Cracked Wheel in the Middle of the Night

Discussion in 'Peterbilt Forum' started by Jennyspete, Oct 19, 2024.

  1. Jennyspete

    Jennyspete Light Load Member

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    I have drive tire that's been loosing air the past two days. Figured it has a small puncture somewhere, but I couldn't see or feel anything. Planned on soaping it up when I got home.
    So tonight I'm in Bangor, ME. Tire was low again. Put air in it and looked again. Then I felt air coming out of the rim. It has a hairline crack about an inch long. In the middle of the crack it looks like a tiny chip and that's where the air is leaking.

    I have 70 miles to go to deliver. Parts stores don't open until at least 6am. I'd really like to deliver tonight and come back to bangor and get a new Wheel.
    I was thinking about putting JB Weld on it to stop the air leak but I'm obviously concerned about the rim completely breaking.
    I understand it's a safety issue and all that. I understand Mr. DOT man would not be happy to see jb weld on a Wheel or the crack. Not really a concern tonight.

    I don't know how fast cracks on aluminum rims spread. Obviously I've been running on it for 2 days already.

    So I'm asking for opinions. Think I'd be good to run 70 miles loaded then 70 miles empty before I get the new wheel?

    Or is this a no go situation and I stay put until something opens?

    I really don't want to stay here all night and really wanted to get home tomorrow. If I stay put I won't get home until late tomorrow afternoon. Usually I wouldn't care but I promised my daughter I'd help her with something that will take several hours and I had told her I'd be home early morning. Im away a lot as it is and I hate to disappoint her. However, I don't want to put myself at risk either.
     
    Lumper Humper Thanks this.
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  3. Thrasher28

    Thrasher28 Road Train Member

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    I vote for let 'er rip. Granted, I'm a company driver, so my view on it might be a little different.

    I mean, technically, you don't need the wheel at all when you're empty, if it did break.

    If it's only an inch long hairline crack after running for two days, I dont think it'll become weak enough to break on a 70 mile trip.
     
  4. Jennyspete

    Jennyspete Light Load Member

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    I've decided too stay put. As I've gotten older I've learned not to make impulsive decisions (thus the reason for this post in the first place)

    My eagerness to get home was overriding my better judgment. The more I thought about it, I'm safe, warm, happy and well fed. The first store opens in 2.5 hours. Say an hour to replace the wheel. I'm already going to be later then I thought so what's another 3.5 hours?

    If I left- best case scenario, I'd be a nervous wreck the whole trip.
    Wost case senario- wheel comes apart, I crash in a firery wreck or go off a banking and no one finds me for a week. I've already had a crappy week with a couple issues that were minor but could have been terrible if I hadn't caught them early. So why tempt fate. I saw this crack early, before the wheel broke. So like the rest of my issues this week, why not fix it now while it's a minor issue instead of waiting for the firery crash?
    Daughter will be disappointed, I'm disappointed but we'll get over that. Cost of a new rim and install is a whole lot cheaper than a crash and daughter would be a lot more than disappointed if something happened to me.

    So I'll stay put, wait 2.5 hours, buy a new rim and go on my way.
    The pluses are that I'll be able to enjoy my ride, I'll know I stand a better chance of getting home safely and by the time I get to my delivery the workers will be there and I won't have to unload myself AND the boss will be there so I can get paid too.
    Truthfully, I knew the right answer, I just hate being stuck. Plus, I was raised in the trucking world, Old School style where you hear the stories of the guy that delivered his load with one headlight, missing 3 gears, no heat, an axle singled out and a cracked frame uphill both ways in the middle of winter, running 3 log books. Mechanics catch phase was," just run it".
    The stories were exaggerated and those days are gone. Yeah the renegade outlaw attitude still prevails with some of us but there's smart outlaws and dumb outlaws. The dumb ones are dead.
    I decided to post and explain my decision on this rather stupid topic because maybe someone will read this and remember it someday when they are about to make an unsafe impulsive decision. Trucking is a dangerous career, no point in making it more dangerous ourselves.
    I've done plenty of things that later I said," why the f&#@ did i do that, I knew better" thats why I learned when I was eager to do something that I knew wasn't the right thing but thought I could get away with just to save time or keep a customer happy, that I should ask someone else either in person or forums like this. Because, occasionally all of us need to hear someone else say," Are you stupid?"
    Plus I have 2.5 hours to kill. Lol
     
  5. Jennyspete

    Jennyspete Light Load Member

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    Thanks for your opinion. As the owner costs of potential repairs is a factor. The first time I added air it held all day and I felt no air leak. This time I added air it only lasted a few hours and I heard and felt the air. The crack is online with the valve stem. I should have felt it when I added air the first time but didn't. So it appears to be getting worse quickly. Decided it's not worth the risk.
     
  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    as an owner, you look at the what ifs.

    what if the rim failure will cause an accident?

    there are some things that are on the “fix no matter what it costs” when the truck is on the road.

    this is one
     
  7. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    If it is an Alcoa. Alcoa has been outsourcing their wheel builds the last few years. There has been issues with the forgings causing cracks in the bead flange area. Do not let the tire man dispose of that wheel for you. Keep it on the truck and have it inspected thru an Alcoa dealer. It may be warranty.
     
  8. #1 Kenworth

    #1 Kenworth Light Load Member

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    Had that happen to me long time ago but was on my Expedition. Fill with air and over a few days it would leak to a certain point. Happen to wash the truck and filled it up. Saw the bubbles. Brought it to a rim shop for welding. Didnt want to mess with the gook stuff.
     
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