---------------------------------------------------------- Lightning-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 01/28/14: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 09:31 PM - Enjoy the little things, like adding air to the tires (Bill Strahan) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 09:31:42 PM PST US Subject: Lightning-List: Enjoy the little things, like adding air to the tires From: "Bill Strahan" Yep, sometimes the little things make a difference. First, let me show a picture of my "minimum travel kit" The ratcheting screwdriver on top has a screw off cap and holds several bits in the handle. Flat head, small phillips, 1/4" drive for the sockets. It also has a set of screws and washers for the matco brakes in there as well as the star drive for the screws in case I have to remove a wheel while on a trip and I break one of the little screws. Below that is my set of sockets, and the 3/8" socket is removed because it relates to the subject of adding air to the tires. More on that later. Next is my valve stem extension. Originally the end that screws onto the stem was free to turn. Epoxy and flox took care of that, as you can see. The extension normally has a valve stemp cap on it, but it's removed and separate in this photo. Next is my socket extension, and finally in the bottom left corner is a handy 1/4" socket drive that is meant to be used with thumb and fingers. It's tiny, and super useful. My wheelpants sit low and are a tight fit. For the bottom screws I can put a 5/16" socket on that thumb drive, put a phillips bit in the socket, and I have a very short ratcheting screwdrive for that purpose. Now, back to the tires. There is a lot written about determining where to put the hole in the wheelpants, so I won't reiterate that here. I'll just add that it is well worth the time to find a way to mark the tire sidewall with a bit of paint so you can tell when the valve stem is lined up with that hole without having to peer into it while moving the plane. So, get the valve stem lined up with the hole in the wheelpants. Put the 3/8" socket on the socket extension, slide it through the hole and onto the valve stem cap. Unscrew the cap (It should have just been finger tight) and pull it back while trying to keep it in the socket. Set that aside. Take the valve stem extension and slide it through the hole in the wheelpants and thread it onto the valve stem. You'll have an easy time of it if you try to duplicate the angle at which you were holding the 1/4" drive extension. Once it's finger tight you can check tire pressure and add or remove air. When done, reverse the process. I keep the valve stem cap on the extension in case I ever lose a cap while doing this away from home. So, nothing earth shattering here, but having a defined process and plan for the little things makes them go quick and easy. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=417807#417807 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/img_3716a_168.jpg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message lightning-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Lightning-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/lightning-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/lightning-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.