Removing front wheel to replace tire

[buffalodave]

We all know how any wrenching project can be full of surprises. Example: Today I decided to replace the worn stock front tire (Tourance) with a new one (Anakee II), before heading out west on my next trip. All went well until I tried to remove the front axle. Unbelievably tight. I had to weld a bar across the socket (drive end method) I was using to loosen the axle. (And yes I loosened and even removed the pinch bolts.) I had to employ my next door neighbor to steady the bike while I applied untold foot-pounds, with a cheater bar, to loosen the axle! Thankfully I was doing this in my garage, and not on the side of road somewhere. C'mon Yamaha, please do a better job of calibrating the power tools used at the factory. If the spec is 100 ft-lbs., 300 ft-lbs is NOT better.
Coincidentially while changing out the front tire for the first time on my Kaw, I found one of the pinch bolts completely stripped out! That debacle cost Kawasaki a new fork, and labor to replace.
Maybe they were assembled on days with earthquakes? ???

Thanks to EricV for the idea of making a prop for the front of the skid plate. I cut one out of 2" PVC pipe, and will keep in one of my Jesse Bags.

 

[Dallara]

We all know how any wrenching project can be full of surprises. Example: Today I decided to replace the worn stock front tire (Tourance) with a new one (Anakee II), before heading out west on my next trip. All went well until I tried to remove the front axle. Unbelievably tight. I had to weld a bar across the socket (drive end method) I was using to loosen the axle. (And yes I loosened and even removed the pinch bolts.) I had to employ my next door neighbor to steady the bike while I applied untold foot-pounds, with a cheater bar, to loosen the axle! Thankfully I was doing this in my garage, and not on the side of road somewhere. C'mon Yamaha, please do a better job of calibrating the power tools used at the factory. If the spec is 100 ft-lbs., 300 ft-lbs is NOT better.
Coincidentially while changing out the front tire for the first time on my Kaw, I found one of the pinch bolts completely stripped out! That debacle cost Kawasaki a new fork, and labor to replace.
Maybe they were assembled on days with earthquakes? ???

It's not Yamaha's fault, but your dealer's. The Super Tenere is shipped in the crate with the front wheel removed. Hence, it was one of your dealer's assembly techs that overtightened the axle. Given that fact you might want to start checking some of your other fasteners on the bike...

Here's a few pics of mine coming out of the crate back in July 2011:

You can clearly see the bikes come without the front wheel installed.

Just FYI.

Dallara



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[Kevhunts]

...I had to employ my next door neighbor to steady the bike while I applied untold foot-pounds, with a cheater bar, to loosen the axle! ...

Obviously you weren't wearing your cape, Under Dog! ::015::

Actually I agree with Dallara. Someone probably used an impact gun.

 

[buffalodave]

Great info Dallara. I purchased the ST and Kaw from the same dealer. I've had rear wheels, bars, seats etc. off both bikes without issues. Hopefully limited to these two incidents.

 

[Dallara]

Great info Dallara. I purchased the ST and Kaw from the same dealer. I've had rear wheels, bars, seats etc. off both bikes without issues. Hopefully limited to these two incidents.

Added pics to my post up above if you want to see mine coming out of the box. And most bikes come with the rear wheel installed right from the manufacturer, which is why you probably never had trouble with those!

Oddly enough, at one time back in the early '70's I worked at a Honda shop as a bike assembly grunt for a while. All I did all day was put together crated bikes and prep 'em, either for the showroom or for the customer. It was some of the best training in proper wrenching I ever got.

Dallara


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[buffalodave]

Hey Kevhunts - yer showin yer age! O0

 

[buffalodave]

Thanks for the pics Dallara. I'm curious as to how the dealer got the bike up and out of the crate?

 

[tomatocity]

Thanks for the pics Dallara. I'm curious as to how the dealer got the bike up and out of the crate?

Mine was lifted with a strap and overhead hoist.

 

[greg the pole]

We all know how any wrenching project can be full of surprises. Example: Today I decided to replace the worn stock front tire (Tourance) with a new one (Anakee II), before heading out west on my next trip. All went well until I tried to remove the front axle. Unbelievably tight. I had to weld a bar across the socket (drive end method) I was using to loosen the axle. (And yes I loosened and even removed the pinch bolts.) I had to employ my next door neighbor to steady the bike while I applied untold foot-pounds, with a cheater bar, to loosen the axle! Thankfully I was doing this in my garage, and not on the side of road somewhere. C'mon Yamaha, please do a better job of calibrating the power tools used at the factory. If the spec is 100 ft-lbs., 300 ft-lbs is NOT better.
Coincidentially while changing out the front tire for the first time on my Kaw, I found one of the pinch bolts completely stripped out! That debacle cost Kawasaki a new fork, and labor to replace.
Maybe they were assembled on days with earthquakes? ???

Thanks to EricV for the idea of making a prop for the front of the skid plate. I cut one out of 2" PVC pipe, and will keep in one of my Jesse Bags.

sweet wheels stand, where did you purchase it?

 

[buffalodave]

Greg, the stand came from http://www.motosport.com/ It's labeled as a "Moose Tire changing Stand. It's listed at $99.95, but I think I got it on sale for $69.95,
Sure beats kneeling on the ground, and with the wheel raised higher, makes it much easier to apply your body weight to assist in getting the new tire on rim. I considered welding one together using an old car rim, but for the price I paid, I thought it was worth it.

 

[Bigbore4]

Before No-Mar, I found a 30 gallon drum or grease barrel with some heater hose split and slid over the rim works well too. Doubles as a nice garage trash can!

 

[greg the pole]

Greg, the stand came from http://www.motosport.com/ It's labeled as a "Moose Tire changing Stand. It's listed at $99.95, but I think I got it on sale for $69.95,
Sure beats kneeling on the ground, and with the wheel raised higher, makes it much easier to apply your body weight to assist in getting the new tire on rim. I considered welding one together using an old car rim, but for the price I paid, I thought it was worth it.

those bastards want $132 CDN plus shipping. Ended up buying a motion pro stand, with room for air tank.
It will make things easier, and i'll fight the tire less, than having it on a flat surface. DOOH ::010::

 

[kballowe]

We all know how any wrenching project can be full of surprises. Example: Today I decided to replace the worn stock front tire (Tourance) with a new one (Anakee II), before heading out west on my next trip. All went well until I tried to remove the front axle. Unbelievably tight. I had to weld a bar across the socket (drive end method) I was using to loosen the axle. (And yes I loosened and even removed the pinch bolts.) I had to employ my next door neighbor to steady the bike while I applied untold foot-pounds, with a cheater bar, to loosen the axle! Thankfully I was doing this in my garage, and not on the side of road somewhere. C'mon Yamaha, please do a better job of calibrating the power tools used at the factory. If the spec is 100 ft-lbs., 300 ft-lbs is NOT better.
Coincidentially while changing out the front tire for the first time on my Kaw, I found one of the pinch bolts completely stripped out! That debacle cost Kawasaki a new fork, and labor to replace.
Maybe they were assembled on days with earthquakes? ???

Thanks to EricV for the idea of making a prop for the front of the skid plate. I cut one out of 2" PVC pipe, and will keep in one of my Jesse Bags.

Is that some sort of bead breaker that's hanging off of the tire?

 

[buffalodave]

Is that some sort of bead breaker that's hanging off of the tire?

Yep. Much heavier and larger than what I expected, but does work well. Not really practical to take on the road, but then again - that's what side stands are for. :lamp:

 

[Bigbore4]

OK, now that everything is good, slight thread jack.

@ Dallara
That bike would have come out of the crate a lot faster if it was BLACK!

Back on topic, any of you riding enough to do a few tires a year really should consider a No Mar. The first time we used mine, my son asked me why I hadn't bought one long ago. That and the bike lift.

Had it a few years now and worth every penny just in PITA save.

 

[Dallara]

OK, now that everything is good, slight thread jack.

@ Dallara
That bike would have come out of the crate a lot faster if it was BLACK!

Maybe... But then it would have flitted, swished, and pirouetted across the floor.. tippy-toed like a ballerina, and then cranked up with a lisp... ::013::

::025:: ::025:: ::025:: ::025:: ::025::

Dallara



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[Bigbore4]

Nicely turned sir.

However, the Black one would tippy toe ever so much faster than......