Rear Flat

[Phil57]

Friday on my way to pick up parts from a local electic supply house I decided to take the Valk. I got half way there and the rear tire just blew. I was doing about 45 and got it stopped with not to much drama. I did have to call a tow truck and dropped it off at the local stealer. I got a price on a new Cobra and service the rear end grease the spline and repair the front forks.$600.00[ ouch] and they have to order the tire so no riding this weekend.
 Questons
What kind of kit do most  keep with them to plug a tire and can a hand pump be used to reinflate the tire. I saw a kit that comes with a CO2 bottle and some plugs anout 50 bucks.Has anyone used this?
Is there instructions for pluging a tire. I have done it on a car but that was a long time ago and not sure about doing it.
I know that I could do the work my self but I have some issues with my neck and back which make it to hard to do so am I getting hosed or is this about normal. Thanks

[Farther]

I carry a plug kit with CO2 cartridges and Ride-On in the tires.  That said, if your tire "blew" there is not a plug kit on the planet to help there.

[Daniel Meyer]

For $600 make sure they replace the valve stem and give you a blow job. 

[NITRO]

I carry a plug kit and electric pump. The plug kit came from Farm and Fleet and the pump from Aerostich.

[Phil57]

Thanks Daniel I'll ask about the BJ and stems.

[vanagon40]

I carry the Stop & Go Pocket Tire Plugger.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/tubeless-tire-pluggers/p2014447.jcwx?skuId=387989&filterid=j1

Fits under the battery cover with the OEM tool kit.  I have used it twice in five years.

Anything other than just around town, I also carry a small Slime air compressor.  Operates off the motorcycle battery.  Never had to use it.

[Gryphon Rider]

I've used my Stop & Go kit many times now on motorcycle and car tires (on motorcycles and cars  ).  I carry the kit in my saddlebag along with a small 12V compressor.  The worst part is that it takes a lot of effort to enlarge a hole in a steel-belted tire.

[Phil57]

Thanks I just ordered the stop n go kit.

[gordonv]

I've used my Stop & Go kit many times now on motorcycle and car tires (on motorcycles and cars  ).  I carry the kit in my saddlebag along with a small 12V compressor.  The worst part is that it takes a lot of effort to enlarge a hole in a steel-belted tire.

How does this kit compare to the Stop & Go? Same plugs, but better tools?
http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=12-210&Category_Code=12-3-9

Could swap out the tools and use up the plug, and have a nice small kit for the bike.

[Tx Bohemian]

For $600 make sure they replace the valve stem and give you a blow job.  

Really?  you think that is too much? at a dealer?

New tire, mounting, service the rear (I guess depends how far they go with the lube job) and repair the front forks (again depending what they are doing to the front forks). Seems about right to me.

As I see it if you can't do the work yourself, for what ever reason (believe me I understand neck/back issues) - you gotta do what you gotta do!

[Phil57]

I decided that I can work on the bike or ride it but not both. I will wait till the long winter here in Michigan to do some of the work I want to do myself at my own pace. I did ask lots of questions about the rear end service and feel that they will do a thorough job. Having the air filter changed and the carbs sync bill should be around 650. They should be done by Wednesday and I am leaving for Tourch Lake n Friday. Yea vacation!

[GOOSE]

for












for $600.00 daniel meyer hit the nail on the head.  your dealer won't grease it right, nor clean and grease the pinion cup, and drive shaft.  he$$ my dealer does not even carry the 3-o-rings needed to service the final drive.  tow the BIG GIRL back to your house and do the service and tire for less than 1/2 of that rediculous price!!!!!!!!

[John U.]

If I had to pay prices like those I'd have to get a part time job. So I'd either be riding the bike or working an extra job to pay someone else to screw it up. Decisions decisions 

[RonW]

You said that the bill would be about $650 (adding the air filter and carb sync). Make sure that is the final numbers. Many places have been known to present you with a bill for hundreds of dollars more, claiming that they also fixed this and that even without your prior approval. Dunno about your dealer.

[vanagon40]

I've used my Stop & Go kit many times now on motorcycle and car tires (on motorcycles and cars  ).  I carry the kit in my saddlebag along with a small 12V compressor.  The worst part is that it takes a lot of effort to enlarge a hole in a steel-belted tire.

How does this kit compare to the Stop & Go? Same plugs, but better tools?
http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=12-210&Category_Code=12-3-9

Could swap out the tools and use up the plug, and have a nice small kit for the bike.

The tools may not be the easiest to use in the Pocket Kit, but the big advantage is that they are small and thus take up little space.  For the rare occasion I need to plug a tire, I'll sacrifice the on the quality of the kit for the minimal storage requirements.

[Tx Bohemian]

for $600.00 daniel meyer hit the nail on the head.  your dealer won't grease it right, nor clean and grease the pinion cup, and drive shaft.  he$$ my dealer does not even carry the 3-o-rings needed to service the final drive.  tow the BIG GIRL back to your house and do the service and tire for less than 1/2 of that rediculous price!!!!!!!!

Yeah ya'll are probably right. 
But even after re-reading the original post a couple of times I don't see an explanation of "repair the front forks", maybe I missed it.
Granted if it's just a check on the fluid level that seems high but if it's a full blown remove, reseal, and rebush it would add substantial cost.

 Phil57 enjoy your vacation. 
I'm a bit envious, got a project here at work where I'm stuck for the next couple of months.  But I'll do the best I can on the W/Es.

[Phil57]

Thanks for the feed back on the cost of repairs. It is a rebuild on the front forks. They are leaking and I planed to do it myself this winter but I hate to see it leaking all over the bike. Hope to get it back on Wednesday and make it to Blues on the Mall. If your around Grand Rapids MI on
Wednesday's
it's a good time.

[MP]

With the rebuild, that is a decent price.

MP

[bigfish_Oh]

the key is as others said, that is it done right and complete.

the only way to know is how long it last or take it apart and see

[gordonv]

Thanks for the feed back on the cost of repairs. It is a rebuild on the front forks. They are leaking and I planed to do it myself this winter but I hate to see it leaking all over the bike.

Have you tried the film trick yet to get the front fork seals from leaking? May end up not needing to fix those front seals.

[Phil57]

I just stopped to check on my bike and I am lucky I had a flat. The spline's were dry and a little worn but not needing replacing. The back brakes were shot and the rubber gromets are missing. It was nice to see it all torn apart and to inspect it myself. Another 35 for the rear pads and I'm good to go. The guy I bought the bike from said the spline was serviced with the tire change in spring 2010 with only about 2000 miles on the tire I think someone was lied to. I have the bike at Gar's Honda in Grand Rapids and they are so far very open to letting me look over there shoulder. I planed to do all this in the winter but glad it's going to be done and hopefully done right. The next time will be on my time and in my garage thanks to all the help on this forum.

[Chiefy]

Just had my back one replaced.  Dealer charged me about 20 bucks more for the tire then the cheapest down and dirty price I could find on line.  Dealer did it same day, and no shipping.  Install was about 30 bucks since I bought 2 bikes there already.  Greased the splines no extra charge.  Not all dealers are stealers.

As far as patching a tire.  Are you guys just riding on it a short time until you replace the tire?  Or do you consider it permanent?

[2qmedic]

Perhaps I missed it, but didn't see any mention of www.ride-on.com
I will be changing my front tire this weekend and using the ride on. I have only read good reports with it.
I think the safety factor with it is worth it, not to mention the other cost of having a flat.
Just something to think about...

[Daniel Meyer]

For $600 make sure they replace the valve stem and give you a blow job.  

Really?  you think that is too much? at a dealer?

Not if it actually comes with the blow job (and a *premium* one at that).

I could do the job for myself for less than $250 for tire and fork seals, orings, lube, stem...add another $30 if they changed the bushings in the forks (doubt it), and two hours work (three if I was slacking, 4 if I was showing/talking--us Texans tend to talk with our hands--).

So, call it $300 worst case for parts. The $300 the shop is charging for labor...$150/hour shop rate seems a little steep.

-dm

[Tx Bohemian]

For $600 make sure they replace the valve stem and give you a blow job.  

Really?  you think that is too much? at a dealer?

Not if it actually comes with the blow job (and a *premium* one at that).

I could do the job for myself for less than $250 for tire and fork seals, orings, lube, stem...add another $30 if they changed the bushings in the forks (doubt it), and two hours work (three if I was slacking, 4 if I was showing/talking--us Texans tend to talk with our hands--).

So, call it $300 worst case for parts. The $300 the shop is charging for labor...$150/hour shop rate seems a little steep.

-dm

I agree, $150/hr is steep. 
But I'm not sure how many people realize the Labor rate per hour is not just the length of time it takes to do a certain job.  There's other factors involved (equipment, training, ins, etc...).

When this subject came up I called the local Honda dealer and asked for a quote for resealing the forks. Labor only was $225.  1-1/2hrs per side at $75 per hour. And I would hope it wouldn't take a professional mechanic 3 hrs to do this job.

This was always a sore spot for me when I worked as an auto mechanic at a car dealership.
In my opinion it should be called something different than "labor rate per HOUR" because people get the wrong impression.  It should be "Labor rate per job" or something like that.

[Gryphon Rider]

Not if it actually comes with the blow job (and a *premium* one at that).

I could do the job for myself for less than $250 for tire and fork seals, orings, lube, stem...add another $30 if they changed the bushings in the forks (doubt it), and two hours work (three if I was slacking, 4 if I was showing/talking--us Texans tend to talk with our hands--).

So, call it $300 worst case for parts. The $300 the shop is charging for labor...$150/hour shop rate seems a little steep.

-dm

You must be flexible! 

[Daniel Meyer]

Not if it actually comes with the blow job (and a *premium* one at that).

I could do the job for myself for less than $250 for tire and fork seals, orings, lube, stem...add another $30 if they changed the bushings in the forks (doubt it), and two hours work (three if I was slacking, 4 if I was showing/talking--us Texans tend to talk with our hands--).

So, call it $300 worst case for parts. The $300 the shop is charging for labor...$150/hour shop rate seems a little steep.

-dm

You must be flexible! 

Bah! Nah, if men could do that it would represent the end of mankind...