Pit Stop Practice
This activity’s part of a series of short activities in the Scouts Mechanic Activity Badge.
Task
Do you know how to change a tyre? Get stuck in and give it a go.
Resources
- Wheel wrench
- Vehicle jack
- Replacement wheel
- Access to a car (with the correct manual)
Instructions
These are generic guidelines for modern vehicles. Always check the handbook for the vehicle you’re using or get advice from a qualified or experienced mechanic: we don’t want any broken cars on our hands. This activity must always be supervised and guided by someone competent.
- Gather all of your equipment. You’ll need a vehicle jack with the right weight rating, a wheel wrench that fits the wheel nuts on your vehicle, and the replacement wheel. You may need an additional tool to remove any locking wheel nuts, depending on your vehicle. If you’ve got them, wheel wedges or chocks can be used for extra security.
- Loosen the wheel nuts slightly (but don’t remove them yet). You may need to remove the hubcap or wheel cover first, before you can access the wheel nuts. If they’re tricky to remove, a wrench extension can be used to provide more force. Some vehicles have locking nuts (to stop wheels being stolen). They can only be removed with a special tool (which comes with the vehicle) that fits over the wheel nut and allows it to be removed with the wheel wrench.
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to find the vehicle jacking point. The vehicle will be reinforced here – putting the jack in the wrong place can damage the car.
- Use a suitable (weight-rated) vehicle jack at the jacking point. Raise the car just enough so the tyre’s off the ground.
- Now the vehicle’s raised, remove the wheel nuts all the way. Keep them somewhere safe.
- Remove the wheel from the wheel studs and place it to one side. Be careful, as it’ll be heavy – ask for help if you need it.
- Fit the new wheel onto the wheel studs.
- Hand-tighten the wheel nuts. Be careful not to cross-thread them.
- Gently lower the vehicle until the tyres rest on the ground. Remove the jack.
- Tighten the wheel nuts in a criss-cross (or star) pattern so the pressure stays even across them. Tighten them according to the manufacturer’s guidelines – a torque wrench may be useful to make sure they’re tightened with the right force.
- Check the tyre pressure on the replaced wheel.
- Dispose of the removed wheel. A qualified mechanic may be able to repair it, otherwise, take it to a recycling centre.
- Wash your hands thoroughly – wheels and tyres can get very dirty.
