Stupid me, 1st ride

[gordonv]

Well, it's a stupid me! Looked at the bike, noticed a different rear tire (inflated), and thought I need to check it before riding. Needed to charge the battery (1st of each month).

I had to fill a very low tire on the car, so pulled out my 12v compressor, and went over the car.

Comes 2 weeks later, promise of a dry Tues afternoon on our local GW meeting night, figured a great chance to insure the bike and get some refreshing riding close by, before throwing the wife on the back for our Sat morning breakfast meet. Would be great to show up to it actually on a MC for a change.

After work, get the insurance/plates, put them on the bike, dress and start up the bike and drive towards the parking garage gate. Bike feels funny? OHHH, did I check that rear tire? I remember using the compressor? Turn around to drive back the 10' out of the drive way, and the tire flattens out and hard to roll.

Get it back to the parking, and put the compressor on it. 0 lbs. Start it up, run it, wont inflate. Pull out the light and inspect. The rubber is off the bead! Damn! Now how to get it back on??

First, get the center stand back on the bike. Then get it in the air? What, the tire is 2" flater, it's almost impossible without a grab handle to lift it on an inflated tie, now with it flat, what will I do?

I figure look for some wood, and try to drive the bike onto it. Then if that doesn't work, pull out the scissor jack from the wife's car, under the swingarm, and lift it up enough to be able to get the feet down.

Then with the rear in the air, what then? Try to get the tire close to the rim, no holes, and try to get air into it again. But I know from experience, that no little compressor will do this, it needs a burst of air.

Solution?: I'm thinking of trying the lighter fluid trick. Spray some around the rim, and light it on fire. What? On the bike? near fuel and plastic, and other things that can burn? Is this a good idea?

I'm not really prepared to pull the rear rim yet for a tire change. I bought the bike from a MC mechanic who said he put the new tire on the rear and did the proper maintenance (I discussed that with him). But this might be the only way to get the tire to seal on the bead.

Might the CO2 type inflator be strong enough to seat the bead, or does it enter the tire slowly as it is screwed onto the valve?

Is my thinking valid, or am I screwed and need to remove the rim and get it somewhere I can use a proper 100 psi compressor to seat the tire?

Oh, and during all this, flipping the side stand down, the "activation" lever broke of the stand. Now I need to get it welded back on, or buy another stand. Seems that the IS and the std/tourer are different, but I don't know in what way. I thought they would all be the same.

And it's currently dry outside, and no bike to ride to go get a coffee.

Your thoughts? Thank you.

 

Moral of the story. DON'T forget to check your tire pressure? When you think something is wrong, check it.

[Daniel Meyer]

Well...the tire went flat...so there's a hole, nail, or bad valve stem anyway so pull it and fix the issue.

[Jess from VA]

If you can get a rope around the center of the tire with a loop on one end, you might be able to pull hard enough (kicking with your boot) to get the bead close enough to the rim to get it inflated with low power air.  A ratchet strap would be much better.

If you want to try exploding it onto the bead, use ether (starting fluid - gas, easy does it on quantity), not lighter fluid.  The ether will explode once and not keep burning, the lighter fluid will stay lit and burn your bike down.  Having a small extinguisher at hand would be smart.  This would also help you not get charged with arson of a building.

If a ratchet strap gets you closer to the bead, but still no cigar with low air power, then a small shot of starting fluid might just do it.  One of those long electronic fire lighters might also come in handy (and save your eyebrows). 

If at work in a parking garage, I would leave the nail in, and get the tire on and bike home, then fix it.   Assuming it is mostly holding air once on the bead and a short trip home.  Make sure the valve core (Schrader valve) is tight, and if the rubber stem is cracked don't make it worse.

[gordonv]

I tried to remount the center stand, feet, as the mount is still on the bike. It hits the 6x6 exhaust, so the PO removed the feet. It's to low to the ground, and I cant get it on. No help at home to hold the bike upright, and no wood or other item to drive the rear wheel up onto.

If you can get a rope around the center of the tire with a loop on one end, you might be able to pull hard enough (kicking with your boot) to get the bead close enough to the rim to get it inflated with low power air.  A ratchet strap would be much better.

If you want to try exploding it onto the bead, use ether (starting fluid - gas, easy does it on quantity), not lighter fluid.  The ether will explode once and not keep burning, the lighter fluid will stay lit and burn your bike down.  Having a small extinguisher at hand would be smart.  This would also help you not get charged with arson of a building.

If a ratchet strap gets you closer to the bead, but still no cigar with low air power, then a small shot of starting fluid might just do it.  One of those long electronic fire lighters might also come in handy (and save your eyebrows). 

If at work in a parking garage, I would leave the nail in, and get the tire on and bike home, then fix it.   Assuming it is mostly holding air once on the bead and a short trip home.  Make sure the valve core (Schrader valve) is tight, and if the rubber stem is cracked don't make it worse.

I need to get it off the ground 1st, so it will sit right on the rim. Then I can try to get it aligned to reseat. I like all the above Jess, was what I was thinking too, the ratchet strap. But I gave mine away to a fellow rider to get a package home. Will have to wait for work on Mon, to borrow one.

Like the ether idea, for the reasons you gave. I don't have any, but the FIL used to drive a diesel and has some left around, that will be tomorrow. But unless I can get the rear in the air, it's not an issue/rush yet.

Was also wondering why the loose of air. 1st thought was the valve stem. So if I can get it in the air, I might see about the valve stem replacement while on the rim. I have the 90' metal ones, just bought another 4.

My draw back. My lower back hurts,, Sun I could barley stand/walk, it hurts like hell, and the last thing I want to do is work on my bike on the ground. One reason I waited as long as I could before starting.

[2003Valkyrie]

I have another solution for you to use your small compressor.  Grease or vaseline between tire and gap of leaking bead will seal the air gap to set the bead----clean up grease off of tire when done.  Much safer than lighting it on fire.  Can get you rolling again however look for the leak and get it fixed.

2003 VALKYRIE

[Jess from VA]

If getting it on the center stand is a no go, (I'm not entirely sure about this), but I think if you lay the bike over on the guards, you may be able to work on the tire. (we're talking your interstate right?) The bike will lay over on the guards, then once over, can be pushed/rocked a bit farther over to get the rear tire off the ground, all or mostly.  Maybe shim the rear guard with a piece of 2-by before tipping it over (duct tape it to the guard down low before tipover).
 
(If the tank is full, this can result in some gas spill/leak, not sure how much) (absolutely no ether burn with a gas spill.... BOOM)
(and you'll have to cycle the key to reset the tip-over switch, or you'll be cussing the battery next)

With a hurting back, you are not going to like lifting it back up alone.  

Virtually all my work has to be done alone, and this is usually OK, but man sometimes just a light helping hand could go a long way toward making my day go better.

Buy a couple new ratchet straps, everyone needs these once in a while.

Also, maybe a small bottle jack under a 2-by as far back as possible, or your home made wooden adapter, just enough to get the rear end up.  (but this will NOT be very stable for any pushing and pulling)  (so add one jack stand under one front guard)

Finally, if he doesn't want an arm and a leg for a service call, you might hire a wrecker to back up and lift the rear just enough with two straps just long enough to get the tire on the bead and aired up to get home.  Those guys often don't give a crap about rubbing your paint, so watch his hookup closely.

[gordonv]

Got the center stand legs back on the bracket. Son held the bike upright/straight. The legs are hitting the Cobra 6x6, so it isn't even on the side stand any longer. No wood of any kind, or anything else around to drive the bike up, to get the rear a little higher.

With my son's help, and the car scissor jack, lifted the bike while pressing down on the foot of the center stand, and lifted it quick and high enough that she went onto the center stand. Jack out, and all is well, 3 points of contact now.

In neutral, spin the wheel and try to get it to seat. left-right-left, trying to get it to reset. Compressor, and no good.

I wonder if some water might allow a little more sealing so it would get a few psi into it and seal some more?

Shouldn't have told the wife about the ether trick. She say anything happens, no IZ17 for me! Is it worth the risk? Looks like I need to wait on those straps. Might walk down the road to the $ store and see if they have a couple of inexpensive ones that are small.

Inspected the rubber. Found what looks like a shaft of a screw/nail, head worn away now, so it most likely has been there for a while. Will get the tire inflated first, then use the Stop-N-Go mushroom patch kit for the flat repair.

Thanks Jess for the thoughts.

I hadn't thought of the tip over, that might have worked, but till I ruled out the center stand, I'm sure I wouldn't have thought of it.

I also practiced standing the IS back up. I dropped it once when new to Valks. Had seen Gryphon's video of his wife standing his bike up, and knew I could do it. But I couldn't without help. When I had friends around, I tried it again, after reviewing the video. Did it twice in a row.

The bike is home, in the underground parking. I do have the option of GW Roadside Service, if I need to get it to a shop.

[fudgie]

Take it off and fix it right or get a new tire. Esp if your going to IZ. Do like Daniel said. 

[gordonv]

Done!

The strap did the trick. Went very quick, after struggling for over 5 min to get the strap over the rear tire and into the center of the tread. Easier said than done!

Got up to proper pressure.

Then went looking for that metal I found in the tire. Pulled out the Stop-N-Go, pulled the screw, and actually followed the instructions on the plastic card in the kit. Went very good. Refilled the air.

Now just need to drop the bike down and go for a ride, and it's actually sunny and 70' outside right now. A GREAT Good Friday for me. (My back still hurts, but who cares?). Just came back into the house to grab my riding jacket.

Thanks for all the comments.

[Cracker Jack]

An easy way to get the strap on, either on or off the bike, is to use tape to tape the strap into position on the tire every foot or so to hold it in place. In your case, just tape it and roll it around.

This won't help you now but maybe next time or it may help someone else.

[Gabriel]

I like the liter fluid method!
Please video the effort...