Sometimes it's hard to avoid an elitist point od view


[Follow Ups] [Post Followup] [Dodge Power Wagon Forum]


Posted by Paul Cook in Kempner, Texas on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 5:35PM :

In Reply to: Question: Split Rims... posted by Chris on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 at 4:51PM :

I know that some of you think anyone who strives to use correct spelling and word choice is some kind of elitist that does not belong in any Forum where Power Wagons are often the subject of discussion. Because some of you accept the word, "cheap" as meaning low priced instead of its most correct meaning, low quality or low moral standards, you also focus your dissenting arguments on a statement where some words are ambiguous. "Cheap" has a specific meaning and should not be interchanged with "inexpensive" which describes relative price.

One regular Forum visitor demonstrated his understanding of these two words when he told me he was looking for a CHEAP woman who was INEXPENSIVE.

Some of you select one meaning of several possible choices to strengthen your point. The initial question posed by Chris concerned a statement by "the tire guy" that he should keep each rim and its ring together.

Here is where experience - or a general lack thereof - shows up in the discussion. Split ring rims have consumed a great amount of band width that Joe pays for. Since it results in at least one thread in each Forum, I have to believe that seeing these same questions again is a sign of new people joining our ranks. This is good.

It would not be good if people who have regularly visited this Forum for several years have failed to learn from these repetitive discussions of the subject.

Because this topic has been well covered and in great depth, we must assume that Chris is relatively new to the Forum. He has been around long enough to be aware that it is a good idea to take split ring rims to a professional to have tires mounted. However, he has not been around long enough to have been exposed to other discussions outlining the reasons why "the tire guy" has certain rules for doing the work.

Sorry COTM, but many "tire guys" have not read the various safety publications from government agencies or tire manufacturers. They do things the way the boss says. The boss may, or may not, have read the appropriate safety publications. The boss may be the manager of a chain of tire shops. The managers are told how to do business by their bosses. And those bosses are told all the things they should not do by the lawyers who are addressing the liability issues.

Anyone who has experience in any business where liability is an issue will understand that "the tire guy" is avoiding possible liability issues when he insists on doing the work according to the rules. This experience comes from working at any of these businesses - or from many years of being a customer. There are signs everywhere in such businesses warning customers how to conduct themselves.

Possible liability issue: You or a previous owner have switched wheels (rim and ring) and may have one which uses a tire of the same size and construction but is not made by the same manufacturer. So "the tire guy" has been told that he must keep the rim and the ring together.

I feel very comfortable saying that everyone who is participating in this discussion knows that rims and rings do not have serial numbers. But they do have part numbers or other identifying marks that are used to tell which ring and rim are correct to use together. So when the word, "numbers" is used, we all have to ask ourselves if the poster meant "serial numbers" or "part numbers" before we launch ourselves into a discussion.

Those who have this elementary knowledge can be identified because they have not made extreme remarks about matching rims and rings by any other means.

Chris, you can use a new ring if it is correct for that rim as indicated by the part numbers or other appropriate markings. Be sure the grooves that hold the rings are clean and are not damaged. Having these mating surfaces in good shape is essential.

End of elitist posting.




Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Message:
Optional Link
URL:
Title:
Optional Image Link
URL:


This board is powered by the Mr. Fong Device from Cyberarmy.com