Results from a recent study conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) of more than 14,000 scrap tires concluded that alarmingly, 87.5 percent of the observed tire repairs were improper—not performed with a plug and internal patch as specified by RMA tire repair guidelines.

    Due to recently revised RMA standards and regulations, Farmway Co-op recently required its tire repair service personnel to undergo a two-hour long training session on the new requirements for proper tire repair.

    The session, conducted by Curtis Evey, territory manager with “REMA Tip Top”, suppliers of tire repair products, consisted of training Farmway employees the proper way to repair a tire.

    Long gone are the days where you can just put a patch on the tire, air it up, put it back on the vehicle and send it down the road.

    “Just like a cut or scrape on your body,” Evey said, “first you must inspect the injury, clean the injury and repair the injury. It takes only a minute longer to repair a tire properly”

     Those employees attending the meeting included: Randy Chard, Jeff Meyer, Dalen Hern and Michelle Bailey, Lincoln Station; John Keller, Hunter Station; Cody Thompson and Mark Hendershott, Glen Elder; and Kyle Miller, Tipton Station

      “When you repair a tire,” Every said, “you need to make sure the entire problem, even down to the steel belts, is repaired. If not, rust can travel through a tire at the rate of an inch a day. We need to seal the steel belts on a tire repair to keep the moisture away from them.”

     He stressed that two important items is tire repair is “where” you replace the repair and “how” you replace the repair.

     There are three types to tire repair: hot, cold and chemical vulcanization.

     “It takes 24 hours for a full chemical cure on a tire patch,” he said. “That is the reason why the repair must be done properly from start to finish.

     “The entire process for a tire repair consists of four steps,” Evey said. “These include: dismounting the tire from the vehicle, visible inspection of the injury, making sure the tire is repairable, cleaning the injury with the carbine cutter and either a vulcanized rubber plug or patch/plug combination and cemented patch, thoroughly buffing and cleaning the inside of the tire for the repair patch, remounting the tire and then make sure the tire is properly inflated.”

     As a result of this training, Farmway Co-op employees were certified in tire repair procedures which meet the RMA industry standards. This certification is definitely an added value for Farmway’s customers.

     Farmway Co-op employees, due to liability and insurance purposes, will no longer be able to repair the two-piece interlocking split rims found on older trucks. This rim has a “half moon ring” which is very hard to put on and keep in place during the inflation process.

     This particular split rim has been nicknamed “the widow maker” because of the tendency for the ring system to spring violently apart while the tire is being inflated. The system can even fail on the road.

How to get ultra performance from
an ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel

You've heard about it for months, and it's finally here: ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) has arrived. Mandated by the Clean Air Act, the move to ULSD is a necessary step in reducing ozone depletion, smog and acid rain. Farmway/Cenex energy specialists are here to help you get maximum performance from your vehicles during the transition to cleaner diesel, so don't hesitate to ask for our assistance. In the meantime, here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

What is ULSD?
"Ultra-low sulfur" diesel contains a maximum of 15 ppm of sulfur, compared to a maximum 500 ppm in "low sulfur" diesel. From now through 2010, both types of diesel may be sold for highway use. Therefore, it's important to check pump signs and order fuel carefully

Do I have to use ULSD?
Starting with 2007 models, new diesel over-the-road rigs will be designed to run only on ULSD. Therefore, you must use ULSD if you are driving a 2007 rig. However, using ULSD is recommended for all other diesel vehicles because it is dramatically better for the environment.

Is it okay to switch back and forth between ULSD and low sulfur diesel in my older rig?
Yes, it's okay to switch back and forth in any over-the-road rig older than 2007. However, using ULSD is recommended because of its environmental benefits.

How will ULSD affect my equipment?
On the plus side, most ULSDs have higher cetaine, providing improved ignition. Areas of potential concern include reduced lubricity (which could mean more wear and tear on fuel pumps and injectors) and reduced stability (perhaps causing increased injector deposits when ULSD is used in biodiesel blends).

How can I protect my equipment and get ultra performance?
As the sulfur content in diesel fuel is lowered, the lubricity is also lowered. That's why it's best to choose a premium highway diesel fuel such as Cenex Roadmaster XL--which contains a lubricity enhancer plus detergents, demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors and stabilizers for peak engine protection and performance.

What should I do if I have my fuel delivered?
Failure to comply with new regulations could result in substantial fines as well as damage to new vehicles, so order your fuel from a reliable firm that you trust. Be vigilant about isolating ULSD from other fuels, make sure you retain all your delivery documents, and ask Farmway Co-op about monitoring your diesel supply with our new ULSD testing kits.