Changing tires on CT70

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ianmcdca

Member
First of all, my most humble appologies. I replied to a post regarding tire replacement stating that the the tech at the Honda dealership said that you don`t have to split the rims. LIAR!!!! Ha!...

I`m in the middle of putting new Cheng Shins on my K2. They (the rims) are rusted SSSOOO bad that I had to cut the steel in the tire beads with a wire cutter to get them off!!! As soon as the last wire was cut, the tire just fell off. I`m just on my way back outside to wire brush and grind off the rust. If I can post a pic or 2 I will. I`ll bet it`s also way easier to install the new tires the same way. I`ll also use some silicone on the beads (to prevent further rusting).

It`s also a good time to check/replace the brake linings etc. IMHO.

Ian
 
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hecklerkoch

Member
I assume you are painting those rims while you have them all apart? You should at least put a couple coats of rustoleum on them.

Yes installing the new tires is very easy with the rims apart. Im guessing that installing them otherwise would be a real PITA.
 
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nikbrewer

Member
i just broke apart 10 z50 wheels and had the same problem. I would cut he tire down the middle with a jig saw, then grind right through the steel belt, i actully got pretty good at it. to bad i only got 1 set of usable wheels out of it, all the others where rusted all the way through. I had the whole center just fall out of one
 
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ianmcdca

Member
hecklerkoch said:
I assume you are painting those rims while you have them all apart? You should at least put a couple coats of rustoleum on them.

Yes installing the new tires is very easy with the rims apart. Im guessing that installing them otherwise would be a real PITA.
Click to expand...

Well, you may think I`m insane, but those rims are painted black. So I`ll be getting them sandblasted and painted silver in the winter...yep. I`ll be taking them apart again in the winter!


Ian
 
Havin' fun

Havin' fun

Member
I had replaced some tires recently. Originals from what I can tell.
Removed them from the bike.
Unbolted the rims and hubs.
And then added some air alittle at a time. And the inflated tube pushed the rims apart and somewhat peeled the beads off the rims. With a little side "rolling" of the tires, they pretty much fell (popped) off themselves.

I have some more to do, hopefully they will be just as easy on a little older bike.
 
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ianmcdca

Member
Well, I`m going for rim 2 today. I think that if these bikes are not taken care of like being left outside instead of in a garage or barn, then the rims will be worse as they tend to allow water in through the seam. This K1 of mine was in worse shape than my KO (although the K1 runs better). It seems it was neglected and used on a farm where I`m sure it was left out alot.

I`ll post when I`m done.

Ian
 
old-honda-home

old-honda-home

New Member
The traditional and probably easiest way to get the tires off involves using a propane torch. Heat up the rim just along the bead (it doesn't take much) then use a tire iron to pry the tire loose. I recently did two very rusty wheels in about five minutes. I have cut tires off before but the torch method is much quicker.
 
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John Pond

Member
Neither. The metal closest to the torch absorbs the most heat, thereby expanding the most. The difference in expansion breaks the rust bond between the two pieces.

Heat is the classic way to break metal to metal things apart, when solvents won't do it.

Cheers!

John
 
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ianmcdca

Member
I agree. Except that my problem was rusted/corroded metal on the inside surface which didn`t allow the bead to slide off the metal. I did the other tire today...same problem. Even tried heat. Nope. Had to cut it off.

Doesn`t matter. Got the job done anyway!

Ian
 
MSZ

MSZ

Moderator
The easiest way is to put the tire in a vise as close to the rim as you can and vice it down. It will pop the rusted bead every time.

Save the propane, PB Blaster and hours of strain and do it the easy way. :D
 
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mtkawboy

Member
The vise, heat, Wd 40 etc all work on wheels that arent real bad. After spending the best part of a day trying all the above I cut a 4 inch section of tire off with a jig saw as close to the rim as possable, then used a small air grinder to cut the bead. If you been using yours at the Bonnevile salt flats there is no other way that works. I then bead blasted the wheels, painted them and installed the tires with silicon electric lube so the problem wont be as bad next time. Being as its the first set of tires since 71, I doubt I have 36 years left at the age of 63 to worry about the next set
 
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