Tire changing technique for dirt bikes

[Fencer]

I just changed a tire for a neighbor with a little rim fo a 75 dirt bike. Its got a 12 inch rim and a tube. WHAT A PITA it was. The tube acted as a gasket not wanting to let the tire slide on or off the rim. This has to be my hardest change to date. It even broke one of my spoons.

I used lots o lube.

What did I do wrong?

 

[HaulinAshe]

Baby powder. You can't change a dirt bike tire without it. Trick to dirt bike tires is getting the tube to move freely inside the tire. Baby powder works wonders.

Also, loosen the nut on the valve stem to the very end, but leave it on. This allows the valve stem to move outward (into the tire well) and helps minimize the chance of pinching the tube.

Slightly inflate the tube, not enough to cause it to expand, not enough to cause it fill out firmly, just enough so that it's not "flat" and more or less holds its donut shape.

Lastly, just like an FJR tire/wheel, keep the tire off the opposite bead and depressed into the center area of the rim.

That should do it. Hope that helps.

BTW, I'll change it for you if you go ahead and change your picture.



Love Ya Man! Mean It!!!

 

[RenoJohn]

IMO not much harder than doing a mini-bike tire, much harder than the full size bike.

Jeff is dead-on with his comments and baby powder is your friend.

Here is a video that is pretty good, done by a Dunlop fellow. This particular wheel has a rim-lock and he does loosten the valve stem nut as Jeff suggests. For many of us, probably worth the minute to watch this video.

go here (clicky)