My Christmas front tire is just in time.

[John Schmidt]

It's one of the things my wife got for me and it's just in time. I pulled the wheel this afternoon and the first thing I checked were the wheel bearings. Right side....fine, nice and smooth. Left side.....uh oh! I'll install a new one just before mounting the wheel. My neighbor was sitting there while I busied myself pulling the wheel and he was amused by the method I use to keep the speedo cable from sliding out of the housing, he had never seen it before. I have a ball of twine in the shop for various uses, so I cut a piece about 3" long and slip it up the slot on the end of the cable. I run the rest of the twine up either side of the housing and wrap a strip of masking tape around it and the housing. It's an easy method to keep the cable from sliding out when least expected, which in the past I've actually stepped on and kinked the it because I didn't see it until it was too late.

If someone doesn't understand my description on the speedo cable, let me know and I'll post a picture. Quite easy, picture the letter "U" with the bottom up in the slot of the cable end and the sides up either side of the housing. Then tape it.

[Ken Tarver]

Good find on the bearing John. Did you decide to change the tire yourself? I would definitely reccommend the rim savers for the chrome wheels.
I got a manual changer about 4 years ago, between my bikes, friends, friends of friends, and even a few travelers, have changed more than 50 tires.
Good luck

Ken

[cookiedough]

Yah, don't be like a dealer and save those rims.  This spring I took my 250cc scooter to an authorized dealer and they denied scratching and chipping my rim in 2-3 places with one large 1" chunk off the rim by the bead right beside the rubber tire.  I complained and assured them it was NOT like that BEFORE I brought my scooter in since had OEM from mfg tires on there since 2008 NEVER taken off the rims EVER, but they refused to replace the rim for a minor chip in the inner rim by the bead.  They said their tire changing machine can NO way do that, I disagree.  Not the machine, the person running the machine somehow did it. 

NO matter what stealership I take my cycle or vehicles to,  they attempt to resolve the issue and yet cause 1-3 more issues along the way and usually more of an issue than what I brought it in for in the first place.  Happens to me almost every single time.   

[John Schmidt]

Good find on the bearing John. Did you decide to change the tire yourself? I would definitely reccommend the rim savers for the chrome wheels.
I got a manual changer about 4 years ago, between my bikes, friends, friends of friends, and even a few travelers, have changed more than 50 tires.
Good luck

Ken

Ken, what tire changer did you get and where? Does it have to be mounted on the floor solid?

[Ken Tarver]

It's called Tire Stripper...not made anymore. In fact I think I bought the last one. The video may still be on the web. I had looked at and used a borrowed No-Mar, didn't like it. Looked at harbor freight of course, too many mods needed to suit me, and looked at every changer I could find on the Internet. The mount/de-mount bar & the bead breaker is what sold me on the purchase, I believe the design of these 2 accessories is key to the efficiency. I have mine bolted to the concrete floor in the shop, but it could be removed and put in corner in about 5 minutes. I also got another accessory that allows hook up to a receiver hitch on a truck (no-mar has the same option), of course not as solidly stable as bolted to floor.
One thing I didn't like was the "brake" (more likely to scratch wheel) to clamp onto the rim to prevent the wheel from spinning on the mount when using the mount bar, so I came up with another way to hold it.
I also got the balancer; it, the truck mount and changer was something over $600. With money saved on my tire changes, friends tires (they pay me), my truck tires, I've long had it paid for. Keep a good supply of the all metal stems too, put them on everyone wheels.
I wish the guy still made this changer, I believe with better promotion he could have sold more and stayed in business.
The website was online long after it stopped being sold, but I don't find it now. There may be some new alternatives available now, but I haven't looke in a long time.

Ken