big12
Novice Class
Posts: 91
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posted June 26, 2002 11:07 AM
Tire Iron
How many tire irons do you need to change a tire? Not a trick question really would like to know because I would like to start changing my own tires.
   
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted June 26, 2002 12:38 PM
 Edited By: TedG on 26 Jun 2002 13:39
I only use 2 small ones. One to do the initial pull over and another one to work around with. Now you should have rim protectors (I got mine from Kwak) and a way to break the bead(the hardest part). I got a tire changer for a car at Harbor Freight that has a great bead breaker and that is all I use it for. For installation I use one iron and my knee. I use a 30 gallon oil can with piece of plastic hose around the lip to protect the can (just kidding) protect the wheel. But you have to remember I was a motorcycle mechanic for 10 years and have been changing my own for almost 35 years, so I have changed literally thousands of tires. Usually it takes me 20-30 minutes to mount a balance both tires from the point where I roll it in to the point where I roll it out. Piece of cake. Only bad part now is I haven't mounted my ceiling winch in my new house yet.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted June 26, 2002 03:27 PM
Re: Tire irons
I like 3. Insert the first one and pry. Insert the second one and pry. Now both irons are tight between the tire and rim. If I have a third iron I insert it and pry. This frees up the center iron for me to pull it out and move it to a new spot. Just a bit easier, that's all.  -ZXtra
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The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted June 27, 2002 05:43 AM
I use a utility knife to get the old one off... 
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lou_zx12r
Expert Class
One Day at a Time
Posts: 196
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posted June 27, 2002 07:36 AM
irons
I have 6! but I only use 3. The first one is a long one providing leverage for pulling the first section of tire over the rim. The other 2 are short to walk the tire around the rest of the rim. I made rim protectors out of those tough colorox plastic bottles (u know the once for laundry detergent). As for the beed breaker I use a very large "C" Clamp. Bought it real cheap and it works great!
Now I just got finished changing a set of tires on a ZX9R & ZX12R for the very first time. I'm not as fast as others but it only took me 2 hours for each tire. That included everything and a few beers along that way .
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2000 ZX12R 40shot
2012 ZX14R
2009 Concours 14
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted June 27, 2002 08:40 AM
How are you guys balancing these tires??? I am curious.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted June 27, 2002 08:41 AM
Static balancer from Handy Industries.
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big12
Novice Class
Posts: 91
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posted June 27, 2002 11:49 AM
Are the balancer pretty reasonable in price?
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted June 28, 2002 01:25 AM
Balancing?
TedG...I made a steel shaft to insert through the bearings and I use a grinding wheel balancer from work. The shaft rolls on four bearings on the balancer.
I'm a bit of a nazi when it comes to weight on my ZX12. I balance just the rim first to find the heavy spot on the rim. Then with the rim balanced I put the tire on and balance tire and rim again. This tells me where the heavy spot is on the tire. Then I rotate the two heavy spots opposite each other, remove all weights and balance one last time. This long procedure insures that I have used the least amount of balance weight. -ZXtra
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The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
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