*********************************** * A Time delayed tire deflator. * *********************************** Sure, anybody can deflate a tire pretty easily, by cutting off the valve stem with a set of wire cutters, by slashing or puncturing the relatively weak sidewalls, and many other ways. But most of the time, the driver immediately recognizes his problem, and takes the appropriate action. No real harm done, except to his pocket and/or time. What is needed is a method to deflate the tire AFTER he has started driving on it. How about this one: prop a 1.5 inch screw, nail, or other pointed object against the tire such that upon driving, the object punctures the tire. The problem with this is that one of two things will probably happen. Either the object will seal the hole it makes, thus preventing any appreciable deflation ( How many time have you inspected a car tire and been surprised to see a nail or screw deeply imbedded into it, without there being any apparent air leakage? I have had this happen to me at least 5 times. Hint: Dont remove the screw/nail until you have remove the tire to get it fixed. Once the nail is out, so goes the air.) Or, the deflation occurs so fast that the driver notices almost immmediately, and he is able to avoid serious damage/injury. Well, here is the solution: Get a 1.5 inch screw/nail that is fairly stubby (1/4 inch diameter will do). Now carefully drill a 1/16 to 1/8 inch hole down the center of it. This is easily done in a drill press. If you don't have access to a drill press, then use a vise and an ordinary hand held drill. Practice drilling the hole manually on a lot of screws until you get it right. It should look something like this: _________ \ X / \ X / | X | | X | X | X | X - hole through screw | X | X | X | | X | | X | | X | | X | | X | \X/ Prop the screw/nail up against the tire such that it will puncture the tread of the tire when the victim drives off. Preferrably, it should be the right rear tire, so that any hissing noise will not be easily heard by the driver. What should happen is the following: upon being puncture, the tire will immediately begin losing air at a rate determined by the size of the hole drilled in the screw/nail and the inflation pressure of the tire. The smaller the hole, the slower the deflation rate. The beauty of this is that the driver will probably not notice that his tire is becoming flat, because that determination is easier to make at low speeds, such as when pulling out of a parking spot. As the tire gets lower, the sidewalls will begin rubbing on the pavement, eventually the tire will be all but destroyed, and the driver will have to buy a new one. If the driver is travelling at high speeds, say on a highway, the tire could in fact fly apart violently, causing a crash and severe damage/injury/death. Of course, this file was written to warn the reader of the hazards that might present themselves out in the real world, and should not be used to inflict harm or damage on anyone. Written by the Mustang and the Road Warrior. ---- __________ ---- / | \ ---- \_/________|_______\_______ ---- | __ __ \ --- \_/ \______________/ \__ / --- \__/ \__/ X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: The NIRVANAnet(tm) Seven & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Taipan Enigma 510/935-5845 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408/363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510/527-1662 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 801/278-2699 The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674 Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560 "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X