things that plague old klrs.
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 5:17 pm
I got around to fixing my flat today. The failure mode would be familiar to you Rev. The stem pulled right out of the tube, not quite as cleanly as yours, as a little wisp of rubber came with it. There was no foreign object to be found. It took me 3 1/2 hours to fix it, but that included a trip to town to buy brake pads and a tube, plus a tube for Craig, to replace the front I put in my DR350 about this time last year. Plus a trip to Joe's to price Filsons and kick tires at the gun counter. There was a nicely-priced used PPK in stainless that I looked at but moved along, feeling only a slight twinge when the next guy stepped up and bought it.
I think I mentioned the bead was already broken from riding a couple of miles on the flat, but the other bead was still stuck to the rim pretty well. The 3-lever method wasn't working too well, but once I started twisting the head of a spoon between the bead and the rim, it took about 30 seconds to come free. I don't know why, but it makes me feel pretty smug every time I can break a bead with just tire irons. There is no doubt a comeuppance in wait for me somewhere down the road, but bead breakers are heavy or bulky, so I like to think I can go through life without carrying one. I hope I can keep up my store of tire karma by carrying a stem snake and a Bead Buddy, neither of which takes much space, and neither of which I ever use.
At 30 psi on my stand-up bicycle pump the last 8 inches of bead popped satisfyingly into place with talc as the only lube, giving rise to more smugness, and no doubt more trouble ahead. But for now, I'm gonna make like Joe Frazier and light up a Muriel (or something), but not get the ashes on the rug. The D606 is so easy to mount it's reason enough to run them exclusively.
One last thing: This tire repair was effected without benefit of a center stand, ATV lift, or even the Quick Jack in my tool tube. A Givi E21 under the bash plate was much quicker and easier to deploy. Now i am really going to enjoy that cigar.
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > > > > I have an IMS tank, so my gas cap is not the issue, but I did have a flat on the way to work this morning. Luckily, I was able to ride the last 2 miles on the flat, and fetched the bike later with my trailer. The bead is already broken. > > > > Well that sucks. > Having to change the tire in the 'dry' garage or a back porch vs. having a pretty NPS ranger-ette staring at 4, aging KiLeRista cracks hovering over my motorcycle tire along a dry, dusty gravel road. > 'What we are doing?' > I was beginning to wonder that myself...paused there next to the babbling brook and 4 glutial creases (more than one should repeat) hanging over that flat tire trying to break a K270 bead. Jud, ever the gentleman, pulls up his pants, and explains, > "fixing a flat--ma'am". > cough. > 'You are going to fix a flat out here?' > Great. > Why is there always a doubting Thomasina when you don't need one.... > > More than one person was dismayed at the skill and eptitude. > Yes Virgina, there are tire irons, talc, spare tube, electric pump, wd-40, and a stem snake. Not to mention the wrenches the grenchs and patches as well. > About an hour later, tube replaced, two fuses replaced, and at least 3 sea-stories told, we were on our way again. > > at least that is how I remember it. smile. > It is always better when I remember it. > > revmaaatin. the difference between adversity and adventure is the compleatness/usefulness of your tool kit. > > PS/ > If you have recently 'tested' your batt powered tire pump, you should. If it blows the fuse on your bike, it will 'most-likly' blow the fuse on your budies bike as well. > pps > If your fuse blows while you are still wearing your ear plugs, you won't hear the fuse 'fizz' and you will walk over to your buddies bike and say, 'try this' > and he, not having ear plugs will hear the blade fuse 'fizz', followed by this awell known and famous saying, "@@d#$!%^ tire pump" > roughly translates as, "your tire pump is inop." > > yeah, ask me how I know.... >