Tire change with the cable tie method

[twocool]

Just replaced my rear tire.  I used the cable tie method to remove the old tire, and to install the new tire.  Works great!

In the past I used the typical 3 tire irons to work the tire off, one side at a time..and reverse to install..I got pretty good at this method but it still takes time patience and some sweat.

Using the cable ties to compress the tire beads together..I was able to remove the tire ALMOST without tools...I just needed to stick one tire iron in there at thelast moment to pop the bead off the last little bit.

On install of the new tire...same thing..I got it about 80% onto the rim without tools..then had to use just one tire iron..in three spots to pop the bead over the rim...

FAR LESS WORK than the conventional way!

You want to use wide ties, 24" long...sure costs a couple bucks...but worth it compared to the PIA of install...and you don't have to pay somebody to to the job...

Just search You Tube for videos of how to do this method...

Also I used my redneck bead breaker..(costs nothing but 1 ea piece of  2 x 4 wood)
also used my home brew balancing stand made out of 2 x 4.


Cookie

[twocool]

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breaker/motorcycle-tire-bead-breaker.htm

Here is a link to the redneck tire bead breaker...

I don't use my car...I use a block of wood attached to my work bench as the main pilot point...

[EdChen]

Nice work! I've only done a tire change once, I did the traditional tire iron method with the same 2x4 bead breaker. I did a simple static balance too, haven't noticed any balance issues up to 80+mph so far. Feels great to be able to do your own changes! I might have to try the zip tie method next time, though, to be honest, the tire irons weren't too hard for me, I probably got lucky though.

What tire did you take off/put on?

[Suzuki Stevo]

Drop off wheel at local MC shop, get it back with new rubber and balanced...priceless 

[Big Rich]

I've done it both ways with different sized tires before too. There was only one tire that I HAD to take to a shop - an 18" Rear dual sport tire w/ an inner tube. That thing was a huge pita.....

Did the front tire on my GS500 with zip ties - the tire felt like it just fell onto the wheel.

[Slack]

Drop off wheel at local MC shop, get it back with new rubber and balanced...priceless 

Everyone has their mechanical limit:
Drop off bike at local MC shop, get it back with chain slack adjusted...expensive
Drop off bike at local MC shop, get it back with new oil and filter...expensive
Drop off bike at local MC shop, get it back with valves in spec...expensive

Do all your own maintenance and buy a really nice riding jacket with the money you've saved...priceless

[Suzuki Stevo]

I guess I have more money than desire to wrestle a tire off a rim at my age, 40 some odd years ago I did all my own tire changes, 47 years of riding and 28 bikes later, I really don't have the desire or need to do my own tire changes.

[twocool]

Priceless???

I think more like $85 and hour plus premium price for the tire.

hey if you're rich, and lazy...why not...

For those of us who a cheap by nature, enjoy doing and learning...and getting something done right, and when we want it...then it's DIY...

Cookie

Drop off wheel at local MC shop, get it back with new rubber and balanced...priceless 

[Big Rich]

Hey, I'm Rich and lazy.....

But $85? I'd have a hard time paying that too. My local guy charges $35 for a change, balance, and disposal. I get most of my tires done at the shop, but have tried other ways just for the experience.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I haven't had a house payment in 17 years, I think I can afford to drop off a wheel and tire at the local dealer, pick it up later balanced, then go home and mount it on the bike. Keep the passion going if you really like working on bikes, when your my age and if you still enjoy doing it...more power to you. I still do all my own maintenance, always have, I just don't do tires anymore, they have machines that are really good at taking tires off and balancing them     

[twocool]

$85 an hour...(shop rate)  ..Most guys around here, who work in small shops for themselves will change a tire for $25.  20 Minute job for a guy with a tire machine...

That's 10 beers!

To each his own....if I was freakin' rich...I wouldn't have to work on my bike...in fact I'd hire somebody to ride it for me.

just kidding...If I was rich, I'd have more bikes, more tools, bigger garage, ride more, fix 'em more...and take on bigger projects..and NEVER have anybody else touch my stuff!!!


Cookie

Hey, I'm Rich and lazy.....

But $85? I'd have a hard time paying that too. My local guy charges $35 for a change, balance, and disposal. I get most of my tires done at the shop, but have tried other ways just for the experience.

[twocool]

Geeze...it think you guys could spoil a wet dream!

Listen....if you don't want to change a tire..don't...

Lot's of guys do change tires....

If you are one of them...I was simply pointing out that the cable tie method seems to work very easy for me.   

You might like to try it...Or not...or do it your favorite way...whatever! 

Sorry I even mentioned it!!!!

I was also trying to point out that you don't need to pay $50 or $100 for a fancy bead breaker machine...you can just make one out of a single 2 x 4..

You can also balance a GS wheel nicely and easily...on a stand made out of a 2 x 4 (so you don't have to buy a fancy cone a bearing gizmo for $100)...

In the time it takes you to drive to the shop and back...my tire is changed and I'm out riding my bike...

When I get home, I've still got all my money in my pocket so I can go spend it on Booze,  gambling, and women.....or just waste it...

Cookie

[Big Rich]

Cookie, I know that zip ties are pretty cheap already. But some of the larger ones can be used again if you depress the little tongue that locks down the zip tie.

You probably already know that, but just wanted to share.

[Slack]

When the GS was my only bike i didn't mind paying to have the tires swapped.
But, the tires on my KLR are cheap, CHEAP!! As in $50 for the front and $60 for the back. At those prices the cost of mounting and balancing is way to high relative to the cost of the tires, so I bought some tools and learned how to do it on my own.  And now it only costs me $110 for a new set of rubbers, instead of $160.

[twocool]

Yep....

But the ones I recently used were just not the same after the first use, and had a tendency to slip on the second use.

Sometimes you can find zip ties with a metal tongue in there instead of all plastic...these seem to hold up better to being released and then reused.


Cookie

Cookie, I know that zip ties are pretty cheap already. But some of the larger ones can be used again if you depress the little tongue that locks down the zip tie.

You probably already know that, but just wanted to share.

[The Buddha]

My rear tar had issues seating the bead onto the rim.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Suzuki Stevo]

All I'm saying is...you will get to a point in your life where you will have enough money to overcome your desire to dic around with certain things you used to do either out of the love to DIY or lack of fundage, I have DIY'd for more decades then most here are old. I have been so broke I had to ride my motorcycle in the snow because I didn't have the money to fill the tank in my Dodge Van (No Cash, DIY or it ain't gunna happen) a divorce (money gone again, DIY on high), now with the arthritis in my hands...meh on many things I use to enjoy. As you age you will get to a point where you will pay to have certain things done that you wouldn't have paid for previously, trust me on this one, until then keep the passion going as long as you can 

Stevo

[twocool]

Well...that is true for you ...but not true for me.

I have plenty of money...I can easily afford to have somebody do all my bike maintenance.   But I don't.

I enjoy working on stuff...it is like therapy....It is relaxing...it is a hobby...not a necessity, but by choice...

But I'm also cheap...you can have plenty money and still be cheap...like me.  My friends say, when it comes to money "I'm as tight as a crab's ass"

I don't like some dumb ass working on my bike...I like to do it my way, on my schedule.

Bottom line...Plenty of people DIY...  And there are plenty of repair shops for those who don't...It's a beautiful thing!

Food for thought....If you know how to do your own maintenance, you can still pay somebody to do it for you...it's your choice.

If you don't know how to do your own maintenance, you are always at the mercy of somebody else.


Cookie

All I'm saying is...you will get to a point in your life where money will overcome your desire to dic around with certain things you used to do either out of the love to DIY or lack of fundage, I have DIY'd for more decades then most here are old. I have been so broke I had to ride in snow because I didn't have the money to fill my Dodge Van, a divorce, now with arthritis in my hands....meh , you will get to a point where you will pay to have certain things done, that you wouldn't have paid for previously, until then keep the passion going as long as you can 

Stevo

[twocool]

If you've gotten the "tar" completely onto the "whale"...and the bead won't seat well enough to take ay-er from the compressor...couple or remedies...

First remove the valve...so when you put in the air, it goes in fast...also comes out fast because you may have  to over pressure the tar momentarily....

Spray the tire bead with soapy water of similar, to help create a seal. And help it slide into place.

Take a ratchet strap, and run it around the entire outer tread of the tire, and start to ratchet it down tight...this compresses the circumference of the tire, and spreads the beads outwards, making the initial seal. 

Throw in your fast, high pressure air and it should seal and start inflating...keep going and you'll see and hear the bead of the tire "pop" into place.  Let the air out, put the valve back in and inflate to correct pressure..

Cookie

My rear tar had issues seating the bead onto the rim.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Reply back to this thread when your 60, if you still like changing tires, I was wrong