Only in America Pt 2

[Kyt]

Man hurt using gun to change tyre

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7091904.stm

A US man has injured himself in both legs after attempting to loosen a stiff wheel-nut by blasting it with his gun.

The 66-year-old man from Washington state was repairing his car outside his home when the accident took place.

Shooting at the wheel from arm's length with his 12-gauge shotgun, he was peppered with buckshot and debris.

The man - who police say was on his own and not intoxicated - was taken to hospital with severe, but not life-threatening, injuries.

The man, from South Kitsap, 10 miles (16km) southwest of Seattle, had been repairing his Lincoln Continental for two weeks, according to the police, and had removed all but one of the nuts on the right rear wheel.

Frustrated by the one remaining nut which refused to budge, he resorted to fire power in an effort to shift it.

"He's bound and determined to get that lug nut off," said Deputy Scott Wilson, a spokesman from the sheriff's office.

He sustained injuries from his feet to the middle of his abdomen, with some pellets reaching as high as his chin, police said.

[digger]

Another candidate for the Darwin awards

[Antipodean Andy]

Mmm, cos blasting the nut off would have left the rest of the surrounding area in pristine condition...

[Adrian Roberts]

Mind you, have you ever tried removing a wheel nut after a certain well-known tyre and exhaust company have tightened them with a pneumatic tool?

[spidge]

Originally Posted by digger

Another candidate for the Darwin awards

"South Kitsap" says it all.

Will have to track down the Darwin awards again. They always make me feel that I am so intelligent.

[Antipodean Andy]

Certainly have! I used a very long bar that went over the handle of my wrench and then stood on the end of the bar, after liberal application of CRC etc, until it cracked it loose. The next step was to apply heat and I don't like doing that.

Always amuses me how the tyre companies will tighten the nuts up so hard with the air gear but forget to back things off a little!

My Bedford has left-hand threads on the left side (or right-handed ones, can never remember). Anyway, to undo them, you turn them clockwise rather than anti-clockwise. Haven't caught myself out on that yet but have heard some funny stories and had a couple of mates ring up saying, "I'm stuffed if I can get this wheel off"! They've done what I'm bound to do one day....forgotten about the opposite thread!

[Kyt]

Originally Posted by Adrian Roberts

Mind you, have you ever tried removing a wheel nut after a certain well-known tyre and exhaust company have tightened them with a pneumatic tool?

Even when one has specifically asked them not to do so!! I once had a flat in the middle of nowhere, and even the plugin tool wouldn't loosen one nut. I then used the "crowbar" or whatever they are called, and even jumped up and down on it. It still didn't shift. I ended up having to wait hours in the cold for the AA to turn up.

[Kitty]

A quick application of blow torch and the nut should swell enough before it heats the threads and by jumping on the bar it should loosen.

All else fails look pitiful until someone helps.

[Kyt]

Ah yes, the blow torch. Something I had forgotten to pack in the boot.

[Kitty]

This was obviously at home where the fella was working on his car.

You however deserved to be left stranded considering what a dangerous driver you are.