tire mounting problem

[Tumu Rock]

I'm close to pulling the old KLR apart to get the springs swapped. Is it possible to compress the progressive with C-clamps or am I asking for a hospital visit? I finally found a couple of local guys with mechanical knowledge and a shop I can work in but they're Harley guys so I'm not so sure the C-clamp idea is a sound one. I don't mind taking it to a shop to swap but the more I can do myself the better I feel. dat brooklyn bum _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp

[Jim Hyman]

--- polachm@c... wrote:

> I purchased a pair of gripsters and tried mounting them > myself last night. No tyre irons, so I used a small thin > prybar type of tool. (about six inches long and an inch > wide, thin but made of some high grade steel). It went > quite well and after about 20 minutes I had the front > tyre mounted. Felt quite smug...nothing to it.. then I > inflated the tyre to seat the beads..not quite so easy... > I pressured , depressured , pressured, depressured, > soaped, pounded, pressured again (90 lbs ) but no avail > there is about six inches on one side of the tyre that > will just NOT pop onto the rim!!!!! > Any suggestions? just ride on it.. and hope it will work > itself on?

DON'T RIDE IT AS IS!

>Should I try more pressure? (I am somewhat apprehensive > about putting it up to 120 lbs..that's the limit on my > compressor.)

DON'T USE OVER 50 PSI!

> A heavy duty mechanic told me to spray starter fluid on > it, then ignite and the tyre will just suck itself on!! > (apparently it works on earthmover wheels...sounds a > little dangerous to me?)

DON'T GO THIS FAR, you might try a heat lamp on the stubborn area. Don't get the tire to hot to touch, you just want to make the tire bead more flexible.

> If i do just ride it ..as I probably will would it be > better to ride over pressured? underpressured?

HOW LITTLE DO YOU VALUE YOUR HEALTH? DON'T RIDE IT.

> I sure would not want to be out in the bush trying to > get 90 lbs into a tyre with a hand pump!!! > cheers > Martin

Martin, Sorry for shouting at you. You've got a problem and brute force & desperate measures are not the way to go. First, make sure that the inner tube is not pinched between the tire bead & the rim. Is the problem area in the vicinity of the valve stem? Look over everything closely, is anything physical hanging things up? Did you leave anything inside the tire? Did you soap the bead's side area? Try soaping the bead's thin edge and the flat portion of the rim. Be generous in your soapy mix. If necessary use a 50-50 mix of water & soap. Inflate to 50 psi max & then hammer on the tire's sidewall in the area that won't fit. DON'T HIT THE RIM! USE A RUBBER OR WOODEN MALLET. Position yourself so that you are facing the tire's tread & swing the mallet towards you, (that is, away from the center of the wheel, being careful not to injure yourself. If this doesn't help, dry everything thoroughtly & substiture talcum (baby) powder for the soapy water. If all else fails, bring your mounted tire to an automotive tire store & let them try it with their "magic" tire mounting fluid. Professor A9 Federal Way, Wa. [USA]