I'm getting ready to move my newly acquired DUKW from it's resting place
for the last 6 years to my house, so I can start the restoration process.
It appears to still have the WWII tires on it and they are in terrible
condition. Both front tires had gone flat, but re-inflated OK (couldn't
hear any leaks). I left 35 psi in them yesterday and will check on them
again in a week. The rear four tires seem to be holding air just fine.
Hopefully, all six will hold air long enough to get the beast up on the
lowboy trailer, over to my house, and up on jack stands. Yes, I plan on
replacing all the tires, I just don't have them yet.
While examining the rear tires on the passenger side, I noticed one of the
hoses going from the hub to the support arm had rotted in half at the
fitting on the support arm. I didn't think much of it at the time, other
than making a mental note about one more 50 year old rubber part that
needed replacement. It wasn't until I got home and started to think about
the days activities that I realized "shouldn't that severed hose been
leaking air if the tire was indeed inflated?" Something doesn't seem quite
right here and, unfortunately, the DUKW manuals I ordered won't be here for
another week. Is there any problem with trying to move this beast with a
severed air line at the hub?
I know about the six valves under the passenger seat: they are all closed.
I assumed they were used to isolate (when closed) an individual tire from
the system in case it went flat so the entire system would not bleed down.
I can't see how they would keep a tire from deflating if the hub hose was
severed though. Or maybe I don't know squat about how the air system works
in the first place?
Any ideas? (be gentle with me, this is my first time........ :)
Thanks for any assistance.
Mike Bennett 1944 DUKW (Hoping the tires hold air just a little longer)
PG&E
MAB5@pge.com
(209) 434-9343
Fresno, California, USA
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