I'm having to replace the front tire on what has become a project bike lol (dry rotted, will not hold air at all). If I remove the front wheel to be taken to the stealership for tire replacement, will I need to remove the bearings to have the new wheel and tire balanced? Also, in this crappy service manual I bought I've been reading of having the bike aligned. Is this something as common as you would find on a vehicle? Should this also be performed given that this bike is as old as it is? What kind of symptoms would I find from a bike that is misaligned?

 

You don't have to take out the bearings to have a tire replaced but it is a good idea to have them repacked when you change tires (which will require removing them).

As for alignment does your bike pull hard to the left or the right? If no the no problem but if yes there are several things to check like neck bearings, fall away, if spoked wheels are the spokes tentioned correctly.

 

My 1990 FLHS has been a project bike for years! Your softail has a bolted-in engine I believe, in which case the alignment thing you refer to doesn't apply. That relates to rubber-mounts and getting the engine/trans aligned in the frame. All you can do is check wheel alignment of the rear wheel relative to the front.

If your front tyre is that bad, what state is your rear? If it is seven years or older it would be very wise to replace that as well.

 

i did the front tire on my 90 fxstc myself. wasnt that big of a deal. then i used dyna-beads in it. worked out great. but no they dont take the bearings or seals out.

 

Never balanced a m/cycle tyre in my life....have removed the balance weights to correct a high speed wobble on several occaisions....