AF tubeless - can I really fit myself?

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

I must insist :

SOMEBODY PLEASE VIDEO THIS !

[Rich Oswald]

Took a Sip rim with an MC18 on to my MOT tester last year. He had NEVER done a scooter tyre before and removed it easily and fitted an MC20 no problem. He never even charged me.

Rich'

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

Was he wearing flip flops?
Seriously; machine or tyre levers ?
What are the tyres like, softer sidewalls ?

[Rich Oswald]

Was he wearing flip flops?
Seriously; machine or tyre levers ?
What are the tyres like, softer sidewalls ?

Yes he used levers and yes the Sava's sidewalls are pretty soft.

Rich'

[burnside]

Let me know when you go round to do it, I'll pop over and bring the popcorn

And there was me expecting support and sympathy.... Mind you, I have to get the rims delivered yet, I ordered and paid for them the Monday before Christmas from a guy on the Lambretta Parts FB site but no sign of them yet. He SAYS there had been a cock up and would sort it but that was over a week ago. Getting a bit miffed now

Hmm that doesn't sound good....hope you've got his address!

[coaster]

Let me know when you go round to do it, I'll pop over and bring the popcorn

And there was me expecting support and sympathy.... Mind you, I have to get the rims delivered yet, I ordered and paid for them the Monday before Christmas from a guy on the Lambretta Parts FB site but no sign of them yet. He SAYS there had been a cock up and would sort it but that was over a week ago. Getting a bit miffed now

Hmm that doesn't sound good....hope you've got his address!

It seems there was a glitch in their stock system and they didn't actually have the rims he was offering in stock so have had to order more from SIP. To be fair his comms has been ok and the Christmas period wouldn't have helped. He's promising for Sat lunchtime delivery. I'm not in any great rush and they were a good price.

[Tractorman]

This reminds me of the joke about a bacon price war between a corner shop and the supermarket across the road, in the end the shopkeeper had to admit he didn't sell bacon.

[coaster]

Coaster, yes, I'd love to hear how you get on with them. Good luck

Well, the rims arrived and so did 2 new ScootSmart 350/10 59J tyres (great service thanks Martin ) I was a bit pressed for time (I'm supposed to be sanding a floor ) so decided to have a go at home rather than head over to Lambretta Rehab. First attempt involved warming the tyre on the radiator but despite copious amounts of special tyre soap I couldn't even get the first bead on.

So I fired up the Arga took all the shelves out and got it good and warm but not really any better. At this point I noticed that the tyre soap wasn't all that slippery so applied a squirt of washing up liquid and tried again.....MUCH better, the bead actually felt like it was wanting to go on, I pushed the rim in as far as possible and used a ratchet cramp to hold it in place then laid the rim plat and knelt on either side of the tyre and used a lever to gradually ease the tyre over the rim which took no more that 30 seconds or so. Applied more washing up liquid to the other bead, forced the bead over the rim as much as possible by pushing down with my hands and used the cramp to hold it in place whist using the lever as before, 2nd bead on in under a minute. Couldn't find my valve tool so connected my electric pump, started it up and bounced the wheel a few time and it started to inflate

2 very small scratches due to me not de-burring the tips of the levers, I had wrapped the ends in a layer of duct tape but not covered the tips sufficiently either. That tyre btw is a very heavy construction as it is a hi load tyre, the next one will be a bit easier as it's a lower load version of the same tyre.

[coaster]

.......... the next one will be a bit easier as it's a lower load version of the same tyre.

The 2nd went on very easily but I can't get it to inflate using either of my electric pumps, a lot of the bead is in the well and there's too much leakage for the little pump to cope with Needs a proper compressor.

[Angry Bloke]

^ Great write up Colin -

Probably home was better than Rehab as I'm sure the comedy would 've taken over ............ Plus he doesn't have an arga

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

Was that in your flip flops ?

[coaster]

^ Great write up Colin -

Probably home was better than Rehab as I'm sure the comedy would 've taken over ............ Plus he doesn't have an arga

Jarv does have the BBQ though

No flip flops but it was done on the floor.


Here I have wedged the other side of the rim as far as I could by forcing using hands only and the cramp is keeping it in place


Ta da...

[Storkfoot]

I'm guessing this would have, in your opinion, been easier if the hub had been fixed on a stand?

[coaster]

I'm guessing this would have, in your opinion, been easier if the hub had been fixed on a stand?

Yes to be completely honest it would have probably been easier as I guess you would be able to force the tyre part way on and hold it in position with your body rather than using the ratchet cramp. However, those base plates are going to cost around £40 with delivery and even without the base plate, using the cramp is easy enough and once I'd hit on that method fitting the whole tyre took no more than a few minutes. The only slight disappointment was the small scratches on the edge of the rim and as I had opted for the matt media blasted sort of finish there isn't anything I can do to rectify it (not that it's noticeable from a few feet). If I had the polished rims it would have polished out and powder coat would most likely have been tough enough to cope. The second tyre went on just with the tyre soap but with a bit of water in the brush, no washing up liquid.

[burnside]

Those rims mark really easily anyway Colin so the odd scrape is inevitable

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

The next test: Take them off !

[coaster]

Those rims mark really easily anyway Colin so the odd scrape is inevitable

Cheers Ross, I suspected so but that makes me feel a bit better

[coaster]

The next test: Take them off !

Run 'em down to the canvas and then cut them off

[Storkfoot]

I'm not entirely convinced that this will end up a success but I am going to start by making up my own holding tool to go in the vice, as per:

http://www.scootertyrestore.co.uk/tyre/ ... b0795.html

[coaster]

I'm not entirely convinced that this will end up a success but I am going to start by making up my own holding tool to go in the vice, as per:

http://www.scootertyrestore.co.uk/tyre/ ... b0795.html

Are you using half of an old Wheel rim to make it? I thought about that but couldn't be arsed finding the other half of the rim I used for the rear hub holder. If it had been to hand I was going to use some studding with the same tread as the wheel nuts with a nut either side of the rim and some pieces of plastic water pipe slipped over the studs top space the wheel away. Then it will need a bracket or bar welding on the bottom for the vice to grip or some holes so you can screw it to the bench. ORF buy some flip flops and do it the old school way, you will still need levers and the risk of marking the rim will be exactly the same. Actually on that subject I think if I'd stuck tape around the flat outer part of the rim it would have prevented the marking. To be fair though, I suspect I'll cause more scratching by using a pad lock and chain on the from wheel. I have a 3rd one to do but that's going on the Jet and I'm getting it powder coated orange. I will definitely try to get a vid done with that one