Changing Own Tires

Decided since I've changed dirt bike and quad tires a million times, I'd give the VFR a shot. I got the old tire off, new one on easy enough, but now when I go to fill it with air, the beads won't seat, the air must just be going around it and not filling the tire.

Any idea what I am doing wrong? I feel like an idiot lol...I'm sure it's something stupid, I got the bead of the tire as close to the edge as I can, just won't pop over.

Be sure the stem is not leaking. You may also try putting a tow strap around the center of the tire, and ratcheting it down, to push the tire to the bead, on both sides.

Make sure the bead seat is a little wet with some soapy water and take out the valve core they slow down air entering the tire. That usually does it. If not put a ratchet strap around the outer surface of the tire tread and tighten it down a little so the beads push out to the rim.

It might take an extra set of hands but try to push down on the spot that's letting air past and maybe turn up the pressure on your air compressor. Spraying soapy water or tire lube around the tire may also help seal the gap.

[image: View Post]dutchinterceptor, on Mar 7 2009, 10:36 AM, said:

It might take an extra set of hands but try to push down on the spot that's letting air past and maybe turn up the pressure on your air compressor. Spraying soapy water or tire lube around the tire may also help seal the gap.
Just what I was thinking, if you don't have fairly high volume of air moving you may not be filling the tire faster than the air can leak out. And the soapy water makes it easier too. With soapy water you should be able to pop the beads out when the tire pressure hits 40-50 psi.

wow, thanks for all the post so quick! I'll go play around with all that and see how it works. Today is the first nice day we've had since...um October lol, so I'm really dying to get out.

Thanks!

[image: View Post]viffer03, on Mar 7 2009, 11:50 AM, said:

wow, thanks for all the post so quick! I'll go play around with all that and see how it works. Today is the first nice day we've had since...um October lol, so I'm really dying to get out.

Thanks!

Then go, man, GO!

lol...Believe me, I'm almost gone!

soap + water + air = pop, pop, we all good

I appreciate the help. One more to go and I'm taking her out, it's almost 60 out today, finally!

It also can help to remove the schrader valve from the inside of the valve stem. Then use an air gun with a rubber tip on the valve stem to seat the bead instead of a tire chuck. This will maximize the volume of air you can deliver.

Once the bead is seated, re-install the schrader valve and inflate as normal.

If it's cold, it might help to heat the tire up in the sun to make it a bit more flexible. A tie-down around the circumference will usually do the trick.

Dirk

New kicks are on (PR2's), just took them out for a quick spin and so far I'm really impressed. Once the melting is done and the roads are better, we'll have to give a little workout.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the assistance. Little soapy water and they popped right on. Well, maybe I swore a couple times, but not bad at all. Now...time to take down the xmas lights, after all it's March ;p

Anyone want to help with that?!

Silence.

Next time around, go to NAPA and get a bottle of Ru-Glyde. You'll thank me later. It takes all the work out of spooning on new tires (removal also). Good lube is the key.

[image: View Post]1LuckyDude, on Mar 7 2009, 01:59 PM, said:

Next time around, go to NAPA and get a bottle of Ru-Glyde. You'll thank me later. It takes all the work out of spooning on new tires (removal also). Good lube is the key.


Yep...what he said. No-Mar brand snot works good too!

[image: View Post]dutchinterceptor, on Mar 7 2009, 04:05 PM, said:

[image: View Post]1LuckyDude, on Mar 7 2009, 01:59 PM, said:

Next time around, go to NAPA and get a bottle of Ru-Glyde. You'll thank me later. It takes all the work out of spooning on new tires (removal also). Good lube is the key.


Yep...what he said. No-Mar brand snot works good too!

That's what she said... :goofy:

Oops, was that out loud?? :blink:

I just started changing my own tires last night, I have a Harbor Freight setup w/mojo blocks. Gotta do some mods on the mount bar real soon.

I used Windex for lube, might look into some other stuff in the next month or two, I already have neighbors wanting tires done! :mellow:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on Mar 7 2009, 04:10 PM, said:

[image: View Post]dutchinterceptor, on Mar 7 2009, 04:05 PM, said:

[image: View Post]1LuckyDude, on Mar 7 2009, 01:59 PM, said:

Next time around, go to NAPA and get a bottle of Ru-Glyde. You'll thank me later. It takes all the work out of spooning on new tires (removal also). Good lube is the key.


Yep...what he said. No-Mar brand snot works good too!

That's what she said... :goofy:

Oops, was that out loud?? :blink:

I just started changing my own tires last night, I have a Harbor Freight setup w/mojo blocks. Gotta do some mods on the mount bar real soon.

I used Windex for lube, might look into some other stuff in the next month or two, I already have neighbors wanting tires done! :mellow:
I worked for the local St. Joseph Yamaha shop many years ago and they had a Coats changer and I used it a lot. The Coats 107156 Combo Tool is the best around. I tried the No-Mar mount/demount bar but just couldn't get it to work for me. You do need the protective plastic covers for the Coats bar, but I have enough to supply several people. :) Do yourself a favor and pitch the tool that comes with the HF and get a Coats. It makes changing the tires a real breeze, easy on and easy off. Best investment you'll ever make.

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on Mar 7 2009, 05:10 PM, said:

I just started changing my own tires last night, I have a Harbor Freight setup w/mojo blocks. Gotta do some mods on the mount bar real soon.

I used Windex for lube, might look into some other stuff in the next month or two, I already have neighbors wanting tires done! :mellow:

I ordered mine a month ago, still waiting... Got the changer, just not the motorcycle adapter bits or balancer.
Tech at my local shop suggested silicone spray on the tire. Shouldn't harm the rubber or aluminum. I was having issues with my rear wheel corroding under the bead and leaking. He thought due to bead lube from a past change.

Did you get the Mojo Bar too? I got my blocks and bar in a couple weeks ago, but haven't used them yet. Does the HF bead breaker work on the bike wheels?

The HF bead breaker works well, you just have to be careful with the bare metal edges. I covered all the metal pieces with nylon or rubber so I wouldn't have to worry about scratching paint.

[image: View Post]FJ12Ryder, on Mar 8 2009, 09:18 AM, said:

The HF bead breaker works well, you just have to be careful with the bare metal edges. I covered all the metal pieces with nylon or rubber so I wouldn't have to worry about scratching paint.

:+1:

I did not get the Mojo bar, I'm going to use a combination of the HF bar with Motion Pro rim protectors zip tied to it. Sounds like a cob job, but it works. I waited quite some time to get a deal on the HF stuff, got both pieces for $40 each, but took about a month for the store to get more of the top part in so I could pick it up.

I've got some spare nylon cutting boards that I'm going to chop up and cover the bead breaker with.

I use Simple Green when mounting my tires. Works pretty well and so far has not damaged any rims or tires. I've done probably 10 or so sets in the past 2 years.

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on Mar 8 2009, 09:42 AM, said:

I've got some spare nylon cutting boards that I'm going to chop up and cover the bead breaker with.

I'll be doing that mod soon as well! Just have to get a replacement cutting board for my kitchen and I can 'have' the old one...

I have the Mojo bar and it is AWESOME. When used correctly removal and install is easier that taking the wheel off the bike.

My only hangup is the tirechanger itself...I am going to have a metal plate built that I can secure to the Garage floor, which will make the Tire Changer removable. I will also be able to mount my wheel chock onto the same plate, for other work I need to do.

[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 9 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

I have the Mojo bar and it is AWESOME. When used correctly removal and install is easier that taking the wheel off the bike.

My only hangup is the tirechanger itself...I am going to have a metal plate built that I can secure to the Garage floor, which will make the Tire Changer removable. I will also be able to mount my wheel chock onto the same plate, for other work I need to do.
I bought a 3/4 inch sheet of plywood cut it in half and mount my tire changer to it and when I'm done I unbolt the plywood and can store it behind a cabinet. There is enough room for standing and walking around the tire changer on the plywood and it's as stable as if I had mounted it to the garage floor.

[image: View Post]rescue13, on Mar 9 2009, 04:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 9 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

I have the Mojo bar and it is AWESOME. When used correctly removal and install is easier that taking the wheel off the bike.

My only hangup is the tirechanger itself...I am going to have a metal plate built that I can secure to the Garage floor, which will make the Tire Changer removable. I will also be able to mount my wheel chock onto the same plate, for other work I need to do.
I bought a 3/4 inch sheet of plywood cut it in half and mount my tire changer to it and when I'm done I unbolt the plywood and can store it behind a cabinet. There is enough room for standing and walking around the tire changer on the plywood and it's as stable as if I had mounted it to the garage floor.


I was worried it would rotate or tip or something.....maybe this would be better than my Steel Plate idea...although i am not opposed to doing that.

I have been using plywood mounting for a couple of years. Works great. I do not unbolt HF but rather just tow the HF rig using a strap into the garage and then park one of my bikes on the plywood. I mount the HF on one end but there is plenty of room to stand around it and it is stable for breaking the bead etc.

I bolted the HF changer to the floor using female anchors in the garage floor. When I 'm not using it I thread bolts into the anchors to keep them from getting all crudded up. Only takes a minute or two to put in place and then it is solid. ♦

[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 9 2009, 03:34 PM, said:

[image: View Post]rescue13, on Mar 9 2009, 04:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 9 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

I have the Mojo bar and it is AWESOME. When used correctly removal and install is easier that taking the wheel off the bike.

My only hangup is the tirechanger itself...I am going to have a metal plate built that I can secure to the Garage floor, which will make the Tire Changer removable. I will also be able to mount my wheel chock onto the same plate, for other work I need to do.
I bought a 3/4 inch sheet of plywood cut it in half and mount my tire changer to it and when I'm done I unbolt the plywood and can store it behind a cabinet. There is enough room for standing and walking around the tire changer on the plywood and it's as stable as if I had mounted it to the garage floor.


I was worried it would rotate or tip or something.....maybe this would be better than my Steel Plate idea...although i am not opposed to doing that.
It's rock solid I've never had a tipping issues or spinning. I counter sunk the bolts from the underside so the whole sheet of plywood makes contact with the floor it's cheap and easy.

[image: View Post]rescue13, on Mar 9 2009, 05:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 9 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

I have the Mojo bar and it is AWESOME. When used correctly removal and install is easier that taking the wheel off the bike.

My only hangup is the tirechanger itself...I am going to have a metal plate built that I can secure to the Garage floor, which will make the Tire Changer removable. I will also be able to mount my wheel chock onto the same plate, for other work I need to do.
I bought a 3/4 inch sheet of plywood cut it in half and mount my tire changer to it and when I'm done I unbolt the plywood and can store it behind a cabinet. There is enough room for standing and walking around the tire changer on the plywood and it's as stable as if I had mounted it to the garage floor.
Probably do that myself, since I have some sitting around that I haven't got around to tossing. Fotomoto used a spare shipping pallet. Another good idea.