Hello all,
Lately I have been thinking through the things that I would need to enjoy a two week camping trip from NH to PA onward to MI then back through Canada and suddenly drew a blank on changing a tire. The patching a tube/pluging a tire part was not the problem (have one of both on the bike) but how do you get the rear tire off the ground to drop it if needed? With the sidecar not willing to give up its death grip on the tug this does not seem to be a easy task.
I am sure that some of you out there have had to face this at one time or the other, so what did you do? No centerstand or sidestand. Dont't want to call a towtruck, and doing this all on the cheap.
I am open to ideas.
Thanks
Bob, I am not sure if I read your post correctly. Don't you carry a floor jack or some sort in your rig? I have cheap floor jack in its own plastic case that I use for part of my ballest on the rig. Or, is your question on how to remove your rear tire from your mule? Terry
Hey Bob
Think back to Gold Rush days, when they had to change wagon wheels. Fulcrum & Leaver, take a bow saw and head to the woods.
Or head to the RV center and pick up one of their leveling rockers, think they are made of ABS. Or better yet mount one of the electric levelers.
Floor jack sounds like the best solution, in order to get the lift.
I know in order to get the floor jack under the H-D, I have to roll it onto a piece of 2x4 front & rear.
Last suggestion: Sky Hook. LOL
Kinda like the skyhook idea, lets see; one large nylon bag, ok. One large bottle of helium (could get by with a smaller bottle of Hydrogen "Why is that Mr. Wizard." "Not now Tommy, I got a hundred on the pass line.") ok. A few strong cords and calm winds. That should do it. 🙂
Floor jack! Never thought of that... na, too large to pack away. I would need to leave behind my wine cooler. Now a light scissor jack may work.
Long pole? Ever try to find a small tree, or any tree to cut down in Illinois? Corn stocks just won't do it.
You got to understand, I'am the type that carries around a few extra spark plugs, tool kit, a little oil, replacememt light bulbs, first aid kit, wire, towel (thank you Douglas Adams), a kit for making tea on the side of the road, patch kit, extra gas and so on. All this stuff lives in and on about my rig. Even if I am just hopping on the rig to go down to the hardware store.
A normal person may look at this and think it was, well, off-center a bit. Me, I look at it as being ready. 🙂
Bob,
Years ago, I used to carry a MG TC scissors jack. Run down to your local BMC dealer and scoop one up for cheap. All seriousness aside, a scissors jack from an earlier GMC or Chevy pickup is quite compact, sturdy, low profile and should be no further than the nearest salvage yard for a reasonable price. Lacking funds, one could put on their "Outback" duster and hang one between their legs and stroll out the door slowly. It doesn't get any cheaper than that. They may not notice and if they do, just say "who threw that jack?"
Lonnie
Just so happans I do have a halfduster oil skin. The over pants are baggy to slip one in. Probably the only ones who may notice as I slooowly ease my way out may the the salegirls at the front doors. (I will leave it to the imagation.)
By the way I found this web site http://tinyurl.com/2pgmk it has a few scissor jacks 😉
Note that Scissors jacks can usually be found at a junkyard for next to nothing.They can be found in diferent sizes .. look around. I also like to carry a small piece of plywood toput the jack on for stability.
Another way to get the rear wheel is bu using the sidecar to your advantage. Lets say you have a flat on the rear and are stuck with no jack. You are also by yourself. Okay, find a'prop' to put under the sidecar. This can be a log, a rock or whatever can be found.If you have a substantial step on the sidecar this may be a good place to prop it up. Grunt a little to lift the sidecar off the ground and put your prop under the step or the sidecar frame or somewhere with some strength. Now your rig is sittin with the sidecar wheel off the ground all propped up. The next step is tricky if alone so if you can snag a helper by all means do so. Put something under the sidecar frame or the rear lower mount near the bike. A log,or whatever. Now...pick up the sidecar again and remove the first prop. Now you have a rig that is 'teetering' on the secong prop.
Go around to the bike and lift the rear of it so the sidecar wheel is back on the ground. Put something under the bike to hold it up.Of course the center stand may work too if youstil have one.If all went well the rear wheel of the bike will now be off the ground and you can d your thing.Of course you havea compressor or air pump of some kind and a spare tube right? I like to carry tubes for this type thing if needed. If a plug can be put in a tire it is easier but may or may not hold up.
It is beneficial to practice thsi procedure at home before the real thing happens.
Of course if someone has a huge Goldthing with bags and stuff that has to be removed to make sure there is even a tire under there and a triple wide 300 pound sidecar this procedue may not be for them.
Also ..all disclamers apply. If you get a hernia or squash yourself you are on your own.
Welcome Back Claude
Bob likes Heleium. (for his SkyHook)
Another item that can be picked up at the junk yard, an Air Bag.
There should be deployed ones, and then there should be some that have not deployed. He could get either one, place it under the sidecar frame closest to the bike, or under the bike and inflate it with either his Helium or a CO2 cartridge. Neither the CO2 Cartridge or the Air Bag will take up much room.
wiskers...thanks for the welcome. Now dogonit you got me thinking..lol. They do make an inflatable 'jack' that runs off the exhaust. Kinda pricy though.
C U @ D RON-DEE-VOO
I carry a small bottle jack that's the size of a, well, a bottle (longneck beer bottle, old time Pepsi bottle) with a "head" I welded up for a better platform to the bike. Takes up less room than the scissor jack I have and can be fit in a variety of places for both storage and use. Makes a pretty good wheel chock too. Need to be aware when you use it since it is a bit less stable than a scissor jack but I've never had anything fall when I used it. See 'em in Harbor Freight sometimes for about $5.00. I'm using it right now to level the nose of my Equalean while make the final adjustments to the front mount. Lord willin' and the creek don't rise I'll be test leaning the rig this weekend.
Well Bob M
You must of read the June Issue of Rider (One Trackmind/What'll they Think of Dept) and wanted to tell Bob S about the 2005 BMW K1200LT with the electrohydraulic centerstand (optional).
Wonder if they have one with a triple piston inorder to get the lift to change that rear tire.
actually I hadn't read that yet and now instead of leisurly enjoying another pot of coffee (having decided to , er..ahem..."work from home" today) now I've got to run down to Barnes and Noble's to see if they have the June issue of Rider.
So to keep this ball rolling,(as I now have a small scissor jack in the trunk of the hack.)
What other types of on the "side of the road" repairs have you done, or heard about? One of my favorite is, I heard that during last years Iron Butt a rider replaced his BMW airhead push rod with a long drill bit after getting it ground down a bit.
Broke a clutch cable comin back from rolling thunder in dc once. It broke at the lever. I hook a pair of vice grips on the end of the cable and duct taped them onto the rear view mirrow in such a way that they became a lever...You pushed the vicegrips and they pulled the cable..worked great.
Ran totally out of gas once on the /5. Got to the gas station by repeatedly filling the rightfloat bowl with lighter fluid..lol
