I picked up our one-ton today from the dealership for a VERY expensive diesel engine repair. It needed fuel to get back, and I told my driver (at the station) that he had a low tire and needed to add some air before he got back on the road. The truck has no history of having a slow leak on that tire.
20 minutes after I left (WHY so long ?), my driver called me and said that the tire went flat when he tried to add air, that the valve stem pushed into the wheel and dissappeared !
This is so unusual, I have never had that happen. I am inclined to think that he might have done it on purpose, but I wouldn't think you could that to a valve stem unless you worked at it real hard.
Has anyone else ever had this happen ? Opinions on the event ?
It took me at least an hour to get back to him, and much time was lost.
[By the way, I fixed the tire in a REALLY cool way: I bought a new valve stem, whittled the fat "stopper" part into a cone with my pocket knife, and then I slowly, tediously pushed it back into the little hole in the wheel from the outside with my Leatherman super-tool. I never dismounted the tire or broke the bead, and I didn't have to return to the shop for any tools. MUCH time saved over a full repair.]
20 minutes after I left (WHY so long ?), my driver called me and said that the tire went flat when he tried to add air, that the valve stem pushed into the wheel and dissappeared !
This is so unusual, I have never had that happen. I am inclined to think that he might have done it on purpose, but I wouldn't think you could that to a valve stem unless you worked at it real hard.
Has anyone else ever had this happen ? Opinions on the event ?
It took me at least an hour to get back to him, and much time was lost.
[By the way, I fixed the tire in a REALLY cool way: I bought a new valve stem, whittled the fat "stopper" part into a cone with my pocket knife, and then I slowly, tediously pushed it back into the little hole in the wheel from the outside with my Leatherman super-tool. I never dismounted the tire or broke the bead, and I didn't have to return to the shop for any tools. MUCH time saved over a full repair.]