[paulandjean]

Anybody know where his wife was at during this time. Think I saw this one on Perry Mason. Just the facts Maaammmm........

[redwitch]

Sadly, it's a common enough "prank" that can have dire consequences. A friend of mine had the lug nuts loosened (not removed) from his Firebird. He was doing about 80 when the wheel came off. Fortunately, he wasn't killed, but he was seriously injured.

I do believe that it was probably kids -- one of those dare ya things (can you get away with it in public?) who have no idea of the possible consequences.

Pranks of this nature are much more common during holidays and summers in TV. Older grandkids do get bored.

[paulandjean]

Not 100% sure it was kids theory. There are also lots and lots of mean adults here also. Odd behavior by adults because of medicine or just old age. Maybe a little to quick to point fingers a the grandkids.Think I seen a post way back on something just like this.Taking it with a grain of salt.

[rubicon]

don't know if cart owner had some worked done recently, perhaps. Also I wonder if lug nuts loosened themselves. If it was intentional better chance it was kids viv a vis adults.

Irrespective of who what when, etc it is a good remainder that each of us should be more detail in our golf cart maintenance. Iam going to check out my golf cart carefully for anyhting loose and low on fluids.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by tkret

.
I was not parked at LSL. The gentleman I spoke to was parked with his golf car at LSL.

Well, I hope that the gentleman who had his golf cart lug nuts removed sees this thread on TOTV and calls the police or had already called the police.

Originally Posted by tkret

Last evening I was in Sweetbay parking lot and noticed a gentleman checking out his golf car. I asked him if he was in need of assistance and he told me something which concerned me. He had parked his golf car at Lake Sumter Landing during the entertainment time. When it was time to leave, he made it as far as Sweetbay until he had to move the golf car into the parking lot because it was not handling very well. Lo and behold he discovered that someone had removed ALL 4 lug nuts on the front right side of the car. His wife showed up with a lug nut wrench in order for him to remove one lug nut from each of the other 3 tires in order for him to make it safely home. We both commented as to the "hootspa" someone had to take the time to remove the nuts in the first place. He surmises that he was observed walking away from the car and was not in view of it during his time in the Square.

[graciegirl]

May I just say from being on here a LOT that Tkret, the OP, is a very responsible and accurate poster.

[paulandjean]

"AND"? Could the poster have his facts correct?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

May I just say from being on here a LOT that Tkret, the OP, is a very responsible and accurate poster.

Cannot imagine why the man with the lug nut problem would make this up. And I can see some drunk malcontent doing this. Not sure if he/she though would be a 20 something or teen.

[redwitch]

I'd like to think that most adults in TV would be well aware of how dangerous loosening or removing lug nuts would be. It could also have been done by kids from nearby towns, but I'll stand with the theory of visiting grandkids. Many kids wouldn't have a clue or at least wouldn't think of worst case scenarios. Boredom causes some really stupid decisions.

The reason I'm quicker to blame visiting grandkids is because of the simple fact that there are more acts of vandalism occurring during winter, spring and summer breaks (and usually in neighborhoods where kids are visiting). Younger kids are too busy having fun here but, let's face it, there really isn't all that much for older teens (say 15-18). The kids that live near here are very aware of the fact that their parents', neighbors', friends', relatives' livelihood depends on The Villages. They rarely cause problems in TV, according to some of the Sheriffs I've talked to.

[Bogie Shooter]

What would keep a rim & tire on if all 4 lug nuts were removed???

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

What would keep a rim & tire on if all 4 lug nuts were removed???

Going slow and not making any sudden turns would be my guess.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

Just the facts Maaammmm........

That was Dragnet!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Going slow and not making any sudden turns would be my guess.

I don't see a straight line route between LSL square and Sweetbay's.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

What would keep a rim & tire on if all 4 lug nuts were removed???

As long as we're guessing, I once had a vehicle that I couldn't get the rim off because it had rusted to the axle behind the bolts. I pryed it with a crowbar and beat it with a sledgehammer and still couldn't get it to budge. Maybe that's how it stayed on the cart (yes, I removed the nuts first! ).

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I don't see a straight line route between LSL square and Sweetbay's.

Maybe, he got lucky.

In 1983, I travelled from Salt Lake City all the way to Denver with a front end tire rod that was put on backwards by a Shell gas station that wrongly told a very naive traveller that it was on poorly to begin with and damaging the car's tires. We ended up being part of the cause of this Shell Salt Lake City gas station closing after the fight my father had with this gas station.

The mechanic at the gas station that I barely made it into just inside the Denver city limits said I was very lucky to get more than 100 miles with the tire rod on backwards. It had ruined both front tires.