wobbly tire?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 192
From: Lakeland, FL
wobbly tire?
Ok.. I'm working out the bugs in this 94 FXLR. It's a low miles bike, but sat under a cover for a long time. So, I've rebuilt the rear brakes, rebuilt the forks and am waiting on some carb parts. I've been riding this thing a bit around town and noticed it can be very unstable at times. I suspected maybe my swingarm needed attention. I took a look at the rear tire while I was riding and noticed it was moving side to side quite a bit. I put it on the jack when I got home and ran it with the tire in the air. As far as I can tell, the pulley and wheel track straight as an arrow. The tire is all over the place. What the hell? Is it improperly seated? I have a mag in the back, so no loose spokes. The tire was new when I got the bike, and the bead appears even all the way around on both sides. I've never seen anything like it before.
Last edited by mplecha; Sep 13, 2019 at 02:52 PM.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
Ok.. I'm working out the bugs in this 94 FXLR. It's a low miles bike, but sat under a cover for a long time. So, I've rebuilt the rear brakes, rebuilt the forks and am waiting on some carb parts. I've been riding this thing a bit around town and noticed it can be very unstable at times. I suspected maybe my swingarm needed attention. I took a look at the rear tire while I was riding and noticed it was moving side to side quite a bit. I put it on the jack when I got home and ran it with the tire in the air. As far as I can tell, the pulley and wheel track straight as an arrow. The tire is all over the place. What the hell? Is it improperly seated? I have a mag in the back, so no loose spokes. The tire was new when I got the bike, and the bead appears even all the way around on both sides. I've never seen anything like it before.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 192
From: Lakeland, FL
here's a short video. it looks to me like the rim and pulley are steady, but the tire is not. I'd think if the bearing were bad, it would all wobble together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBY-...ature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBY-...ature=youtu.be
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,572
From: NC USA
I see it wobbling.
My first guess would be not seated but like the Sgt. used to say; "who was there - you or me"? Look at that bead again. Put a ruler or board on a block and set it next to the wheel (left side) and turn it by hand if you haven't already. Those mags are pretty tough but the least bit of run out at the rim is greatly exaggerated on the sidewall. Is that a D402? They're run flat beads on the rears and a pain to get seated sometimes.
My first guess would be not seated but like the Sgt. used to say; "who was there - you or me"? Look at that bead again. Put a ruler or board on a block and set it next to the wheel (left side) and turn it by hand if you haven't already. Those mags are pretty tough but the least bit of run out at the rim is greatly exaggerated on the sidewall. Is that a D402? They're run flat beads on the rears and a pain to get seated sometimes.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Also check your tyre pressure, to make sure the tyre is correctly inflated. A soft tyre can feel as you describe. If it has been fairly recently installed consider pumping it up to above correct pressure, to see if it seats better on the rim. Reset to 'book' pressure afterwards!
It is some years ago now, but I had a new tyre installed and the local bike shop just couldn't get it to seat properly (on my Glide's rear wheel). They road race and prep their own bikes, for Irish and Isle of Man road racing, so know a thing or two about getting things right! They eventually gave up and got a replacement of the same tyre, which just popped on as the other one should have done. So it is just possible that your tyre is a bad 'un.
It is some years ago now, but I had a new tyre installed and the local bike shop just couldn't get it to seat properly (on my Glide's rear wheel). They road race and prep their own bikes, for Irish and Isle of Man road racing, so know a thing or two about getting things right! They eventually gave up and got a replacement of the same tyre, which just popped on as the other one should have done. So it is just possible that your tyre is a bad 'un.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 507
From: Florida
I can see it "wobble". Check run out of rim, and if bead seated correctly, if that checks out. I call bad tire.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
mplecha in your original post you said the tire feels unstable at times.
If your tire is a Dunlop 400 series tire (401, 402, or 404) and those time are when you are going over tar snakes or road paint then your problem is the tire it'self or rather the rubber compound the tire is made from.
That inherent instability over road paint or tar snakes is why I flat refuse to ride a bike with a 400 series tire.
If your tire is a Dunlop 400 series tire (401, 402, or 404) and those time are when you are going over tar snakes or road paint then your problem is the tire it'self or rather the rubber compound the tire is made from.
That inherent instability over road paint or tar snakes is why I flat refuse to ride a bike with a 400 series tire.