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While I have it tore down for paint, I pulled the exhaust, then pulled the cam cover and checked tensioner shoes.
I took a short ride to JP Cycles, and picked up a couple new whitewalls.
Brought them home, and broke out the spoons, and put the new shiny whitewalls on. Time for a beer.
I've done hundreds of bike tires and they are so easy I can do them with my fingers.
I've done car (actually trailer) tires on a cheap Harbor Freight bead breaker and they are a BEAR. I've jumped up and down trying to break a bead.
So can you compare your experience to those? I need to replace my rear tire and I'm considering doing it myself.
I don't have a "bead breaker". I improvise a bit. I use 2, foot long 4x4 blocks of wood for a base, to set the wheel on, on opposing sides of the wheel, so rotor and belt pulley can stay attached to the wheel.
I set the blocks down next to one of the cars in the driveway, lay the wheel on them, and use a short 2x4 block as a bead breaker, and a longer 2x4 for the lever, up under the frame.
The rear tire is a 150, so it's a bit harder to break, but it ain't bad.
After the bead is broke, it only takes a couple minutes to pull it with the spoons. I use the 4x4 blocks under the wheel during the dismount and mounting also. I use baby powder for lubricating the beads, and tubes.
Last edited by Bestrafen; May 8, 2016 at 04:34 PM.
Got my first ride of the season in on both of them. Still the best cruiser I have ever had the privilege of riding. I plan to always have a softail in my garage.
Finished up Saturday, Fuel Moto 107 Bore Kit (Woods TW-777 cams), Performance Air Kit (using stock cover) Vance & Hines Short Shots. Added there tune with the Power Vision Tuner. Started right up. Did a couple of heat cycles, then took her out for about 50 miles. What an improvement over stock, throttle was very responsive, and I can tell there is a big power increase but I am trying todo the break in thing. The sound was also amazing, used the quiet baffles, but it still is loud, but for me just right, like a Harley!!!!! Probably put 500 miles before I Dyno, We will see.
Swapped 10mm Screamin Eagle leads for Magnum Chromite II Chrome braided leads and then ordered Twisted 12mm leads.
Not sure which ones i'll end up leaving on.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
