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Rear tire change on a Harley

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I read on a form somewhere that dealers, I think Harley dealers would not replace rear tires if a sidecar was attached. The service depart apparently told the customer that he would have to remove the sidecar before installation. Does anyone have information on this?

Sam

SamB - 8/9/2010 7:00 PM

I read on a form somewhere that dealers, I think Harley dealers would not replace rear tires if a sidecar was attached. The service depart apparently told the customer that he would have to remove the sidecar before installation. Does anyone have information on this?

Sam

It depends upon the dealer. Some of them have smaller workshops and don't have the room. Best thing would be to learn to remove the wheel yourself and take the wheel in to have the tire changed. That's the way I do it. It's not necessary to remove the sidecar to remove the rear wheel. Just remove the saddlebags and perhaps one of the mufflers.

It requires a floor jack to do the job. Whatever you do, don't lift under the transmission on the thin metal cross member. You can lift there but you need to make a wood adapter so that the lifting is done only on the frame tubes fore and aft of that crossmember.

You can unbolt the shocks , and that will allow access to the axle without disturbing the muffler's .

I am getting my done this week and I took off my rear tire already. 2003 Ultra classic with Hannigan2+2. I removed both saddlebags and both mufflers and it was easy to remove the tire. I figure it is a great time to clean the hard to reach places a lttle better than normal.

I have an older escort mounted to a 08 Ultra Classic and the HD dealership in Cartersville Ga. has changed the rear tire, without a problem. Of course that may change with time, but for now, not a problem at my dealership.

I have an '05 FLHT with a Friendship I and have always pull my wheels to get new tires. I have found that it is actually easier to remove the rear tire with the sidecar attached than it was before adding the sidecar. Remove the saddlebags, use a floor jack and let the bike pivot on the front and sidecar tires. The angle makes it easier to get the wheel out from under the fender. Mine has the 1" lowered shocks in the back so I've just had to take the back bracket loose on one muffler to get the axle out.

'10 Street Glide/Liberty rig.
I jack up bike a bunch and the sidecar some. Pull the right side bag, remove right side muffler hanger. Drive out axle and drop off wheel.
Jacking up the sidecar helps when reinstalling the wheel since it is a tight fit (with the auto tire) and you have less of an angle to work it back in place to reinstall the axle.

Lonnie

What size car tire did you put back on? I have HD UC

Hankook 195/55/16 as used on Mercedes. 240mph speed rating (I've only had it up to 105 so I'll take their word for it.

So far it has outlasted two OEM Harley 408 Dunlops and is still going strong at 1/3 the price.

Lonnie

Have you ever run a Dunlop E3? As far as change tires I do it all my self. I use the old school method called tire spoons. LOL Here is my tire machine.

Attached files

I use the E3s on both my 17" front and my 17" sidehack wheel. I'm not looking to change those since the wheels all match in appearance even though the rear one has a 6" rim width.
I found the dual compound D408s weren't worth a s**t on a wet road with a sidehack rig. They hydroplaned like a racing slick.

Lonnie

I've never had a dealer refuse to change the tire. I usually pull the wheel off myself if I'm at home, and just take that to the dealer, but while traveling I've had several different dealers change tires for me. Never been an issue.

On a 9 State tour I got turned down at the HD dealer in Durango, Colorado. My partner and I pulled in at noon on a Saturday with a bald rear skin on my rig The Service Manager said to pull my bike around to the service bay door and They would replace it. When the door opened and he saw it was a sidehack rig he said he was short handed and couldn't get to it till Monday. We left ed, never to return.
They welcomed me after hours at the HD Dealer in Grand Junction, CO later the same day.
The Service Manager and three others stayed over an hour on Saturday evening changing my rear tire and repairing a saddlebag support (including the wash boy who cleaned up two of our rigs).
Tipped the wash boy, left $20. for a donut donation and left in good spirits. They're on my good dealer list.

Lonnie

Lonnie, would the Hankook 195/55 fit my '96 FLH or do we have different rims? Seems to me that's the case but I'd sure like to run a car tire on the rear.

the only tire that is current that might fit a older hd is the 500r16 steel that coker sells

mine has 10 k on it now and i think it will not hit the wear bars till late next summer

to

Timo, Is that Coker 500/16 rated for all the weight of the factory tire? Any fitment issues, thanks. Alan

I have been running D402 which when it was a two wheeler I got 10K to 12K out of them. The D402 on it now was about 3/4 shoot when I put my hack on. I have a Elite 3 to put on it which many have said on a two wheeler they are getting 13K to 15K on them. Hoping to get 10K on it with the hack. Only time will tell.

its rated for 992 lb

http://www.cokertire.com/tire-sizes/500r16-excelsior-stahl-sport-radial.html

With a hack you might get 10K out of that rear E3 before you run through the last ply of cord and hit air.
I wouldn't bet on it.

Lonnie

Hack'n - 10/20/2012 12:11 AM

With a hack you might get 10K out of that rear E3 before you run through the last ply of cord and hit air.
I wouldn't bet on it.

Lonnie

Time will tell.

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