| Author | Message | ||
     Skifastbadly |
Changed my rear tire yesterday. Good lord, I got to get me a tire changing tool or just give in and take it to the local bike shop, wrestling with those tire irons is hard sweaty work, and my arm muscles are aching mightily this morning. But that's not the topic. Actually what I'm wondering is why's it so damned difficult to get the wheel back on. Every time I remove the wheel, I find it a major PITA to get the axle back on. I have the bike on a jack and it's almost impossible to get the axle lined up with the left side mounting hole. I end up lifting it with my foot, a 2X4, lowering the jack to get it..and it still takes a good bit of time to get the axle properly started in the frame. So last night over a frosty adult barley based fermented adult beverage or three last night it occurred to me that someone smart could come up with a tool that might make this process much easier. I'm thinking a guide rod. Something one would thread in from the outside on the left, that would fit the threads, and would have an extension on it that the axle would slip over. Maybe it would be tapered or maybe it would just fit the ID of the axle, so that it would line up perfectly and allow one to easily start the thread. My first thought was a guy with a lathe could make something like that quickly. But I'm not a guy with a lathe. Maybe something could be Frakensteined together from a collection of bits from the local hardware store? Have any of you created something like this, or are you all just way more competent at lining up your axle. And that's not a double entendre, I promise. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Lining up is not difficult, and I never loosen or remove my belt tensioner either. Pit Bull stands, and that's it. That said...I also have a rear "work stand" that I made out of a piece of allthread (for strength), inside a piece of metal electrical conduit. The conduit - straight from Home Depot - fits perfectly through the axle. I put each end on a jackstand if I just need stability and am not removing the wheel. You should be able to make yourself a "guide" out of a piece of the conduit, I'd think. | ||
| Etennuly |
It sounds like you are jacking it higher than it needs to be. If you lift the tire "just" off the floor slightly wiggling the axle should allow it to start easily. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
+1 to what etennuly said. I usually play with the jack to get the height just right. I don't use a jack either. I use an engine hoist and two ratchet straps. | ||
| Etennuly |
I use an eight inch cement block with a half inch board on top. | ||
| Rdkingryder |
Hmm, I have it lifted on one side using a strap holding the front brake, side stand and the jack. Belt isn't loosened either. I line up the right side, slide axle in, grab from the top and tilt the top towards the right and start threading in the axle. If needed, sometimes I have a 2x4 I roll the tire onto and lever it up. I have more trouble changing the rear tire on the rim.  (Message edited by rdkingryder on May 28, 2012) | ||
| Mark_weiss |
It is always a bit tricky to get everything lined up just so. Not just for the Ulysses, but any bike. When using the jack-opposite-the-sidestand method, I find it easiest to lift the bike just barely enough to allow axle removal. That way, I don't have to raise the wheel to get everything back together. With a paddock stand, the tire has to be raised in the air (with my foot) but everything is square and judgment is not so difficult. Be glad that we do not have to deal with loose spacers. | ||
| Uly_man |
If you are not used to this sort of thing it can be a little tricky but you will get the idea soon enough. Once on the stand I support the wheel and then pull the axle. I then put the wheel back on the support, so its at the right axle height, and then slide the axle back in. Easy. The trick is to have something taking the wheels weight otherwise it will be hard work. | ||
| Slyuly |
Every time I do mine it gets easier, this weekend had to remove my wheel in a motel parking lot, nothing around so I put a towel on my helmet and lifted the bike up by the back rack and my buddy slid the helmet under. Support the tire with my foot to remove the axle and also when lining it up to put back on. Heck I didn't even have to remove the brake caliper this time. Soon I'll be able to do it with out setting my beer down.........lol | ||
| Uly_man |
Its good to see there are still some proper bikers out there. Nice going Sly. | ||
| Luftkoph |
look out for a helmet on ebay from central pa.  | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Kneeling down behind the bike with the tire already rolled ito the swingarm... Left hand on the rim, left knee at the back of the tire. This leaves the right hand free to install the axle. Pulling back with the hand(rolls wheel up leg) to raise and shifting the knee from side to side to get the axle at the right angle. Been doing it that way since the days when I was too young (small n weak) to heft a full size wheel. |
