Post by: Laitch on July 28, 2019, 04:06:50 AM
- A calm disposition when there is the realization that the moto won't raise up onto the center stand and barely stays vertical using the side stand.
- A sharp knife or sidecutters.
- A working air compressor or half a dozen CO2 cartridges. Leaks can be found without tire inflation but that takes great eyesight and luck. Feeling lucky?
- A tubeless tire repair kit and an understanding of how to use it.
- A headlamp.
- A cellphone, or enough charm to convince a stranger that you aren’t a serial killer so you can use the stranger’s phone.
- Confidence enough that you’re not going to encounter a serial killer while requesting to borrow a cellphone.
- WiteOut, red blood cells, lipstick, a soapstone stick, tire chalk, or dirt.
- A water bottle with plenty of water in it or a source of water and something to carry it, or good spittle production. Soap added to the water would help. Dr Bronner's Castile is a good choice and provides reading material during time for recovery from weeping.
- The side cases attached to help with lowering and lifting the moto.
- Functional core strength and lower body flexibility.
- AAA's recreational vehicle/motorcycle roadside assistance policy or a similar policy from some other provider.
- Attach the compressor to the valve stem—or a CO2 cartridge to the stem and start filling the tire.
- If the tire inflates enough, raise the moto up on the center stand—PRONTO.
- Start rotating the wheel while dousing it with water. You're looking for air bubbles from the leak.
- Use the headlamp, if you haven’t let the batteries discharge. It will help. When you find one, mark the leak with WiteOut, lipstick, blood spatter or etc.
- Extract whatever is causing the leak. If the leak is out of the tread area, in the sidewall or around the rim, or if the sidewall bead has pulled away from the rim, temporary repair won't be possible.
- Take the reamer from the repair kit and ream hell out of the hole until it is round.
- Put glue on the reamer and run it into and out of the hole.
- Put a plugging strip into the insertion tool's slot, center it into the slot then glop glue onto it until it is completely covered.
- Push the glue-soaked plug into the hole about two thirds of its folded length then remove the insertion tool. This will take strong determination. If you can shave your head before you do this, that's likely to help.
- Cut the plug off close to the surface.
- Keep looking for holes and repairing them. You might need to inflate the tire again to help with rotating the wheel if the moto is on the center stand.
- Repair the other leaks then do the final inflation and check for leaks.
That's tire repair—short form. Where do core and leg strength enter the picture? You'll need them when you realize that for reasons of gravity, or geological formation, you can't raise the moto onto the center stand. It could be the tire leaks too rapidly or that the ground is too soft. You'll need to tip the moto onto its right side so the wheel can be rotated or removed.
Here's where having the cases attached helps. A case will help to protect the rear indicator stem and help to lessen impact when the moto is lowered onto its right side. It will also serve as a fulcrum so you can rotate the wheel instead of needing to remove it.
- Put the transmission in gear so the moto won't roll away from you.
- Move to the right side.
- Lock the steering to the left then with one hand on the right end of the handlebar and one hand over the moto, pull the moto over center, grab the handlebar with both hands then lower the moto to the road or road’s shoulder. Over it goes. The side case will limit the severity of impact.
- Keep your back as straight as possible and get your thighs to carry the weight, too.
- Now that it's on its side, put the transmission in neutral, inflate the tire as much as possible then start looking for and repairing leaks.
- When you're ready to raise the moto, put the transmission in gear, check to be certain the side stand is extended, move the handlebar as much as is possible to the left then lift the moto up, over center and onto its side stand. You can do this either facing the moto with both hands on the handlebar in a mighty, hernia-inducing heave-ho, or lift it by facing away from it, squatting, grabbing the handlebar with your left hand and somewhere on the frame with your right hand then pushing it upright by walking backwards and lifting at the same time.
Once the moto is upright, get a tire soon. The tire plug is probably not long for this world if it has been your first attempt at repair.
The alternative to these two methods of tire repair is to pay for AAA’s (or some other reliable provider's) motorcycle/recreational vehicle roadside assistance policy and call them up to deliver you unto salvation. That will give you 100 miles of free towing to the destination of your choice. You can call your parents, grandparents, peculiar uncle, repressed or uninhibited aunt, lover or lovers as the case may be, valet, guardian ad litem or lawyer for help arranging a salubrious outcome.
Today's ride brought these techniques to the forefront of my awareness. Order is out to American Moto Tire. Maybe I'll have it by Tuesday.
Post by: billday on July 28, 2019, 06:35:44 AM
Post by: BlitzenGruv on July 30, 2019, 12:51:12 AM
I carry repair plugs and a small 12V pump with me. Just hope that I never need them.
I have not so fond memories of repairing a flat on my Triumph in 90 degree heat. Tube and rim locks made it a bit more trouble.
Post by: natalena on July 30, 2019, 09:16:58 AM
++ AAA, bonus is the A/C truck cab. Still carry repair kit, but it works better starting campfires with the plugs.
Post by: Chaos on July 30, 2019, 09:19:58 AM
Check tire for roofing nail that used to reside on my garage floor
remove nail and plug hole (breaking fingernail before realizing pliers are in toolroll)
use all 3 CO2 cartridges to inflate to about 10psi
proceed slowly to a real air compressor
Post by: beemuker on July 31, 2019, 09:09:49 AM
Excellent write up, as usual Laitch.that 12v pump works great with a car battery but will drain your moto battery enough for a no start pretty quick, don't ask me how I know
I carry repair plugs and a small 12V pump with me. Just hope that I never need them.
I have not so fond memories of repairing a flat on my Triumph in 90 degree heat. Tube and rim locks made it a bit more trouble.
Post by: johnny on August 17, 2019, 10:07:30 AM
slime... donts leave without one... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ET9SB4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000ET9SB4&linkCode=as2&tag=mc083b-20&linkId=4UX443B22TJRR6HP)
accugage... dont leave without one... (https://www.ghmeiser.com/ez-air-series.htm)
when stickey worms and mushroom pluggs aints enough...
tior1.jpg (48.68 kB . 768x576 - viewed 478 times) tior2.jpg (78.13 kB . 768x576 - viewed 443 times) tior3.jpg (85.68 kB . 768x576 - viewed 475 times) tior4.jpg (60.11 kB . 768x576 - viewed 504 times) tior5.jpg (73.78 kB . 768x576 - viewed 460 times) tior6.jpg (68.77 kB . 768x576 - viewed 480 times)j o
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 17, 2019, 11:09:56 AM
And Johnny -- you make tire repair look almost romantic in that idyllic landscape. Why would anyone ever want to call AAA when you can meditate in the gravel under a blue sky!
Post by: natalena on August 17, 2019, 06:38:01 PM
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on August 17, 2019, 06:59:13 PM
The new K100RS I just got has 18+ year old Metzlers on it that are going to be replaced. I think I'll take an afternoon and punch some holes in them and see how the stuff I've been hauling around works to repair them. Thinking about it, it's not a bad idea to practice doing tire repairs on a tire that's going to be replaced. Glad this thread got me thinking about it.
Post by: Laitch on August 17, 2019, 07:42:54 PM
. . . 10 more feet and you'd be working in the shade.What are the chances that a yahoo driving a beater while working through personal issues along a deserted back road by means of free-spirited acceleration coupled with ingestion of bath salt-laced Bulleit rye shots will notice a man wearing a dark shirt and dark pants bent over working on a dark moto in the shade?
:thisplacewhack
I carry a light, reflective scream green mesh safety vest in my tankbag so I can shed my 10lb riding jacket and work in relative comfort and safety wearing it instead.
I'll endeavor to memorize the tire repair outline in case I ever actually have to do that.Don't bother. Clearly, you have been anointed. Just give succor to those who must ream the living hell out of their tires to plug them. Shine your light upon them. Verily, carry spare batteries.