I have the spoked 21" front wheel on my '07 Sportster, the tire size is MH90-21. I was wondering if anyone has tried changing the tire manually using irons, and how difficult it is? I'll be replacing the inner tube, so I'm not worried out pinching it on removal.

 

Can break the bead with two or three C clamps.
Three spoons are required.
May intertain using some plastic rim protectors under the spoons.
No-mar brand tire lubrication gel in a jar, spread on the new tire bead, makes installation much easier.

 

I did my rear tire last year with a set of Bikemaster irons. The only issue I had was I couldn't get the bead to seat when inflating the new tire. Sidewalls on bias-ply tires are super stuff. I took it to a tire shop, and it even took them 20 minutes of bouncing it around before it took. They had a clip-on air chuck, which I didn't. But I have one now.
Anyway, the front is a different animal. I managed to find a few YouTube vids and I think I have a pretty good idea now. I'm doing this more for the satisfaction of it than for money saving. I'm not going to be tackling it until winter.

 

In addition, I found these helpful (leverage):


https://www.harborfreight.com/24-inc...ron-93230.html


Can also wrap the tire with a ratchet strap putting tension on the tire after wrapping the circumference to help seat the bead.


I use baby powder to lube the bead. YD

 

Definitely get the rim protectors....
I always mount my own tires on all my vehicles.
21 inchers with skinny tires are always the hardest for me.
I like the narrow rim protectors with the rope. Lube them well
or they will get stuck.
Dip your bars or spoons in lube for every pry so you can slip them
back out.
To break the bead dig a hole in the yard for your hub, cover with
blanket. Lay tire over it flat.
Get a 4 foot piece of 2 X 6 to break the bead. Lay it flat onto the
tire. VERY CAREFULLY drive a car on it to break the bead like a
ramp. (both sides)

Not so hard....

p.s. I find the small/wide nail pulling bars work better than any spoons I've used for 21's.
two of them

 

I used a cut plastic milk carton to make some very effective rim protectors on my last change. I'm pretty done with the idea though. It's worth paying some because for me it's like wrassling a crocodile and there's no telling which way that tire iron will fly next.

 

I guess by now you've got the tire on. How was it?

I changed my 1200C's tires (have a changer), big fat back one, easy, front, difficult even with the changer. I had to put a ratchet strap around the tire to get the bead seated, seldom need that with my setup. One thing I've found that helps is putting something like oil bottles or bits of 2x4 board in the tire to spread it, and leaving it out in the sun, if it's summer, so the beads aren't trying to touch in the center of the rim when you're trying to put it on, and if they spread enough, a good shot of air seats them easy. That 21" encouraged me to figure that out...

Another thing, I replaced all the rubber, including the rub strip, had a little rust under it and when I brushed the rust off, found a crack in the rim weld. So when the wheel went back on, it was all new, tire, rim, bearings, the works. I don't want to think about a rim weld breaking on the road, never even crossed my mind till I saw that crack.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I didn't do my tires yet, probably late Oct of Nov. I do have some rim protectors, the kind with the rope. Only 2 though. I'm going to make a few more from plastic milk carton, I saw that on a video.


Might I suggest something a lot easier? C-clamps. 2 of them, and a piece of wood. WAY easy!

 

be careful, rotors are easy to bend. even a slight amount will cause front wheel issues.

 

I never had any problems seating the bead when there is a tube.. Just need to lube the bead good. 21 inch rim are pretty easy with irons, I don't bother with rim protectors on chromed steel rims..