The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Justin B. on October 20, 2007, 11:32:29 PM
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I might finally be in tire changing bliss... :) About a year ago, my wife bought me the Harbor Freight Portable Tire Changer and the Motorcycle Tire Adapter. It had always been a PITA to get the wheel to sit still while levering off and on tires. The changing stand grabs onto the rim at the edges, keeps it secure, and locates the tire at waist level - no more crawling around on a concrete floor whilst chasing the rim around...
Today I replaced the front tire on my '95 R100RT and used a tip/trick that was relayed to me at a motorcycle rally, one at Ken's if I remember correctly. I had always had fits getting the last 10" or so of the tire onto the rim, especially these tubeless tires and rims. I was told that once you get side one on (very easy), then start side two, squeeze the tire together with 2-3 "C" clamps at the "bottom" where you have it started. Once slightly squeezed together it is very easy to then push this portion of the tire up into the "drop center" of the rim which gives y0u a ton more slack.
After clamping the tire (and soaping the bead very ;liberally) I was then able to push the remaining bit, except for about 9"-10", on without any tools at all. This remaining bit then easily popped on with the single application of two tire irons. I could have used the short 6" tire irons in the tool kit it was so easy and I didn't even break a sweat!
I still have to come up with a way of "blasting" air around the edge to get the bead to seal so I can get air in it but the local NTB store has been nice enough to do that for me. I do remember, back in the "stone ages", a rubber "donut" ring that could be soaped up and popped between the rim and bead to seal things up to get the fill process started. As the bead seated then this donut just popped out and you continued the fill. I need to find if something like this is still available.
My previous rim had been slightly bent and straightened before I bought the bike and always balanced out nicely but I opted for a used rim this time. Not only was this rim much nicer than my other one it had super tight bearings as well. The monoshock bikes use sealed bearings unlike the tapered serviceable ones in the older bikes.
So, my review of this tire changer combo is a big + for now. You can often get the two pieces on sale for about $65 - $70. I put steel threaded inserts into the concrete floor so I can unbolt the stand and move it out of the way if needed and the anchors are flush with the floor so there is nothing to stub the toes on.
Nuff for now...
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W00t! Very cool! I love hearing about regular peeps changing and balancing their own tahrs!
Now can you work on Ken and get him to install that same tire kit you have that he got for his birfday, like, eons ago? ;D
I mean, then we'll all be able to change tires as easily when we get there...last weekend three bikes got new shoes, iirc.
You GO, Justin!
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Joan, I relayed your order to Ken to install the tire changer. ;) We'll see what happens... [smiley=mad.gif]