So a few weeks ago i'm in the Advance Auto Parts store and they have this 88 piece super duper air tool set for $80 or something.. I buy it.. I mean, i've got a couple air compressors, seemed like the thing to do.
Well as with most things I buy, it kinda sits for a few weeks.. especailly tools.. because I normally buy a new tool with 'hey this will come in handy when I/next time I...' and don't end up needing it right away.
Anyway.. I end up needing to change a tire the other day, and i'm kinda dreading the whole 4 way lug nut cranking fiasco normally associated with pulling a 5 lug wheel off a vehicle that hasn't had the tire off in the last decade or so, and I think.. hey.. there's one of those air drill socket thing-a-ma-bobs in that deluxe 88 piece air tool set.. might as well give it a shot.
Ok, ok.. so I guess the primary reason I decided to do it with air tools is because i'd have to connect the nipples to all the tools in the set.. so I got to delay having to mess with the tire right away while I meticulously applied pipe tape to the threads and installed each nipple.
So finally with every tool in the set now 'nipple-a-fied' I go out to the yard, fire up the air compressor, and wait for it to build pressure.
I jack the back tire up, hook the drill thing to the air line, install the approperate sized deep well socket, put the drill in 'reverse', put the socket on the first lugnut.. take a breath, and pull the trigger.
VOOOOOOOT and the lugnut is off.
Dude.. this is cool.
In a matter of seconds the tire is leaning off the rear hub and falls to the ground.
I put the spare on, and finger thread each lugnut onto the posts about a turn or two, then tighten 'em up with the air drill.
VOOOOT VOOOOT VOOOOT VOOOOT VOOOOOT.. done.
Yea.. yea.. I know this is probably 50+ year old technology, but i'm just diggin this.. I run into the house shouting to the wife, "Honey come check this out".. by my excitement level, she probably thought space aliens had landed in the west pasture.
She walks out and stands there in silence as I zip the lugnuts loose, remove the tire, then put it back on.. with speed and efficiency matched only by highly skilled NASCAR pit crews.
"Isn't that cool?", I ask, my face brimming with pride
"I guess so." she said less than enthused as she turned to walk into the house.
I must have spent the next hour or so jacking up vehicles and taking the tires off and putting them back on.
I highly reccomend any person reading this to immediately go out and buy one of these things.
