Setting tire bead
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 594
Likes: 10
From: Seminole County, FL
Setting tire bead
Here's a challenge to the collective wisdom out there:
I have been changing my own tires for years and occasionally have had trouble getting the bead to set. I have always found a way up to today.
I am mounting a Shinko rear on my '07 FLHR. Tire went on the rim same as Dunlop, metzeler, Continental. I have plenty of air at 120 psi, fed through a chuck that I had gutted out and drilled the orifice out to the max diameter. I have used a ratcheting cargo strap around the circumference of the tire to force the bead to the rim, while rolling, bouncing, whacking with a rubber mallet all to no avail.
I even took it to my buddy's shop where we unmounted and re mounted with his machine. The rim is clean, properly lubed, and still no luck. Right now the wheel and tire are sitting in the back of my SUV in the Florida sun hoping to get up to 120 degrees plus for the next round.
Anybody have any suggestions?
I have been changing my own tires for years and occasionally have had trouble getting the bead to set. I have always found a way up to today.
I am mounting a Shinko rear on my '07 FLHR. Tire went on the rim same as Dunlop, metzeler, Continental. I have plenty of air at 120 psi, fed through a chuck that I had gutted out and drilled the orifice out to the max diameter. I have used a ratcheting cargo strap around the circumference of the tire to force the bead to the rim, while rolling, bouncing, whacking with a rubber mallet all to no avail.
I even took it to my buddy's shop where we unmounted and re mounted with his machine. The rim is clean, properly lubed, and still no luck. Right now the wheel and tire are sitting in the back of my SUV in the Florida sun hoping to get up to 120 degrees plus for the next round.
Anybody have any suggestions?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 12,696
From: South Carolina
He`s not trying to get the tire onto the wheel, he is trying to get the bead to set against the wheel all the way around while putting air in...
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 594
Likes: 10
From: Seminole County, FL
Maybe it's the difference in cost; $105.00 for a WWW from Shinko vs. $180.00+ for a Metzeler or Continental, neither of which are worth the cost for the mileage I have been getting.
Somebody please make a decent WWW that can give me 10k or better!!!
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 30
From: North Florida
On hard to seat tires I coat the tire and rim with green slime or the other stuff run.....?
Then bounce the tire around.
Then bounce the tire around.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
Just a small whiff of starter fluid, light it with a long butane lighter.
Most folks try with too much spray.
Have the air hooked up to the stem and put it to it as soon as it pops.
That's the only way we ever mounted big truck tires when I worked construction years ago (Except we used gas and poured a trail to it, even two at a time).
Go for it!
Most folks try with too much spray.
Have the air hooked up to the stem and put it to it as soon as it pops.
That's the only way we ever mounted big truck tires when I worked construction years ago (Except we used gas and poured a trail to it, even two at a time).
Go for it!
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 17
From: Central Coast California
While lighter fluid, hairspray etc. will do the job "most times", the safer way is with the following tool:
It is the TSI Cheetah Bead Seating Tool. Gives a solid blast of air that literally blows the tire out to the bead seat area.
It is the TSI Cheetah Bead Seating Tool. Gives a solid blast of air that literally blows the tire out to the bead seat area.