| Author | Message | ||
     Jeepinbueller |
Hey guys (and gals), I'm taking my wheels in to a local shop today to get new tires put on and balanced -- Pilot Power 2CT's. Getting the wheels off was surprisingly easy (this is my first time for a Buell). Are there any special instructions that the shop needs to know about Buell wheels? Should I remove the huge sprocket and brake disc? Any warnings I should give them about the bearings or anything? I hope they can keep those external sticky weights to a minimum for balancing ... I hate how they look but don't really wanna' try the beads. Thanks for the help everyone. | ||
| Aeholton |
Leave the sprocket attached. I put tape with an arrow indicating direction the wheel spins. I once had a shop that typically services Japanese brands mount a tire backward. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Tell them that if they get anywhere near your wheels with brake cleaner or any other solvent, you will slowly pull their guts out thru their nose....in case they don't hear you just ask them not to...  | ||
| Jdugger |
Brake cleaner is fine on Buell wheels. That followed by a little denatured alcohol is a good way to clean the spot you stick the weights. | ||
| Buellfreak |
Nothing to it. I change mine myself. the rotor goes down and the sproket faces up. If you take it to a discount tire they well know, and most likely wont charge you anything. But they wont be able to balance it. | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
Damn ... the local shop I'm taking it to is charging $70 to mount and balance both. A little steep if you ask me (since I didn't buy the tires from them). I mean is balancing really crutial? The stock tires didn't have any weights mounted for balancing ... (Message edited by jeepinbueller on June 17, 2010) | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wouldnt put brake cleaner on the powder coat. WD-40, heat gun, bamboo or plastic scraper, and alchohol is probably fine. But even the alchohol might soften that stuff up. | ||
| Scottorious |
I have some 2CT's coming tomorrow...pretty good deal it seems like...Hopefully they arent total crap. | ||
| Whippetlovr |
Use rubberized tools. I wish the dealer who installed my tires had... instead I have nice gouges in my blue wheels. | ||
| Drawkward |
Bleche-Wite FTW | ||
| Ccryder |
If weights are required on the front put them on the rotor side. There have been "issues" in the past with ZTL wheels and weights on the opposite side as the the rotor. | ||
| Mountainstorm |
Every time my tires get changed the guys scratch and gouge my rims. I've given up. It does no good to tell them not to do that, they do it anyway. Happened at the Buell dealer and it happened at the IL4 dealer. It's hopeless. Short of changing your own wheels in your own garage I think yo will be doomed to nicks and scratches. I especially hate when then gouge the finish prying off a weight. You don't use an effing screwdriver to pop off a sticky weight. Dumb bastards. | ||
| Bueller4ever |
Tell them the belt is on the left! All other buells are on the right, so they may not know. $70 is outrageous, unless they are removing and mounting the rims. I'm going to do mine myself. | ||
| Ezblast |
Thats the normal price in the bay area - and why I am buying my own tools to do it. EZ | ||
| Ccryder |
It was costing $25-35/ wheel. They didn't even charge me extra for the scratches. I bought a No-Mar and never looked back. It usually took 4-5 hours b/t transport and them doing the work for a 20min/ wheel job. B/t my rides and my b-in-law rides it's paid for itself. Later Neil S. | ||
| Jdugger |
If you ride a lot, a no-mar is a nice deal. I use the hell out of mine, probably change 10 tires a month between me and a couple of friends. | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
Thanks for the help everyone. Got the 2CT's on and I'll be trying them out tomorrow early in the AM before work! Change went very smooth ... it's an older cycle shop that has an eclectic mix of I4's, dirt bikes, and scooters and the old mechanic is the man (C & L Cycle Shop in Eldersburg, MD). I just brought him the wheels and he got them swapped out and balanced in 20 mins. So scratches on the wheel at all ... no marks at all. Weights on the front wheel are on the rotor side, and the rear tire is going the right direction  Thanks for the heads up. I left to get it done before I got to see any of the responses at the end here, but it seems the guy knew what he was doing anyway! Love that new tire smell ... time to go knock the nubbies off it in the AM!! (Message edited by jeepinbueller on June 17, 2010) |
