Change Tyre using Short Levers

[Todd JacksonMember]

F Me, So I recently spent a motza with Sutto’s, Force radiator guards, tubes, tyre levers (short) and a new Scorpion for my rear plus some other odds and sods. The big yellow tractor (DRZ400) has been a bit loose in the rear going up hills. Time to put the new Scorpion on the rear in anticipation of the OBT Sunny Corner Christmas ride in late Oct. So I’ve been down the shed for 2 1/2 hours trying to change a rear tyre using my new levers. This tyre won’t F budge. I’ll step you through it, rear wheel off, rim lock loosened off, valve stem out. Old tyre/rim sitting on top of new tyre, tread on tyre to break the bead, turn over repeat, wash down with soapy water both sides. Disc side up sitting on top of new tyre insert lever…. Two hours later I’ve gotten no further except, closer to a coronary. Blood pressure through the roof. Can anyone tell what the F I am doing wrong. The new lever is more ‘pointed’than a traditional shoe horm type. The pointy bit won’t bite into the tyre. Its now a matter of principle, the bride is telling to ‘just take it to the shop’. Its now all about pride. help please…. :angry:

Cheers
Action

[StuartMember]

Everyone has their own favourite method, this works for me.

He sums it up, if your stuggling you are doing somerhing wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw0B2gIwbBg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTatadVNA-c&feature=channel

[alanMember]

i use the short levers find they work well on the pirrels becuase they are easy to fit but don t think they would work real well on a kenda there as tight as all f$%ck but my levers bend easy nice and light for the camal back but.reckon tyre choice has a lot to do with it

[Todd JacksonMember]

Thanks sb_250y, I’ve watched the video, got to about 2mins into the first one ticked all the boxes. My levers don’t look like his. I’ve got two short ones and, as per ‘white rocket’ the old rear is a Mitas, that might be the problem and God only knows how longs its been on (I’ve had the bike for a few months)
So do I buy a second set of levers (long) or go to the bike shop… (Blood pressure is still high)
Cheers
Action

[GregMember]

Here the OBT aussie version

Check it out, BTW short levers long, medium its all the same, its all technique, two levers, three levers or four, more only make it easier. And if you are doing it hard you are doing it wrong :blush:

Sorry

TB

[GregMember]

Action wrote:

Quote:

So do I buy a second set of levers (long) or go to the bike shop… (Blood pressure is still high)
Cheers
Action

If you go to Sutto’s then you must be close by, if you wish to call by home one arvo or next fri / sat I will show you and help you change it if you want mate. They are easy when you know how, I used to be scared of them :laugh:

TB

[alanMember]

not sure whats in the links but a bit of truck wash for lube helps heaps

[Todd JacksonMember]

Thanks for the offer TB, but I got a mail out from Sutto’s. I’m quite sure I’ll be changing more than one tyre in my day. I will try a second set of levers (long), and lets see what happens. I’ll keep you posted.
BTW Wild Turkey does wonders for blood pressure….

Later guys.
Cheers
Action

[russell culleyMember]

you may find that putting the wheel on top of new tyre is the problem……i put wheel on the ground and stand on tyre to drop bead into centre of rim…then insert levers opposite to where im treading (no pun intended) ….this is especially hard to do if your rear has ultra tubes as they dont want to let bead off the locking rim without a struggle…i saw a post somewhere and the guy used 2 G clamps to squeeze tyre together then attacked opposite side….you need to get the bead into the centre of the rim blah.blah.blah hope this helps as i feel your pain :angry: :angry: :angry:

[mikeMember]

I’ve been in your position Action. I hate doing them but what I find now days is if i’m struggling with it i have a break and go back to it a bit later. I sit my wheel in an old steel bucket thats just a bit rounder than the sprocket and disk and I have an old truck lever and other various ones of different lengths aswell as big rubber mallet and some dishwashing liquid. I get it out on the grass and get a bit of musle power goin and rip in. The young blokes come in handy to when i run out of hands ie “can ya hold this bloody lever for me”. I know a young bloke that is super quick and all he uses is round piece of ply wood that he puts the wheel on and goes for on the ground. He rides enduros though and I’m just old trail rider. :laugh: They’re a pain in the arse. Once done though i’ll have a beer and tell myself how good I am :laugh: Practice is the key IMO mate.

[StuartMember]

Action wrote:

Quote:

Thanks sb_250y, I’ve watched the video, got to about 2mins into the first one ticked all the boxes. My levers don’t look like his. I’ve got two short ones and, as per ‘white rocket’ the old rear is a Mitas, that might be the problem and God only knows how longs its been on (I’ve had the bike for a few months)
So do I buy a second set of levers (long) or go to the bike shop… (Blood pressure is still high)
Cheers
Action

Short or long it doesn’t matter, although a third lever can be helpful.

Put the wheel/tyre out in the sun to warm it up, this wil make the job easier. Put the new tyre out in the sun as well before you fit it, it might go on without levers if you are lucky.

Definitely make sure the bead is in the dish of the rim opposite to where you are trying to lever from.

[Todd JacksonMember]

Good News gents, tyre has been changed. The issue was the bead wasn’t really ‘broken’. But the great news is I get to do it all again. I pinched the tube, and have a very fast leak.
Thanks again for your help.
See you at Sunny Corner
Cheers
Action

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

Practice makes perfect action, just be sure to only put the leavers in the minimum distance to minimise the chances of another pinch and use either baby powder or some soap like car wash on the bead to allow it to better slide over the rim when your putting it back on.

[Adam RodgersMember]

Know how you feel Action. Have done that once or twice myself. I find I need to pay particular attention to where the lever tip is when re fitting the tyre. I remember I holed the tube twice on one occasion i.e. put the tyre on and put a hole in the tube, took it off again then holed it putting it on the second time. You think you would learn wouldn’t you . That was on a JR80, those little tyres are a real bugger. Anyway persistance is the key, NEVER give up .

Adam.

[Todd JacksonMember]

Guys,
Sorry to be a pain in the @ss, but with a pinched tube (my first ever), do I patch repair or throw it out and start with a new one????

Cheers
Action

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