Flat rear tire
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Des Moines, IA
Flat rear tire
Woke up this morning and found my rear tire flat. Found a rusty nail sticking out of the center of the tread.
Any helpful advice on removing the rear tire? Is it difficult? The service manual claims I'll need to remove the brake pads but I'm not sure why this is the case. If I recall, I'll need to make an alignment tool out of a coathanger to help reinstall.
Guess I won't be riding today. :|
Any helpful advice on removing the rear tire? Is it difficult? The service manual claims I'll need to remove the brake pads but I'm not sure why this is the case. If I recall, I'll need to make an alignment tool out of a coathanger to help reinstall.
Guess I won't be riding today. :|
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,789
Likes: 9
From: Double Oak, Texas
In the center area of the tread, if you still have enough tread for riding, a simple puncture can be plugged and safely ridden 'till the tire is worn out.
I have plug repaired several rear tires with center thread area simple punctures over the years and have never had a problem riding out the remaining miles on the tire. I would not attempt a repair of edge of tread or sidewall punctures; lots of flexing goin' on there.
I have plug repaired several rear tires with center thread area simple punctures over the years and have never had a problem riding out the remaining miles on the tire. I would not attempt a repair of edge of tread or sidewall punctures; lots of flexing goin' on there.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
In the center area of the tread, if you still have enough tread for riding, a simple puncture can be plugged and safely ridden 'till the tire is worn out.
I have plug repaired several rear tires with center thread area simple punctures over the years and have never had a problem riding out the remaining miles on the tire. I would not attempt a repair of edge of tread or sidewall punctures; lots of flexing goin' on there.
I have plug repaired several rear tires with center thread area simple punctures over the years and have never had a problem riding out the remaining miles on the tire. I would not attempt a repair of edge of tread or sidewall punctures; lots of flexing goin' on there.
I don't think you can plug a tube. You can patch one but why would go through all the trouble of removing the tire and wheel and not buy a new tube?
Here's a pdf on wheel alignment that I saved from someone on this forum giving us a heads-up on it. How good it is, how accurate it is, how useful it is? I have no idea. I saved it as a 'just-in'-case' dealio.
http://www.motorcyclemetal.com/downl...e%20Simple.pdf
I've looked at mine and don't relish the thought of removing the rear wheel. I imagine it's like everything else -- The first time you do it, you're re-inventing the wheel. For those who have done it multiple times, it's no biggie. For those of us who haven't, it's a PITD.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut / Amsterdam
Woke up this morning and found my rear tire flat. Found a rusty nail sticking out of the center of the tread.
Any helpful advice on removing the rear tire? Is it difficult? The service manual claims I'll need to remove the brake pads but I'm not sure why this is the case. If I recall, I'll need to make an alignment tool out of a coathanger to help reinstall.
Guess I won't be riding today. :|
Any helpful advice on removing the rear tire? Is it difficult? The service manual claims I'll need to remove the brake pads but I'm not sure why this is the case. If I recall, I'll need to make an alignment tool out of a coathanger to help reinstall.
Guess I won't be riding today. :|
Slotted Six-Spoke Wheel - Textured Black #43577-09
OR
Slotted Six-Spoke Wheel - Chrome # 43549-09
Oh one of the best parts of that day was i had to ride bitch on the back of my friends 1978 1/2 shovelhead lowrider for 3 hours back to my state !! WHAT A RIDE !!!!!
Last edited by Wonkaboy; Jul 25, 2010 at 10:35 AM.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 5
You have a tube inside whatever you do don't ride on it , i got stuck last week 200 miles from my home in the country i HAD to ride on the flat like 10 miles till i got to a city where everything was closed anyway ( Sunday ) A cop had seen me stuck and knew where a HD dealer which was another 5 miles ( he owns a Harley too ) he got in touch with the owner and held my key to give to him the next day the bike was kept overnight under a tent that they had set up he was going to keep an eye on it overnight for me too , i ended up leaving the bike there all week , well i ruined everything , just pick it up the bike yesterday had to buy a new front rim ,tire, bearing ,tube and rim strap and labor, = $749.00 i must have had a pinched tube because they did not find a hole in the tire and neither did i , the thing is i just bought the tires ( front and back ) and tubes and rim straps 500 miles ago so they were brand new WHAT A WASTE ! I DON'T TRUST TUBES ANYMORE , i want to go with a HD cast wheels they are more durable and no tubes !! I got my eye on these :
Slotted Six-Spoke Wheel - Textured Black #43577-09
OR
Slotted Six-Spoke Wheel - Chrome # 43549-09
Oh one of the best parts of that day was i had to ride bitch on the back of my friends 1978 1/2 shovelhead lowrider for 3 hours back to my state !! WHAT A RIDE !!!!!
Slotted Six-Spoke Wheel - Textured Black #43577-09
OR
Slotted Six-Spoke Wheel - Chrome # 43549-09
Oh one of the best parts of that day was i had to ride bitch on the back of my friends 1978 1/2 shovelhead lowrider for 3 hours back to my state !! WHAT A RIDE !!!!!
CB
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 310
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From: Des Moines, IA
Yeah my tire has a tube. I'm hoping the tire itself isn't damanged too badly; the nail is right in the centerline of the tire. I'll replace the tube.
I'll have to see if I can get some help. I have a POS Harbor Freight lift, virtually impossible to "finesse" in the downward direction. That might make reinstallation a bit more challenging. Now I'm kinda nervous about realiagnment when I put it back on.
Wonka: that SUCKS. I'm not too happy about the tubes either, and new wheels are high on my wishlist. I haven't and won't move the bike at all with no air in the tire, thanks for the warning.
I'll have to see if I can get some help. I have a POS Harbor Freight lift, virtually impossible to "finesse" in the downward direction. That might make reinstallation a bit more challenging. Now I'm kinda nervous about realiagnment when I put it back on.
Wonka: that SUCKS. I'm not too happy about the tubes either, and new wheels are high on my wishlist. I haven't and won't move the bike at all with no air in the tire, thanks for the warning.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 310
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From: Des Moines, IA
Oh, I bet disconnecting the rear shocks and letting the swingarm down will make life a ton easier, rather than dealing with lift height. True?
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
Yeah my tire has a tube. I'm hoping the tire itself isn't damanged too badly; the nail is right in the centerline of the tire. I'll replace the tube.
I'll have to see if I can get some help. I have a POS Harbor Freight lift, virtually impossible to "finesse" in the downward direction. That might make reinstallation a bit more challenging. Now I'm kinda nervous about realiagnment when I put it back on.
Wonka: that SUCKS. I'm not too happy about the tubes either, and new wheels are high on my wishlist. I haven't and won't move the bike at all with no air in the tire, thanks for the warning.
I'll have to see if I can get some help. I have a POS Harbor Freight lift, virtually impossible to "finesse" in the downward direction. That might make reinstallation a bit more challenging. Now I'm kinda nervous about realiagnment when I put it back on.
Wonka: that SUCKS. I'm not too happy about the tubes either, and new wheels are high on my wishlist. I haven't and won't move the bike at all with no air in the tire, thanks for the warning.
Unless you wanna lug a portable compressor with you everywhere and carry a plug kit, you're still kinda screwed. And while I've successfully plugged cheap tires and got away with it, I sure as hell wouldn't put a plug in my motorsickle tire for any length of time. Maybe long enough to get it to a shop, but that's about it. And that would be an advantage IF you had a portable compressor and a plug kit with you on the road. Or if some good Samaritan came by that had both.
If you put a boot in your tire and a new tube, strips, etc (whatever), you might be okay. But I'd ask a pro. If he says to buy a new tire, I'd give it some serious thought.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
tube/tubeless
Tubes have been well proven over only the past hundred years. Your mistrust should be directed where it belongs...w/ the amateur who installed it, pinching the tube.
But I understand the need to justify the expense of installing rims you think are more attractive. My FXDC also has laced wheels. Because I ride mostly in wilderness areas I am also concerned about getting a flat. Cast wheels w/o tubes could be much easier to make an emergency repair by plugging the tire. They're also easier to clean. When I replaced my rear tire recently I had the indy install a new heavy duty tube on the chance that it might be more puncture resistant; the cost difference was only about $10. These are the tubes desert-riders here use to out-smart cactus thorns. Not sure if there's any downside to using them.
But I understand the need to justify the expense of installing rims you think are more attractive. My FXDC also has laced wheels. Because I ride mostly in wilderness areas I am also concerned about getting a flat. Cast wheels w/o tubes could be much easier to make an emergency repair by plugging the tire. They're also easier to clean. When I replaced my rear tire recently I had the indy install a new heavy duty tube on the chance that it might be more puncture resistant; the cost difference was only about $10. These are the tubes desert-riders here use to out-smart cactus thorns. Not sure if there's any downside to using them.