Depends on the type wheel you have. I have no issues with changing solid or semi-slid wheels. Wont mess with the spoked wheels to much pain. Also are you running a tube? Otherwise it's easy a lil dish soap line up yellow dot with valve stem and use a couple "tire spoons" and you in there. I use 2 peices of cut 4x4 to hold off ground so don't ruin rim. Save the money. But if you have spokes spend the money they are a pain, and trying to "tune" them is a act I dont have the touch to do. Like tuning a piano, a truing stand is also needed to do it right.

Either way if the tire needs changed do it don't want to read about you ahving a blow out, there is a topic I hope we never have to talk about.

Geno

 

Yes Geno,the spoked rims can be twice the work.Ocassionally you rip or kink the tube and wont know till you finish filling and try to seal the bead.Then you get to do it all over again.Theres usually a place in every city that specializes in tires/rims,truing etc.I have worked with about 25 guys in the dealerships and only 2-3 can true or lace spokes properly.An art kind of,Bob

 

Thanks for the input guys. I haven't tried anything on my RK that proved to be "rocket science." I do my own services, yes slip ons, carb gut and cleaning. The reason I was considering the tire change is because they are standard RK wheels, tubeless. I have alot of experience changing automotive tires, split rim truck tires and tractor tires. Ever used a tire wedge? I try to save a buck where I can- within reason. That translates into gas money and occasionally chrome. I don't believe that shops are always the best answer.
Thanks again.

 

Vernh, If you can change a split rim tire this is a cake walk! Use two tire spoons, Soapy water (sparingly on the inner bead only) make sure the tire is in the drop center and slide her on. For those that have never done it here's a free $50 bill for ya. The back bead goes on just like every other tire in the world without the use of tools at all. mix up a little bit of tire mounting slime. In one of your good kitchen bowls, squirt in 2 table spoons of dish washing detergent. dawn is recommended. Add 1 cup warm water. Mix gently, you don't want foam you want slippery water. Using a small piece of cloth... a baby's sock works well, rub this mixture on the outer rim of the tire where the friction will be when mounting it. Hook the bottom of the tire in the drop center of the rim, Press up and right then up and left and work your way up until it's on. You MAY need to force the last 2" of the bead down with your hand. Line up the stem and the dot and put them together and rotate the tire so they are at 9 o'clock. Just like you did before, put the tire into the drop center of the rim at the bottom and work your way up. You can use your knees to insure it stays in the drop center. When it gets tight, stop the tire travel on one side of the tire with you knee and use the Tire spoons 2" at a time and work the tire on to the rim. Make sure the tire keep going into the drop center of the rim so it will go on easily. work your way around until it's on. be careful you don't pinch the inside of the air stem when you get to it. Inflate, clean and balance if you wish. Be careful when inflating the tire initially as the beads need to seat. If your fingers are in the way the tire will remove them for you. There are two down sides to that scenerio. The tire will have a leak from the meat left behind preventing the seat and 2. you're gonna bleed... a lot. Don't exceed the manufacturers maximum "seating" pressure. It is written on the tire. If you don't have tire spoons, sturdy screwdrives may be used but you will need to exercise caution as they can damage the bead of the tire and scratch rims easily. Northern Tool sells them for $6.99 each. If after reading this you think you can't or would rather not try it... Don't.
Have a well Mounted 1 ,
Moose

 

Maybe I'm getting to soft as I get older but I have resigned myself with this thought - I'd love to do it all myself but I have neither all the great tools or the time - To save on the frustration I know I'll get, I guess I'll help contribute to the succes of my local H-D dealership and the mechanics pay....the pocket book is sure to suffer but my guys do great work so its worth the peace of mind! Plus the wife doesn't have to hear me yellin and screamin in the garage!

 

Short story....

I call the HD shop here, and they tell me Tires on sale this month so front and back are costing me $215.00
I ask about them mounting them...... $160.00 + the Tire cost.
When I drop the bike off, I ask for something in print that estimates my final cost.
The Service Manager says he can only quote me the labor.....$ 160.00
I tell him what they quoted me on the tires... he says good deal !
( Still nothing in writing. )

I stop in Thursday to see if the bike will be ready Friday mourning as promised.
The mech. takes me back and shows me a "Spacer" that seperates my rear bearings and explains that mine was 1/16 of an inch to long and has been sent to the shop to be "fixed".... and shows me the small spacer/washers that are supposed to be in it.... vs. the flat "modified" ones that were in it when he broke it down.
I ask how much this added work will cost, as I was not called or notified that they were doing it.
He Says Minimal fee..... I figure its so small no need to frett, as I DO want it to be "Right".

Friday mourning I have not heard from them til almost noon when I call them.
They say its ready and they tried to call me..... they called my Boss !!!!!!

I get there, the bike is a pig... looks like it was left in the rain... let alone all the greasey finger prints.....
They used some really ugly generic wheel weights that stick out like a sore thumb..... after I SPECIFICALLY asked for, and picked out custom weights.
The front brake squeals like Ned Beatty in deliverence....... and my bill is $565.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I point out the shape of the bike, and the old glue still in place on my rims from the old weights.
The guy slides me a coupon for a "Free Bike Wash", and says.... " Yeah,, ya know the young guys that wash the bikes just dont treat them with respect. "
I tell him better dirty, than scratched !.... and roll my eyes as he nods in agreement.

So........
I end up with 4 guys trying to "explain" the situation for the better part of an hour.
After three seperate attempts for me to tell them....... I Understand the bill.... I just DONT LIKE IT !!!!!!!
And them trying to explain to me how bearings work, instead of addressing my concerns....
I throw the man my credit card and beg them to let me outta there before I lose my mind.
"oh here !" says the manager as I walk away..... "Dont forget your coupon, and bring that bike back 1st of the week so we can get it cleaned up for ya ! "

I tell him he could have the skinny girls up front in bikini's doin it..... and it would STILL be a Cold Day....


Lesson Learned.....
Take Someone.... and it wont be them !, my rims and new tires.... and have them mounted and balanced.
The rest is simple enuff for me, just the time and space.

Would have probably paid the bill happily had they kept be abreast of the situation and ASKED, or ADVISED the extra work involved !
Might of even overlooked the dirty bike, loose mirrors, and UGLY weights.
But the combination of the events made the event horrible for me.

Anyways..........

Budds........................