Wilsons Sandbox

I've got my new near TCK80 tire and tube on the rim successfully.  One side of the tire seats completely.  All but about one quarter of the other side seats.  If I use a tire iron to pull on the trouble spot, it then seats but then the problem shows up some where else.  I can't seem to get that last quarter to seat.  I used WD-40 as a lubricant.  Does anyone know if this is a problem.  I tried using soapy water but it wasn't slippery enough.  Right now I've got the tire sitting out in the sun hoping heat will soften it up some more.  The tire mfg specifies 40 psi maximum when seating the tire.  I've tried going a little higher but still no luck.  Anyone know of a trick?   Also, the only mark on the tire that looked remotely like a light-weight-spot mark was a yellow 29.  I'm assuming this was an inspector's mark as well.  I mounted that spot right at the valve stem.  Does this sound about right?  How about balancing this thing?  I noticed that the stock KLR tire didn't have any weights anywhere.  Should I just shoot some slime into it for balancing?  I don't have any exotic tools or fixturing for balancing.   Thanks in advance for any advice.   Bruce Bordt Milford, Michigan  

--- "Bordt" wrote:

> I've got my new near TCK80 tire and tube on the rim > successfully. One side of the tire seats completely. > All but about one quarter of the other side seats. > If I use a tire iron to pull on the trouble spot, it > then seats but then the problem shows up some where else. > I can't seem to get that last quarter to seat. I used > WD-40 as a lubricant. Does anyone know if this is a > problem. I tried using soapy water but it wasn't > slippery enough. Right now I've got the tire sitting > out in the sun hoping heat will soften it up some more. > The tire mfg specifies 40 psi maximum when seating the > tire. I've tried going a little higher but still no luck. > Anyone know of a trick?

I've had good results by hitting the tire's stubborn spot with a hard rubber hammer (mallet), starting a bit beyond the unseated spot & working back & forth across the unseated area. I position myself at the outside of the tire so that my swing starts above the center of the wheel and the hammer arcs outward toward the tire's tread. DON'T HIT THE RIM! A heat lamp focused on the unseated area can also be used, just don't let the tire get so hot that you can't leave your hand on the heated area. Make sure that the tire lube is applied liberally on the narrow (1/4") sealing edge of the tire's bead and the flat rim surface that contacts this edge.

> > Also, the only mark on the tire that looked remotely like > a light-weight-spot mark was a yellow 29. I'm assuming > this was an inspector's mark as well. I mounted that spot > right at the valve stem. Does this sound about right? > How about balancing this thing? I noticed that the stock > KLR tire didn't have any weights anywhere. Should I just > shoot some slime into it for balancing? I don't have any > exotic tools or fixturing for balancing. > > Thanks in advance for any advice. > > Bruce Bordt > Milford, Michigan

Slime may take care of the tire balance, but if it doesn't, it will be hard to balance the tire later by adding wheel weights. Some m/c shops have a motorized spin balancer and can quickly balance your tire for about $10. If you have a bench vise, you could mount the axle horizontally in the vise and support the other end of the axle with a 2X4. This isn't an ideal setup, but it should work well enough. If you don't have wheel weights, buy a small roll of 1/8" thick solder & wrap a 2-3" long piece around the spoke(s) at the heavy spot. Repeat as necessary until the tire stops spinning at randowm points when you give the tire a slow spin. You might see if the Conti website has any information on identifying the tire's heavy/light spot. Professor A9 Federal Way, WA. [USA]

Hey, Squash, I've seen some great deals on MuZs which were never sold during their model year.....I'd like to have one of the sport models, but the Baghira is kind of neat, except for its name, of course....   And thanks, ever'body, I'll be heading off to WalMart, it's one of those places I've never been......just not a normal shopper.  But I've gotta have my GooP.   

 I was looking around at my local KTM-Triumph dealer and they had a strange looking dual sport called a MuZ Baghira (made in Germany).  $5000.00 + tax and license. It was already set up so there wasn't a charge for that. It lists for about $7200.00 + T,L,SU.