I'm ashamed to ask but how do you change a tyre?

Dang, must be how you hold your tongue, just got it. For some reason I thought it would be a lot easier. Are the Blokart rims slightly smaller or am I a lot weaker than I thought?

Lachy Paul has given you the basics but when doing those damned Aircraft tires I use a heavy Hammer or Mallet and a length of wood.. Put your foot pressure on the tire and start it folding down then Place the wood close to the Rim, do not strike the Rim as it will break, Hit the wood firmly, keeping your weight on the tire wall. They can be a bugger to break. Fitting is made easier if you dissolve half a bar of plain soap in a litre of water, you should finish up with a slimy mess that will grease the rim and tire bead. The mess will also help the bead to slip home when building up air pressure.. BE CAREFULL TO KEEP ALL LOOSE sKIN AND CLOTHING AWAY FROM THE TIRE AS IT SNAPS HOME. The pinch can be a real Bitch.
Ron

Hey! Cisco,
You have Cutlery that can do that in this day and age??? Most of it is shoddy rubbish and the Good Old Days are long gone.. Yes, I have put those sized tires on without levers but that is one hell of a hard way of doing it and not all people have the strength for that stuff. The Rim can also be jammed in at 45 degress and then forced around the rim edge until the bead pops over into the Groove after much sweat and swearing it comes together..
Ron

I lay the tyres to be fitted on concrete in the sun till they are really pliable.
Splash a bit of dishwashing detergent on the rim.
Break the bead by putting the tyre in the vice with the rim sitting just above the jaws.
By blowing across the valve, with an air blower/gun at right angles (with the core removed) you can vacume the tube absolutley flat. I have a tip off a silicon cartridge that I quickly jamb in as a core to keep it sealed.
I mount a bit 20mm shaft vertically in the vice to slip the bearings over and a bit of wood jammed up into the honeycomb of the rim from underneath, to stop it rotating.
Still needs a little lever work, as they are pretty snug.

Oh what fun !!!
Step by step
1/- Remove the valve insert from the tube stem.
1a/- MARK the tyre and rim at the valve hole, this will insure you will have the same rotation direction ,and this will help in keeping the current balance,(if you are turning the tyre on the rim or replacing it the balance will be out so it is not that vital)
2/- Push the tyre into the centre (the well) of the rim on both sides to break the bead.
3/- Secure rim so you can keep it under control (I use a nut and bolt and large washers the same size as the axle in a vice to hold the rim.
4/- Push the up side of the tyre(nearest to you) into the well and lever/pull the opposite side of tyre over the bead of the rim working in small increments working back towards your body alterate left to right as you go thinking of the tube as you go, once you have about half of the tyre off it should just pull off. (note:- when you start keep the valve closest to you, this will help reduce the risk of pinching the tube )
5/- Remove the tube for repair if required and no need to pull the second side of the tyre off if it is just a punture.
6/- If rotating or replacing tyre repeat 4/-(it will need to be balanced)
7/- To refit (dont use any lube at this stage) position tyre as to the way it is to be fitted, push the bottom side on as far as you can (ensure the bead is going into the well of the rim) now put a small amount of lube on rim lip and outer edge/bead of the tyre and lever on or use a rubber mallet and knock on being careful not to damage the tyre or rim.
8/- Replace the tube and place the valve cap (use a washer if needed) on the stem to stop the valve disappearing on you halfway through fitting the next side.
9/- Working towards the valve (opposite side to the stripping ) repeat 7/- but take care of the tube.
10/- Position tyre, align marks on tyre with valve or mark on the rim (if refitting original tyre) lube right around both tyre and rim bead on both sides, and inflate to pop tyre on to the bead of the rim do not over inflate.
11/- Insert valve insert into the stem and inflate to the required pressure,then check for leaks.

OR take it to a tyre place, smaller does not in any case mean it will be easier, I would rather change tyres on earthmoving gear than a wheel barrow.
trick is make sure rim does not rotate, or to much lube so the tyre slips while you are levering the tyre off/on

Hope this is of some help.
Peter

On the up side to my landyachting adventures, I had a sail yesterday after work but not very successful as the Bendigo showgrounds old speedway track was still wet and quite deeply rutted. When its smooth again it might be a decent venue though

Also dropped by a local drilling company at lunchtime and picked up 3 NQ core tubes and 2 BQ core tubes for $50. Diamond Drilling in Bendigo are happy to sell any old drill or core tubes for $15 and $10 each respectively. Apparently most are sold to be rammed into the ground and used as fence posts.

Like this?



I made one of these to change my sons motor bike rear tyres, as being a Honda CRF 450 it chews through them in no time flat.

It works a treat with the proper tyre fitting handle. Can replace a tyre in about 2 minutes once the rim is in this.
Haven't tried it on Fallshaw rims. Can't see why it wouldn't work, as the rim is retained with nylon pads.

Sounds good Paul- I have some sails here for you too!