you can't find air to fill them with? Drove my kid's car once with a low tire, had to stop at a half a dozen gas stations before I could even find one with air. Then I had to get change because it was a half buck per quirt. And no gauge.

Can't even buy a decent air compressor today with all this pure unadulterated crap from China. A friend brought one over because I am suppose to be some kind of electrical genius, but sure not a miracle worker. Stator windings were not even dipped in varnished, completely burned out, stator was out of true, not balanced, and the bearings were nothing short of being a joke. Don't even ask me about the compressor or the tank loaded with rust pockets that was only a little over a year old.

Mine is 48 years old now, yes I had problems with it, a couple of years ago the belt stretched, couldn't adjust it any more. Then a couple of months ago the check valve gave out, removed it, put it in the lathe to get at some fresh rubber, hasn't leaked an ounce since then.

If we had any brains at all, will completely boycott anything from China.

Checking my brain ram, last time I had a flat was in 1980, think that calculates out to 33 years ago. Spare tires in my Supra, 92 DeVille, gone now, or 04 Cavalier with a 120K miles on it, never had the spare tires put on the wheels.

Probably still should make an appointment with my therapist, but still feel my secure having a spare tire.

Been years since I can remember having a real spare tire in a car, was part of the tire rotation scheme. Boat trailer and motorhome are the only vehicles left with a real spare tire.

If a Cruze tire does blow, can only pray I am within 60 miles of a tire place, and during normal business hours. Not much extra, but something. Oh, and my credit card. Just came to me, last vehicle with a real spare was my 93 Bravada.

Yes, I carry a tire pressure gauge in my cars, even have a NTIS, formerly the NBS certified gauge to test gauges against. Some of these Made in China POS are 10 psi off at 30 psi. Still have a supply of Made in the USA US Gauges, they are quiet accurate.

Monitoring system is not bad, either 1 or 2 PSI off, but never quite dead on. Old fashion way when stopped at a rest or gas station, is just to take a quick walking around holding the back of your hand to each tire. If even a bit low, will feel much warmer. Truckers use a hammer and go by the sound, not a new subject with me.