HOW THEY FIX A FLAT TIRE IN CUBA

I visited Cuba. Ancient world in Paradise.

Landscapes, water and vegetation.

Industry, technology, infrastructure?

That's a different story. One exciting technological experience we had in Cuba, was fixing a
flat tire. And here is where my story begins:

Once upon a time…….we hired a taxi to get to the beach. A journey of approximately 150
km. from the town named Viñales in the Tabaco Valley to coral coast called Maria Gorda:

The cub and the driver, reported to duty on time (even a bit early – great exception in Cuba).
The car is: Moskvitch. An old model Russian car
All the Dashboard is dismantled, it means: not there. All the switches are hanging about and
the speedometer is just resting on the steering wheel.

On the right rear wheel there is a protrusion indicating torn steel cables in the tire's skirt.
That's all of secondary importance. What's really important is the Peugeot icons for
decoration in the Centre of the wheel:

The way to the Beach was nice and fun. Magnificent views and Cuban music (wild rhythm of
salsa and bachata on the radio). No talking, no ads and no news! The road lasted 2 hours and
30 mins without any interruption. Swimming in the Caribbean sea was fun, and underwater
coral and fish seen as spectacular as coral reef (Ours Eilat reef, has nothing to be ashamed
of).
On the way back, unfortunately, our Moskvitz's (the old Russian car) Driver, failed to bypass
an opening in the road. The result: a double slash in the front right wheel tire.

As you can see the miserable tire was in a poor condition anyhow. Addition of 50 millimeters
length of cut at the skirt area meant some torn steel cables that should have strengthen the
tire.

Our brave driver recovered very quickly from the catastrophe. First he drugged me
backwards, 200 meters, down the road, to show me the hole in the ground to blame… , Then
he pull of his shirt

Of course, there was a spare tire and all the equipment that was needed, in the trunk. It
took about half an hour to complete the operation. During this time only 2 vehicle passed
by. One bus and one private car, driven by a woman with her children in the car. The Lady
stopped and asked if we needed help. It is not so obvious to happen in all western countries.
The only help we really needed was some information about the address of the closest
Puncture Meister.

We continued carefully our journey. The first "Ponchera" we met, was not equipped with
the ability to help, aside from filling the air in the tire to the right pressure (right front wheel)
and instructions on how to reach the next "Ponchera":

I sniped a photo of the inner room hall of the workshop

And of the main Automated Center Machine of the Ponchera: The Stripper and Assembly of
the tires:

The next (second) Ponchera was over crowded with customers,

The photo was taken over the Moskvitch our legendary vehicle. Note the antenna.

We were gladly informed that our problem is beyond the scoop of this Ponchera, but there
is a Great Meister (Puncture Master) few blocks away from there.

We followed the instructions, and arrived to a private house. The Punchera is in the yard.
The Meister was about to close the business and terminate the working day. A brief
explanation of our disaster, and a short examination of "the patient" (the tire) and he
stepped in to help.
And so slashed tire is repaired in Cuba:

First stage release the tire of the rim with a magnificent lever:

Second stage fixing the wheel to the floor and removing the tire.

Third stage: Smoothing the tire.

The outside with a round motorized grinding stone. The inside by hand with a fragment
(piece) of broken grinding stone.
Step 4: Insertion of rubber piece and sawing it with a needle and thread!!

Fifth step: Vulcanization. 2 Additional rubber layers. One on the outside, one inside. The
heat was provided by iron sole that was heated on the gas in the kitchen at home:

In the meantime, The Madam (the Meinster's wife) served us a Cuban coffee. 20 c.c. of
coffee with loads and loads of sugar.
Step 6: The return of the tire to its place, under the inspection of one of the 2 dogs of the
house. Normally Cuban dogs are not so active at all. I had difficulties finding walking or
barking dogs in Cuba:

And here are the final results:

Step 7: Testing. The Immersion in the water pool:

Unfortunately, the tire didn't pass the test, and the vulcanization process was repeated. Of
course after unpacking the tire from the rim.

This time, the surgery was successful. I breathed a sigh of relief as the repaired wheel was
put in the trunk, because there were signs of intention to mount the wheel back in its first
place, namely the right front wheel. About balancing the wheel after such reparation? There
is nothing to discuss. In Cuba it doesn't belong to the process.

The reparation took about three hours. Long enough to sniff around the Ponchera and
photograph. The workshop in the back:
Compressors Room:

The welding machines comprises of two bare cupper coils:

The garage Hall:

Main Power Rack

Power Upper Line (wire in height within the reach of the hand):

The Warehouse for goods in process and finished merchant:

Nowhere around, there were any rims, tire or wheels. The hole arena size was 6X6 meters,
not including the garage.

See the blue wheel in the picture? While we were there, a horse rider came, paid, took the
wheel, climbed back on his horse with the bleu wheel in his hand and disappeared.

We parted amiably from the master and his wife. The driver paid 7 CUC, which is the local
currency for tourists (sum equivalent to 6 EU) which is a half of the monthly officially salary
around here. Onto the main road, and continued on our way back to Viñales, the tobacco
Valley, accompanied by the wild rhythm of salsa and bachata on the radio.

One could think that our brave driver would drive just a little more carefully. Well one was
wrong! It seemed he felt duty to himself to regain the lost time and the speed was
accordingly! It was just a miracle that there was not another puncture.
So that is how they do it in Cuba. The conditions bring human resource and solutions that
were not in anyone's mind in the western world.

In conclusion
 Shortage brings resourcefulness and daring
 The western culture of abundance that we live in, drains us of Elements. Physical
basics, Engineering foundations, even basics of life (There is a flat tire-order
rescue, need to navigate-there is Waze, need to join rubber - glue is a rapid
solution. Who remembers what it is Vulcanization. Need to process a substance?
Who remembers what is it to sow, to file, to nail, to bend or to hammer a leaf of
metal?)
 Engineering provide insufficient tools to cope with the question of what is the
real life span of parts or a system.
 At the end of the day, it all depends on the human factor, personal ability,
education, training, experience and experience and experience.

Originally published: https://www.moshe-kelman.co.il/how-to-fix-a-flat-tire-in-cuba/

Written by Moshe Kelman (moshe525@gmail.com)

Mechanical Design Engineer, Internal combustion engines (piston, jet & turbine), Energy,
Automation & Robotics, Transportation (cars, trucks & buses).

Design, Manufacturing, Integration of systems and Trouble shooting.

Today main activity:

Mentoring, Training & Guiding - for Mechanical Design Engineers

Key words: Tire, Puncture, Fixing Flat Tire, Moskvitz, Ponchera, Vulcanization