| Author | Message | ||
     Juggalo080 |
My new tire is making it to me today, I'm trying out a Metzler M1 for the first time. Had still been running the 207. I'm looking into changing the tire on my own with some old tire irons. What do you all use to keep from scraping into the aluminum rims? I've replaced tires on steel wheels before, but never aluminum. Thanks for any info | ||
| Mz_guy |
I use a 2 liter plastic pop bottle and cut it up into several rim protectors. | ||
| Kootenay |
I used some polyethylene sheet, about 1'16" thick, that I happened to have. Worked well (once I figured out how to use it!). | ||
| Mbohmann |
I've got an aluminum tool that I bought years ago from somewhere, maybe Dennis Kirk. The tool hooks over the rim and you persuade it along with a rubber mallet. Haven't used it in a long time, but as I recall, it worked OK. I WOULD NOT USE STEEL TIRE IRONS ON ANY BIKE WHEEL. If in doubt, find a local shop that has a tire machine. It will be worth whatever the cost to prevent dinging up your wheel. The last time I needed tires, I found a shop that sells primarily dirt bike stuff, but they got me the tires for about the same price as the mailorder places and they mounted (and balanced) them for a very reasonable price. | ||
| Juggalo080 |
Thanks for the help, I will probably look into some aluminum tire irons. The cheapest I found locally for getting tires mounted is $28 which isn't too bad, just didn't want to have to make the drive to there. | ||
| Fullpower |
the 17 inch rubber falls off the Buell rims with surprising ease, after breaking the bead with a 6 inch C-clamp, and applying a bit of warm soapy water. | ||
| Fran_dog |
Fullpower: How easy or difficult are they going back on the rims. | ||
| Kootenay |
How easy or difficult are they going back on the rims. I'm not Fullpower, but I've done it, and I can suggest a full complement of swear words is recommended for this job, especially if you're working alone without a tire machine... Get some rim lube from a tire shop, too (better than soap). | ||
| Whodom |
Good step-by-step directions here: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html Motorcycle Consumer News had a good article on building a home-made balancing stand a year or so ago mostly out of PVC pipe and fittings. Costs about ~$12 for the parts and works well. |
