nklr - bead breaking methods

[Jeff Khoury]

At home, I use an old bathroom rug thrown down on the lawn. On a tube-type tire (and even most tubeless) you can break the bead with just a tire iron, soapy water and the right technique. I just float the soapy water around the bead, then work in a tire iron. press down, then relax. The soap will run into the crack and lubricate the bead. Repeat the process a few times and each time it will go a little further. If it's difficult, you're doing it wrong. I also have the harbor freight motorcycle bead breaker for tough ones, but I almost never have to use it. I think I paid like 25 bucks for it. http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-bead-breaker-98875.html On the trail, I always carry a hotel bath mat, which is just a really thick hand towel. (If you work for Hampton Inn, I didn't get it from you. ) That way I can have a safe surface nearly anywhere I go. If you're biking with a friend, a motorcycle side stand makes a near perfect bead breaker as well, but I carry a small bottle of soapy water in my tool kit to use the above mentioned method. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "eddie" To: "KLR650 list" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:52:26 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] NKLR Had a guy come by my friend's shop to see about having his tire changed (mag wheel, off the bike). He scoffed at the $25 price and left angry. 'That's robbery! I have heard you can break the bead at home....." Wind the clock forward a few hours. He showed back up with the wheel in hand - minus a roughly 10 inch piece of one edge of the rim. The "buddy" that told him he could back a car over the tire to break the tire bead loose failed to help him aim correctly and SNAP. "Can ya'll fix this?" No. You broke the rim. You need a new one. How much? $$$ It started making that $25 look a lot better. =) Listen to Fred. eddie > [Original Message] > From: Fred Hink > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>; > Date: 2/24/2011 8:40:57 AM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: was; Broken speedo cable now; Front hub > > I suppose your hub could have been damaged from working on it on a hard surface. For almost 20 years, I have used a Coats tire machine for any tubeless tires in my shop and for tube type tires I use a plastic bucket. The bucket I have in my shop is larger than your regular 5 gallon size and most likely a 8 or 10 gallon capacity. It brings the tire up to just below my knee and is a larger diameter to hold the wheel stabile. I don t use the machine on tube type tires because the arm that installs the tire will sometime hook the tube and could cause a puncture. It is also a pain with rim locks, so that is why I use the bucket. When I see someone wrestling with a tire on the floor it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The least you will come out with a scratched up rim and scratched up floor. You may even damage your rotor and bend your rim. > > Use anything to keep the rotor, hub and bearings off a hard surface or dirt if you are stuck on the trail. If you are stuck on a trail with a flat tire, you can ride out for help on a flat tire, but if you pull your tire and bend your rotor or damage your bearings, you might not be able to ride out. > > Glad you got your hub problem fixed and if you can find a big plastic bucket, you may not have to worry about hub damage from changing tire ever again. > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > > ------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links

[SM]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Khoury wrote:

> > The stock chain is an EK 520 SRO. > > With proper maintenance, you should get way more than 13,000 miles out of one though. >

You ever have a chain break in the middle of nowhere? My DID X-ring broke 12 miles south of Ballarat (according to my GPS), on the Manly Escape Route. Thanks goodness I got a tow into camp later that night! A rock got kicked up between the rear sprocket and the chain and that was that. Chain had about 11-12000 miles on it, if I remember correctly. I'll replace my KLR chains at 8-9k miles now, regardless. Do your homework, after a certain number of hours a chain stretches and should be replaced. Looks like about 100 hours according to this chart: http://www.650central.com/RKC_Elongation%20Chart.jpg 100 hours at 70 mph = 7000 miles, right? I've also tried a cheaper chain, it lasted about 2500 miles and it was shot. Never again. I know, I know, "Joe Cheapskate has 40k miles on his stock chain". I think he's crazy. Thanks CA Stu A13

[Fred Hink]

You can break anything under the right conditions. The odds that a rock gets in your chain and breaks a good quality chain is pretty small. I think most people equate maintenance or the lack of as what determines the life of a chain. I say that is only part of the answer. I think you can ruin a chain faster by running them too tight over a lack of maintenance. But they both have a part in how long your chain will last. Rocks in your chain is something that will happen but very seldom. I see more chains that come into my shop that are way too tight and the owner has no idea. Check your chain tension with all your weight on the seat when you are loaded like you would be riding down the road and check it often. You may need a second set of hands but I can do it since my arms are long enough. If you run even 100 miles with a chain too tight, the damage has been done. O-ring and X-ring chains are already lubricated when they are new and so will not require any maintenance for thousands of miles. If you damage the seals on your chain, then your chain won t last either. So be good to your seals and they will be good to you back. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: SM Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 3:01 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Time for a new chain

--- In mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Jeff Khoury wrote: > > The stock chain is an EK 520 SRO. > > With proper maintenance, you should get way more than 13,000 miles out of one though. > You ever have a chain break in the middle of nowhere? My DID X-ring broke 12 miles south of Ballarat (according to my GPS), on the Manly Escape Route. Thanks goodness I got a tow into camp later that night! A rock got kicked up between the rear sprocket and the chain and that was that. Chain had about 11-12000 miles on it, if I remember correctly. I'll replace my KLR chains at 8-9k miles now, regardless. Do your homework, after a certain number of hours a chain stretches and should be replaced. Looks like about 100 hours according to this chart: http://www.650central.com/RKC_Elongation%20Chart.jpg 100 hours at 70 mph = 7000 miles, right? I've also tried a cheaper chain, it lasted about 2500 miles and it was shot. Never again. I know, I know, "Joe Cheapskate has 40k miles on his stock chain". I think he's crazy. Thanks CA Stu A13 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[S Mumford]

My point is that a new chain, or even one that had less than 12,000 miles on it, would not have broken in the first place. Chains are a wear item, and to try and make one last beyond a sensible service life is false economy. I think it is on par with turning a tire around on a bike rim to eke out another 500 miles. People do do it, but I sure won't,

--- On Thu, 2/24/11, Fred Hink wrote: From: Fred Hink Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Time for a new chain To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "SM" Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 2:24 PM You can break anything under the right conditions. The odds that a rock gets in your chain and breaks a good quality chain is pretty small. I think most people equate maintenance or the lack of as what determines the life of a chain. I say that is only part of the answer. I think you can ruin a chain faster by running them too tight over a lack of maintenance. But they both have a part in how long your chain will last. Rocks in your chain is something that will happen but very seldom. I see more chains that come into my shop that are way too tight and the owner has no idea. Check your chain tension with all your weight on the seat when you are loaded like you would be riding down the road and check it often. You may need a second set of hands but I can do it since my arms are long enough. If you run even 100 miles with a chain too tight, the damage has been done. O-ring and X-ring chains are already lubricated when they are new and so will not require any maintenance for thousands of miles. If you damage the seals on your chain, then your chain won t last either. So be good to your seals and they will be good to you back. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: SM Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 3:01 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Time for a new chain --- In mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Jeff Khoury wrote: > > The stock chain is an EK 520 SRO. > > With proper maintenance, you should get way more than 13,000 miles out of one though. > You ever have a chain break in the middle of nowhere? My DID X-ring broke 12 miles south of Ballarat (according to my GPS), on the Manly Escape Route. Thanks goodness I got a tow into camp later that night! A rock got kicked up between the rear sprocket and the chain and that was that. Chain had about 11-12000 miles on it, if I remember correctly. I'll replace my KLR chains at 8-9k miles now, regardless. Do your homework, after a certain number of hours a chain stretches and should be replaced. Looks like about 100 hours according to this chart: http://www.650central.com/RKC_Elongation%20Chart.jpg 100 hours at 70 mph = 7000 miles, right? I've also tried a cheaper chain, it lasted about 2500 miles and it was shot. Never again. I know, I know, "Joe Cheapskate has 40k miles on his stock chain". I think he's crazy. Thanks CA Stu A13 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Khoury]

I got 17K out of my stock chain, I replaced it "just 'cause". I pulled a few pins out to check for wear, and it was very minimal, the only way you could really tell was with a caliper, and even then it was barely measurable. I'll probably replace at 20K this time, once again... "just 'cause". I clean with WD, and lube with 85W-140 gear oil, marine grease (very thin coat) if it's really rainy. -Jeff Khoury From: "S Mumford" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>, "Fred Hink" Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 2:30:19 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Time for a new chain My point is that a new chain, or even one that had less than 12,000 miles on it, would not have broken in the first place. Chains are a wear item, and to try and make one last beyond a sensible service life is false economy. I think it is on par with turning a tire around on a bike rim to eke out another 500 miles. People do do it, but I sure won't,

--- On Thu, 2/24/11, Fred Hink < moabmc@... > wrote: From: Fred Hink < moabmc@... > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Time for a new chain To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , "SM" < s2mumford@... > Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 2:24 PM You can break anything under the right conditions. The odds that a rock gets in your chain and breaks a good quality chain is pretty small. I think most people equate maintenance or the lack of as what determines the life of a chain. I say that is only part of the answer. I think you can ruin a chain faster by running them too tight over a lack of maintenance. But they both have a part in how long your chain will last. Rocks in your chain is something that will happen but very seldom. I see more chains that come into my shop that are way too tight and the owner has no idea. Check your chain tension with all your weight on the seat when you are loaded like you would be riding down the road and check it often. You may need a second set of hands but I can do it since my arms are long enough. If you run even 100 miles with a chain too tight, the damage has been done. O-ring and X-ring chains are already lubricated when they are new and so will not require any maintenance for thousands of miles. If you damage the seals on your chain, then your chain won t last either. So be good to your seals and they will be good to you back. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: SM Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 3:01 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Time for a new chain --- In mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Jeff Khoury wrote: > > The stock chain is an EK 520 SRO. > > With proper maintenance, you should get way more than 13,000 miles out of one though. > You ever have a chain break in the middle of nowhere? My DID X-ring broke 12 miles south of Ballarat (according to my GPS), on the Manly Escape Route. Thanks goodness I got a tow into camp later that night! A rock got kicked up between the rear sprocket and the chain and that was that. Chain had about 11-12000 miles on it, if I remember correctly. I'll replace my KLR chains at 8-9k miles now, regardless. Do your homework, after a certain number of hours a chain stretches and should be replaced. Looks like about 100 hours according to this chart: http://www.650central.com/RKC_Elongation%20Chart.jpg 100 hours at 70 mph = 7000 miles, right? I've also tried a cheaper chain, it lasted about 2500 miles and it was shot. Never again. I know, I know, "Joe Cheapskate has 40k miles on his stock chain". I think he's crazy. Thanks CA Stu A13 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]