Replacing the tires on a Harley is more challenging than on a car
Over time, the tires on a Harley Davidson can square off, or become flat around the middle, causing ridges to form on the tire. The rear tire is more susceptible to this as it carries much of the weight and drives the bike. The rear tire is designed to be easier to remove as it does not involve removing the brake callipers or disconnecting the speedometer cable as with the front wheel. If you have a motorcycle jack, this can be done by yourself in about an hour. If not, it may require two people to lift up and steady the bike during wheel removal.
Instructions
Removing the Front Wheel
1. Place the motorcycle jack underneath the center of the bike and raise it up, making sure the bike is balanced.
2. Take off the axle cap nuts and brake callipers from the front wheel using a screwdriver and hex key. Detach the front forks, or the speedo cables, from the wheel.
3. Unscrew the wheel nuts form the axle and, while supporting the wheel, tap out the axle itself. Take away the wheel.
Removing the Rear Wheel
4. Remove the exhaust muffler by detaching the hose clips and mounting bolt.
5. Unscrew the axle nuts.
6. Support the rear wheel while tapping out the rear wheel axle. Take the wheel away.
Removing the Old Tires
7. Deflate the tires by pushing a biro into the air valve stem.
8. Squirt some liquid soap on the tire wall and rim so it acts as a lubricant. Force the pry bar between the tire and lip, or bead of the rim.
9. Work the pry bar all the way round, applying soap as required until the whole tire wall is off the rim. Repeat these steps for the other tire wall and other tire.
Fitting the New Tires
10. Lubricate the new tire wall and rim with liquid soap.
11. Force the tire wall onto the rim using the pry bar. Work it all the way round so one tire wall is completely on the rim.
12. Replace the inner tube, if required, by pushing it in-between the attached tire wall and rim, ensuring the valve is accessible to pump it up again. Repeat these steps for the other tire wall, and the other tire.
Attaching the wheels
13. Put the rear wheel back into its original position and push the axle back through the wheel.
14. Reattach the wheel nuts and muffler using the spanner and hex key.
15. Place the front wheel in place and replace the axle and axle nuts. Reattach the front forks, brake callipers and speedo cables.
16. Inflate the tires using the foot pump and remove the motorcycle jack.
Tags: tire wall, other tire, axle nuts, brake callipers, front wheel
