The second new front tire | |
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During a tank stop at the filling station "De Haan" in Ede Mr Roes noticed
that the front tire of the "Rascal" was becoming rather smooth. Admitted,
there was still enough profile visible, however, and the canvas was
by far not visible. These BT45 had been 15,000 km under the "Red Rascal",
and another 3000 km. under the " Blue Engel". But nevertheless, as
others express their concern about the depth of your tire profile, it is
time to look for a another tire.
Teus Heufkens, from Motors And More in Heteren had a good offer. The same type what now was arond the rim, a Brigdestone BT45. We were soon in agreement about the price, and appointment was made for the next Thursday afternoon. | |
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After a chat with coffee I went first to admire a very large and very
complete Goldwing 1500 SE, which was equiped with all the extra's one
can imagine. Sitting on it was not such a good idea, because I hurt my
leg stretching over the saddle. No, the seat was pleasant, but I think
my own, much smaller CX is a better fit for me.
But now it was time for placing the new tire, which fortunatly, was
arrived just in time. Rapidly a photograph was made of the old and new tire
beside each other. And after that, for the second time since I was the
owner this CX, the motorcycle on the bridge for a new front tire.
|  ... old and new ... |
 ... on the bridge ... |
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The CX500 was tightly strapped on the bridge, and the brake claws
were detached. The front axle went out, and the wheel dropped out.
Using an ingenious machine the tire was detached of the rim,
where upon tire and rim were restrained onto the machine. Teus
checked the turn direction on the tire: "left", he said. Afterwards
tire and rim were separated and the new tire placed on the rim.
What was the turn direction? Correct: it was left. The tire was placed
onto the rim anf filled with air. And that was that.
It was a big impovement from that old tire. But wasreally necessary to put
on a new one? Yes, because at closer inspection it appeared that there was a smal
tear in the old tire. And that is something no one wants riding at 120km/h ...
Time to balance the wheel. With the old tire there was a considerable counterweight placed at the valve. But whatever he tried, Teus did not succeed for the wheel to balance. Whereas the wheel turned around in the balancer were could clear see that there a slight wobble in the rim. That was not so good, of course, and now was the question how to solve this problem. The wobble was at the most a millimeter or two. But there was no other CX wheel available, therefore my suggestion was to build in and than I had to get home. So it was done. But Teaus doesn't like to do jobs not entirely perfectly, but we build the wheel back on the CX. Afterwards a last control. And what did we see: The arrow with the turn direction on the tire was pointing thje wrong way, the tire was fitted the wrong way around. Had we then this way been mistaken ourselves? No, because the photograph of the old and new tires together showed clearly that the grooves pattern was reversed there. That meant two things: The previous fitter had wrongly assembled the tire, and the wheel had to be removed again to mount the tire the right way. | |
 ... removed again ... | |
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In a less than a half hour we had removed the wheel, and Teus reversed
the tire, had neatly balanced it, and the wheel was tidy refitted. Now,
with the tire in the right direction, the balancing was nearly
automatically, with a small counterweight opposed to the valve.
And now my "Red Rascal" had a neat front tire again. The small twist in the wheel was nearly seen, but perhaps I must star a search for a perfect, 'wobble free', front wheel. And if I have aquired that then I must go back again to 'Motors and More' and let them place the tire on the twist-free wheel. Teus said : "I like to do a job good". That I knew, however, I had expected also nothing else ...... | |
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