Bring my Harpoon 6.2 back from the summer cottage on its single axle trailer, about a 220 mile trip in upstate NY.
On departing I stopped at gas station to top off the tires and the valve core on port side was leaking. It was holding about 19 psi, which was well under needed 35 psi or higher.
Jack up, put on spare, but somewhere, I got distracted and did not torque down bolts hard enough. I had no lube, threads were dry ( this is a fresh water boat)
30 miles North of Ithaca, getting close to my first one hour trailering check I became aware of a drumming, dropped the window, and could hear that the wheel was toast. I had lost one lug, all four were backed off, and the wheel holes were elongated and doubled in size. The bearing buddy was gone and the grease was starting to melt
200 miles from home. 8 PM.
I suddenly remembered I had loaded the old Mac trailer spare but I'm talking 2002, dry rotted, and nasty looking.
I jacked up, pulled the dusty trailer tool box from the car, and put the old spare on. Spare lugs go on.the studs were badly machined down to about half their diameter where the wheel had touched them I had real concerns about my ability to get enough tension on them to hold the wheel on them without braking.
I got new nuts on, and then put another set of nuts on to try and hold them I was still worried about the lugs snapping.
I spun the wheel, pushed some grease into the outside of the bearing and put a spare dust cap on. The bearing was turning nicely with no noises or bad spots.
I torqued them to about 75 foot pounds....not risking any tighter.
I measured tire pressure at 30 but decided I dare not touch that dry rotted valve.
I crossed my self and sacrificed my friend Dunlop to the tire gods.
Well....I checked the rig every 30 minutes for heat and looseness...and I kept my trailering speed down to 55 mph.
...and I made it!!
Pretty good for a 12 year old original mac tire.
I'll need a new wheel and either a new hub or new studs of course.
