I'll give that a go next time. I followed the Kawi service manual method (sort of the same except you use 1/4 turns instead of 1/16 turns. Best I could tell, unless I didn't do something right neither wheel needed weights. I guess I'll know when I ride it if it's out of balance and I need to do it differently to get it right.
I just figured the machine would be crap because of the price but I just kept hearing of locals who had them and used them to mount their own tires and they all liked the machine. I finally decided to give it a shot and I'm glad I did. I can save a LOT of gas money by doing this myself.
Thanks for the Dawn tip.Trick to make tire installation easy... While spooning tire on, be sure that the opposite side of the tire is in the Drop center (The deepest part) of the rim. Start installing the tire from the side of the rim closest to the drop center. This way you will not be stretching the bead of the tire enough to cause damage. You should be able to push the first bead over the rim by hand with no tools by pushing alternately on the left then the right working your way around as long as you lubed it enough. If not you will only have to use a tool for the last 2 inches. As far as lube goes, A good thick dawn/water mixture will work. Before you set teh bead simply wipe the inside of the rim clean and dry. This will prevent corrosion and insure a good balance. Most tire lubricants are nothing more than vegetable based soaps that look like grease. In my other life, I changed everything from golf cart tires up to the BIG tires on articulating Farm tractors and Loader tires. All easily done with hand tools and lubrication ( OK, the loader tires I cheated and used a power pack and a crane) It's not a hard thing to do and DEFINATELY NOT worth paying $30 wheel like they get around here!
BT I like to work on my own stuff as much as possible also. I may not know everything a "certified" mechanic knows but I am confident what I do is done correctly and all the little details were attended to!
Gotta get some rim protectors... I used cut up pieces of laundry detergent jug and had to try and keep the spoons from slippin' off of that. Kinda tricky and the spoons slipped off a couple times, but no scuffs...I have changed & balanced 3 tires in the last month with out a tire machine. A good set of spoons goes a long ways!! I static balance them on jack stands as mentioned above & haven't had a problem yet. Other than the rim protector slipped the last time I changed my rear tire & I scuffed my rim...
If I could get it done for $5 per wheel I never would have tried the machine...Not me BT... I'd prefer a proffesional to do it for me! ANd here in India, it would cost be well within 5 dollars to get a tyre changed
Check out Dennis Kirks. The rim protectors were only $8 bucks and even have retrieval ropes attached in case they fall in.Gotta get some rim protectors... I used cut up pieces of laundry detergent jug and had to try and keep the spoons from slippin' off of that. Kinda tricky and the spoons slipped off a couple times, but no scuffs...I have changed & balanced 3 tires in the last month with out a tire machine. A good set of spoons goes a long ways!! I static balance them on jack stands as mentioned above & haven't had a problem yet. Other than the rim protector slipped the last time I changed my rear tire & I scuffed my rim...
I think each slip took a year off the end of my life though.
Me, too... I was afraid the changer would be a piece of shid for the price. It's actually pretty nice for what it costs.
Thanks for the heads up.Check out Dennis Kirks. The rim protectors were only $8 bucks and even have retrieval ropes attached in case they fall in.Gotta get some rim protectors... I used cut up pieces of laundry detergent jug and had to try and keep the spoons from slippin' off of that. Kinda tricky and the spoons slipped off a couple times, but no scuffs...I have changed & balanced 3 tires in the last month with out a tire machine. A good set of spoons goes a long ways!! I static balance them on jack stands as mentioned above & haven't had a problem yet. Other than the rim protector slipped the last time I changed my rear tire & I scuffed my rim...
I think each slip took a year off the end of my life though.
Another good idea is vinyl tubing that you can buy at any hardware store. Slit it and slide it in place around the entire rim.
I'll have to look them up. Thanks, man. And it's too cool of you to let me use your account. I'll hit you up if I need to take you up on that.BT, Just had a thought reading TT's Reply. In Atlanta there is a place called Rubber and Accessories. They have an endless supply of everything made of rubber and a Lot of plastics too. From thick to thin they'll have it. If they say you need an account to purchase what you want PM me and I'll give you the info needed to use mine. It's a COD account so bring Cash or CC with yaAnything to help a Busa Brother out
It wasn't too bad actually. And I learned stuff with each tire I done. I'd imagine that after a few more tire changes it will be quite easy. However, if I had a hook up and could get them done for FREE I wouldn't bother with it either.Too much work doin' it myself....especially since I have a local shop that changes my tires for free. 5 sets in the last year.
I done the static balance thing with a metal rod and jack stands and the results seemed that no weights were needed. I was afraid I might not have known what I was doing and was afraid that I'd find a wobble or vibration when I rode it. I got out today for a while and it honestly rode smoother than with the stock tires. Either my stock front was a little out of balance or I experienced the "Dunlop Flop" that I've read about. Some say that Dunlops cup when they wear and start bouncing. Today with the Powers on my front end was the smoothest it has been since I bought the bike.
