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Author Topic: Changing your own tyres?  (Read 3635 times)

Crossrodes

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #15 on: July 30, 2008, 12:21:46 PM »
Hey Barry I see from your profile that you are from Cheshire.  I'm just curious as to where in Cheshire you live.  I had a sailing friend and also a cousin that lived there.  I had other cousins that lived in Wallasey years ago.  I'm originally a scouse (but I can't help that).

Offline montmil

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #16 on: July 30, 2008, 12:29:51 PM »
Quote
...As others have said when you fit a new tyre you must get the tyre beads into the centre well which is quite narrow on a snowflake...

It's not necessary to have both beads in the rim's "valley" at the same time. I place one foot on the sidewall to hold the bead in place and then proceed with the spoons at a point across from my dirty tennis shoe.

Barry quote: "I would also clean and polish inside the rim before fitting the new tyre. It will help make seating the beads easier.'

Very helpful to do this. Here's a link to a recent "tire changing topic" I posted that has some additional tips.  http://suraklyn.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1215020335

And another: "...and inflate to 50 psi. To check the tyre is seated properly there is a guide rib which should be concentric with the rim."

Both myself and Justin had to go to 100psi to get the beads to seat properly. Be patient and they'll seat with an audible "pop". Just for clarification, the bead guide is a small raised casting on the tire's sidewall that should end up, when the bead is properly seated, equidistant from the rim.
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline montmil

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2008, 12:36:08 PM »
Quote
I have all the gear but not the inclination after "nipping" the tube the last time!

On occasion, BikeMike, my problem is related to "nipping" before I start a project. [smiley=beer.gif]
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

mikethebike

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2008, 12:58:03 PM »
I can recommend Glenfiddich or McCallum's to nip instead of nipping the tubes when changing your own tyres! ;)

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #19 on: July 30, 2008, 01:55:53 PM »
Monte, I have found that if you squeeze the tire with clamps and get both beads down into the drop-center the tire almost "falls" into place with little iron work needed.  I have nicked up tire beads (adctually had chunks come off) until learning this trick.  Just thought I'd pass it along...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #20 on: July 30, 2008, 02:02:16 PM »
Interesting tire changing pix.  I have never used the long tire-iron/tool that came with the changer, I'll have to give it a whirl next time.  I see he uses wood blocks to squeeze the tire down into the center, this is where I use a couple of clamps to squeeze the tire together to accomplish the same thing.  I doubt, however, that I would have a C-clamp that would fit over meats that wide...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Crossrodes

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #21 on: July 30, 2008, 02:22:14 PM »
I like the C clamp idea.  I'll try that next time.  

If you're going to try the wooden blocks make sure they are wide enough to force the tire from the rim to the well.  In the case of the GW that equates to 3/4".  The GW has a wide well.  You made need a wider block to force the tire on a snowflake front rim into the well which is not so wide at all.

Offline beemer

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #22 on: July 30, 2008, 02:40:37 PM »
Lot's of good info here!!i got the tyre irons,now i need to get my friend to come over to push the beads down for me,he weighs in a 26 stone ;D

Offline montmil

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #23 on: July 30, 2008, 04:02:55 PM »
Quote
Monte, I have found that if you squeeze the tire with clamps and get both beads down into the drop-center the tire almost "falls" into place with little iron work needed.  I have nicked up tire beads (adctually had chunks come off) until learning this trick.  Just thought I'd pass it along...

So, Justin... where was this handy tip when I was struggling to get that freakin' front tire off, huh? Oh well, I'll file it away for future use. Thanks for thinking of poor little me, working in the heat, banged up knuckles...  :'(  Poke me with a fork, I think I'm done.
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #24 on: July 30, 2008, 09:59:36 PM »
Well, you coulda came down and used my HF tire changer gizmo...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline montmil

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #25 on: July 31, 2008, 06:49:22 AM »
Quote
Well, you coulda came down and used my HF tire changer gizmo...

Next time, fer sure!  ;)
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline beemer

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #26 on: August 01, 2008, 10:58:27 AM »
Quote
Quote
Monte, I have found that if you squeeze the tire with clamps and get both beads down into the drop-center the tire almost "falls" into place with little iron work needed.  I have nicked up tire beads (adctually had chunks come off) until learning this trick.  Just thought I'd pass it along...

So, Justin... where was this handy tip when I was struggling to get that freakin' front tire off, huh? Oh well, I'll file it away for future use. Thanks for thinking of poor little me, working in the heat, banged up knuckles...  :'(  Poke me with a fork, I think I'm done.
I wonder if i could get the wheel and tyre into my bench vice and clamp it up to break the beads?anyone tried this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XArpY_hSdk&NR=1
Watch all 3 parts!!! [smiley=1drink.gif]
« Last Edit: August 01, 2008, 11:21:58 AM by beemer »

Offline Ed Miller

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #27 on: August 01, 2008, 11:49:42 AM »
I use my bench vise to break the bead.  Usually one side breaks free before the other; after that I use a board to protect the rim on the broken beaded side and do the side that didn't come free the first time.  

Freaking gibberish but I don't know how to put it better right now, sorry.   :-[

Ed Miller
'81 r65
Falls City, OR

Offline beemer

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #28 on: August 01, 2008, 05:15:33 PM »
Quote
I use my bench vise to break the bead.  Usually one side breaks free before the other; after that I use a board to protect the rim on the broken beaded side and do the side that didn't come free the first time.  

Freaking gibberish but I don't know how to put it better right now, sorry.   :-[
Ah!good,thanks for the reply,i'm waiting for some rim protectors to arrive in the post then i will give it a go!i bought a new discounted Meztler for the front,so that's the one i'm going to change,not sure if i should remove the brake disk though?i have a twin disk 65LS,any ideas?

Chris_in_BC

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Re: Changing your own tyres?
« Reply #29 on: August 01, 2008, 06:22:12 PM »
Well we have 3 active bikes in the family, so lots of changes. Generally, go through one set of tires per bike per year.

It is a good thing to know how to do it, plus carrying the tools in case you get a flat on the road.
I only use the tire irons in the BMW tool kit. A third would be handy at times, but not totally necessary. I don't think you need anything longer, but that is just my view.

The R65 front is the hardest one of all the bikes, just because of narrow cross section which makes it hard to push into the center well.

On the road, and at home I use the centerstand to break the bead. It can be done by one person, but it is a lot easier with two. Take off wheel, STRAP CENTERSTAND,  balance bike and tip it to one side. Have someone slide the wheel under one leg as close to the bead as possible. Stand bike upright. Turn wheel over to do other side if this is for a new tire.

As others have mentioned use lots of lubricant, soapy water, commercial tire slip etc. Push bead into center and start levering at opposite side. Use the flat part of lever, not the cupped end.

When reinstalling, use the cupped part of the lever, and don't allow the lever to go more than 90 degrees to the wheel, ie vertical. It is when you let the lever go past vertical that you can pinch the tube.

Another trick I have found is it helps if you leave the tire out in the sun for half an hour or more before you start, they seat a lot easier if the rubber is warm, than when cold. I have also resorted to a paint remover heat gun to warm up a recalcitrant seating tire.

If this is a new tire/ tube etc. I put the tube in the tire first (lightly pumped up) You can then easily  put the valve stem through the wheel, catch it with a nut, and push the first bead over. With lube, you can almost push a tire on totally by hand. If not just use the lever for the last few inches.

I use a homemade static tire balancer.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2008, 06:28:35 PM by Chris_in_BC »