Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: arveno on January 08, 2015, 11:43:57 AM
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I am looking to buy a set on hand tools to change tires at home and in case on the side of the road .
I see there are different shape or irons , some are "spoon shaped" some dont' which one would you recommend to get ?
I understand that the longer irons work better than the short one .
I need to get also something to break the bead ( like a c clamp )
I need to get rim protectors ( plenty on the market thats not a problem )
Suggestion / advice highly appreciated it .
Thanks and sorry if for someone this feels like an "oil thread" lol
Marco
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For rim protectors, an old piece of garden hose slit lenghtwise will work. Tres thrifty.
What to carry will depend on whether you've got tube type or tubeless tires.
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I'll be watching this thread.
Perhaps anything else that's required for a roadside repair like valve removal tool.
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Since you say side of the road, then I assume you have tube tires. For tubeless I carry the compressor and some gummy worms, no spoons. Extra schraeder valves.
When I ran tubes I carried the cheap irons from Cycle Gear (four of them, in case one broke or bent, and they came in pairs). Cclamp for busting bead. WD40 and NAPA tire lube (in smaller containers). My rims I don't worry about. They are scratched up enough so a few more don't make any difference. Spare tube and rim strip if for spoked wheels.
You can go lighter and more 'elegant'. There are spoons with an axle wrench on one end. Get one for the pinch bolts and you're all set. Also bead breakers that come apart and serve as tire irons. etc. etc.
Air compressor. Get a good one. Takes a long time to fill up a tire from empty.
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These work for me. I use 2 of the 16 inch ones. The little lip on the ends really helps not to slip off and scratch your rim.
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/tools/category/16__steel_tire_iron/
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tube wheels .
spokes wheel
Gonna carry a spare tube.
rim strip
I like the water hose trick as rim protector .
C clamp
4 , 16" inches long tire iron.
tire lube
small compressor to hook up to the battery ? ( i don't have those fancy outlet plug in my bike. )
How about those C02 cylinders ? how many for inflate a 130/18 inches wheel ?
thanks
Just to make a laugh , i found these on the web and made me smile....
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breaker/motorcycle-tire-bead-breaker.htm
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For the actual work, bigger is better. You may also want a small device that clamps onto the rim to keep tha bead from following your irons around the rim. It only takes up about a cubic inch of space in your kit.
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Are you going to change tires on 18 wheelers with that 16" bar? Three 8" spoons/iron are all you need. If you forcing the tire on or off the rim your doing something wrong. It's very easy to tear a tire one you start adding leverage. If you tear the tire your done.
Plastic rectangles 3x4ish of orange juice or laundry detergent bottles also work great for rim protectors. Simply bend a lip on them and hook over the rim.
Sometimes a 4th tire iron is nice along with a piece of string. When starting to install the second side of the tire over the wheel push the tire bead over the rim in one spot Then put and iron under the rim and over the tire. Iron points away from the rim. Now take a piece of string and tie it to the free side of the lever, wrap around under the tire and tie it to a spoke or better yet the hub. This will keep the bead from walking when trying to lever the tire over the rim.
3 to 5 CO2 cylinders for a tubed tires and an infinite amount for tubed. Take a a look at the stop and go bead breaker as an option. Also carry patches and glue. A new pinched tube will leak just as nicely as the old leaky tube you are trying to replace.
Unless you change your own tires I suggest you find an old rim, tube and tire and practice to get a feel for it. learning how to fix a flat in a controlled enviornment will pay dividends if you ever have to ply your newly aquired skill while out and about.
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If using tubed tires, would products such as Slime work in a pinch? I know the tube would be shot at that point with that stuff in it, but maybe it will get you home?
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Depends on the size and type of hole. I had one leak that it worked well. If you get something like a nail, and it has a chance to tear the tube even a little bit, then no.
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These work for me. I use 2 of the 16 inch ones. The little lip on the ends really helps not to slip off and scratch your rim.
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/tools/category/16__steel_tire_iron/
Me too. I carry four. I've used them at home and I know they work. I've carried them for thousands of miles. Wouldn't leave home without them. Never know, may need them one day. Came close the other day. Found a nail when I got home from a two week ride. No idea how long it had been in the tire(tube type). Went flat when I pulled it out. I purchased my rim protectors however I have use soda bottle cut to fit and they work. I carry dish washing soap with my camping gear and, if I ever need it, would use it for bead lubricant. I also carry a bicycle hand pump. Never used that either but, maybe one day. I have pumped up bicycle tires with it and I hope I never have to pump up a motorcycle tire. Going to take a lot of pumping. I also carry tire patches, never used them but I carry them and I suspect I will find the glue dried up should I try. I also carry a spare tube. The most useful tools I have found to date is a cell phone and a AAA card. Work great. Breaking the bead at home is hard enough so good luck on the road. :BEER:
Matt
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the best tire iron I have is an Italian made one given, not sold, to me by Freddie Marsh in Warehouse Pt CT.
I had stopped by to buy a tire iron but he did not have any in stcok so he went into the shop and took one out of the tool box and gave it to me. he said he could not charge me for it as it was used
he promised to add the price of the tire iron to my next purchase but he never did
do you remember Freddie Marsh? http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=222
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I use Motion-Pro irons and I never use one longer than 11" long. Here's why: with too much leverage its possible to bend the flange of your rim. I promise you that this creates bad wobbles if it happens on your front wheel (don't ask me how I know). Take small bites, don't get in a hurry, and use mounting lube (aerosol detail spray works great if you're on the road).
You can use your side stand for breaking the tire bead. It works like a charm.
I use a Viair 70P 12 volt compressor for mobile tire repairs. As a matter of fact, a compressor and a bottle of Slime is a nifty kit for repairing simple tube-type punctures. You can leave the wheel in place! If you need to remove a tire out on the road, you'll need a compressor to get your tire to seat (this typically requires 50 psi, or so). That Viair unit is sorta big, but it's packaged well and will operate when you need it.
It can be a pain to get a tube's valve through the hole in the rim. There are several tools on that Motion Pro site that will make the job more tolerable.
Don't trust a patch on a tube of you don't have to. A front tire tube will work in the rear tire in a pinch.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/JamesBagley/Photo112.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/JamesBagley/media/Photo112.jpg.html)
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Motion Pro BeadPro
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0519/ (http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0519/)
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This one (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/28467/i/bikemaster-heavy-duty-tire-iron) is great... 17.5" inches gives plenty of leverage, sturdy as hell, nicely rounded spoon. Doubles up as a good prybar, too.
(http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/productimages/OG/0000-bikemaster-heavy-duty-tire-iron---.jpg)
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The trick lightweight off road "tar arns" that Aerostitch sells look good , however owning a set of the BMW toolkit set has sufficed me for years .
Dusty
I have a set of the Aerostich irons and while light I would still bring along a set of cheap long levers.
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For rim protectors, an old piece of garden hose slit lenghtwise will work.
Thanks for that idea. I have plenty of old garden hose for that, so now I can quit wrapping my irons with electrical tape. :)
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I have a set of the Aerostich irons and while light I would still bring along a set of cheap long levers.
Same here. My wife bought me the expensive and small Aerostitch irons. Convenient to carry, but small and expensive. I wouldn't use them at home normally.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee208/worwig/publicshare/20130804_162656.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/worwig/media/publicshare/20130804_162656.jpg.html)
Note the tool in front of the rim for this roadside tire repair. That tool will break the bead, push the tire off the rim, push the new tire on the rim. And is isn't horribly large when disassembled. I bought it years ago and used it at home for dozens and dozens of tire changes. I now carry it in my camper, luckily for me. TireWizard. No longer in production.
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Perazzimx14, Sir, this sounds very interesting, but I cant tell exactly how you do it.... Ive never been good at explanations like this,If its not too much trouble, do you have a pic, or a diagram you can post to show how the technique works? Thanks
Rick.
***Explanation :
Sometimes a 4th tire iron is nice along with a piece of string. When starting to install the second side of the tire over the wheel push the tire bead over the rim in one spot Then put and iron under the rim and over the tire. Iron points away from the rim. Now take a piece of string and tie it to the free side of the lever, wrap around under the tire and tie it to a spoke or better yet the hub. This will keep the bead from walking when trying to lever the tire over the rim.
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Well , thank you all for your comment.... i have two sets of tires to change so i can practice at home, will post the result later...
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Take a look at Stubby Tire Tools. Better than irons.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/stubby-tire-tools/
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I bought everything at Harbor Freight. C clamp and tire irons. I tried tire lube, wasn't working for me. However, baby powder did. So I don't know. I used a bike pump to pump up my tires. My valve cover caps have the valve removal tool built right in, however a nicer one is available at autozone for like 2 bucks.
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Perazzimx14, Sir, this sounds very interesting, but I cant tell exactly how you do it.... Ive never been good at explanations like this,If its not too much trouble, do you have a pic, or a diagram you can post to show how the technique works? Thanks
Rick.
***Explanation :
Sometimes a 4th tire iron is nice along with a piece of string. When starting to install the second side of the tire over the wheel push the tire bead over the rim in one spot Then put and iron under the rim and over the tire. Iron points away from the rim. Now take a piece of string and tie it to the free side of the lever, wrap around under the tire and tie it to a spoke or better yet the hub. This will keep the bead from walking when trying to lever the tire over the rim.
As it turns out I received my new to me DR650 wheels yesterday that I need to remove the tires so I can do a mock up and snap a pic later today or tomorrow.
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Proper way to get a tire changed.
(http://p1.bikepics.com/2012/12/05/bikepics-2486991-800.jpg)
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She's not dirty enough. I can't buy that the picture is legit and not posed. I know my face wasn't smiles.
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Jim just loves that picture. I don't blame him :D :D :D
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What makes Semper Guzzi think she's not dirty?
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Proper way to get a tire changed.
(http://p1.bikepics.com/2012/12/05/bikepics-2486991-800.jpg)
Some tools have pretty high maintenance requirements.
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I have an almost new c clamp style bead breaker for free if someone wants it. Pay shipping. It's heavy...
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I have an almost new c clamp style bead breaker for free if someone wants it. Pay shipping. It's heavy...
If you zip tied it to mine, they'd make an admirable boat anchor.
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She's not dirty enough. I can't buy that the picture is legit and not posed. I know my face wasn't smiles.
Nor would you need iron/spoons to put on the 1st bead. Still a nice pic.
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What makes Semper Guzzi think she's not dirty?
LOL ;D