Tyres, Punctures, Bead Breakers, & Things.
Got a nail in the rear Tourance of my 1150 GS the other day, tried to mend it with my Stop & Go kit, but I couldn’t find the Reamer so used a small round file, and of course when I blew the tyre up, it leaked. So got out the trusty BMW kit, but the glue had been used, and what was left, didn’t work, still air leaking out of the tyre, so tried the Stop & Go again, but air still leaking out. Went into the garage to hunt under the gear on the shelf for the wigglies that I’d bought on EBay, & Found the BestRest Bead Breaker that I’d bought from America the year before. Hey I know it’s expensive, I know I haven’t used it, and had forgotten I had it, but it’s a MUST HAVE GADGET.
Having seen the posts about bead breakers on the site I thought I’d at least have a look at it while it was out, and as I looked at the Instructions I realised that it was a complete kit for changing a tyre. As this began to sink in a Cunning Plan began to form in my Brain….I’d use it!!!!
So on Easter Monday armed with that confidence that comes from not knowing what you’re doing I set to work…. With my trusty Camera, Knee Pads in my Overalls, and no bruises or blood to be seen anywhere on my hands…………….Yet.
The Beadbreaker & Punctured Tyre
Contents of the Bag.
Ready Asembled.
Ready For Action.
Tyre of the Rim, Finally. I had difficulty getting the first bead off the rim, and finally did it by holding one tyre lever down with my knee, and ' walking' the other two side by side until it popped off. The other bead was just a case of keep trying 'till it popped.
The problem I had with getting the tyre on was not seating the first bead, it was trying to get the second bead on. I couldn't get the tyre to sit in the wheel well, and even putting my knee on the tyre to keep it in the wheel well opposite to where I was working, it still kept on popping out on the opposite side to where I was trying to seat the bead in the rim, as well as coming out of the wheel well.
How I solved it.
The test.
The Tyre fully inflated.
CONCLUSION
If I knew then what I know now would I still have bought it. Probably not.
I mostly travel around Europe, and there are Breakdown Services, and most people who can supply you with a tyre can also fit it.
If I was travelling further afield,,,then yes I would definitely have bought it, because if you damage the wall of a tyre you cannot repair it with a plug, you need to take the tyre off to ' bodge ' it, with perhapse a patch or something else to get you to civilisation. This kit is reasonably small and quite light so will not take up much room,and could possibly get you out of a sticky situation.
Will I use it again...Yes I use at least 2 rears to every front, so to me it's good practice to find out the best way to do the job.I can then get the Tyre Company to fit a new Front and Rear Tyre when they wear out at the same time.
I know that some people will say that I had G Cramps anyway so could have broken the Bead with them, but it was a solution for a problem I had at the time, and I'm sure I'll find a workaround in time, if nobody with more experience doesn't give me a head's up.
One thing I did notice beside the lack of blood on my hands, the lack of black fingernails, or pinched fingers is
Are my Knees Sore...........Oh Yes
Does my Back Ache..........ohhhhhhh Yessssss.
Still a workout at the Gym today plus wonderfull Sauna Time helped no end.
Cheers Ken.
Got a nail in the rear Tourance of my 1150 GS the other day, tried to mend it with my Stop & Go kit, but I couldn’t find the Reamer so used a small round file, and of course when I blew the tyre up, it leaked. So got out the trusty BMW kit, but the glue had been used, and what was left, didn’t work, still air leaking out of the tyre, so tried the Stop & Go again, but air still leaking out. Went into the garage to hunt under the gear on the shelf for the wigglies that I’d bought on EBay, & Found the BestRest Bead Breaker that I’d bought from America the year before. Hey I know it’s expensive, I know I haven’t used it, and had forgotten I had it, but it’s a MUST HAVE GADGET.
Having seen the posts about bead breakers on the site I thought I’d at least have a look at it while it was out, and as I looked at the Instructions I realised that it was a complete kit for changing a tyre. As this began to sink in a Cunning Plan began to form in my Brain….I’d use it!!!!
So on Easter Monday armed with that confidence that comes from not knowing what you’re doing I set to work…. With my trusty Camera, Knee Pads in my Overalls, and no bruises or blood to be seen anywhere on my hands…………….Yet.
The Beadbreaker & Punctured Tyre
Contents of the Bag.
Ready Asembled.
Ready For Action.
Tyre of the Rim, Finally. I had difficulty getting the first bead off the rim, and finally did it by holding one tyre lever down with my knee, and ' walking' the other two side by side until it popped off. The other bead was just a case of keep trying 'till it popped.
The problem I had with getting the tyre on was not seating the first bead, it was trying to get the second bead on. I couldn't get the tyre to sit in the wheel well, and even putting my knee on the tyre to keep it in the wheel well opposite to where I was working, it still kept on popping out on the opposite side to where I was trying to seat the bead in the rim, as well as coming out of the wheel well.
How I solved it.
The test.
The Tyre fully inflated.
CONCLUSION
If I knew then what I know now would I still have bought it. Probably not.
I mostly travel around Europe, and there are Breakdown Services, and most people who can supply you with a tyre can also fit it.
If I was travelling further afield,,,then yes I would definitely have bought it, because if you damage the wall of a tyre you cannot repair it with a plug, you need to take the tyre off to ' bodge ' it, with perhapse a patch or something else to get you to civilisation. This kit is reasonably small and quite light so will not take up much room,and could possibly get you out of a sticky situation.
Will I use it again...Yes I use at least 2 rears to every front, so to me it's good practice to find out the best way to do the job.I can then get the Tyre Company to fit a new Front and Rear Tyre when they wear out at the same time.
I know that some people will say that I had G Cramps anyway so could have broken the Bead with them, but it was a solution for a problem I had at the time, and I'm sure I'll find a workaround in time, if nobody with more experience doesn't give me a head's up.
One thing I did notice beside the lack of blood on my hands, the lack of black fingernails, or pinched fingers is
Are my Knees Sore...........Oh Yes
Does my Back Ache..........ohhhhhhh Yessssss.
Still a workout at the Gym today plus wonderfull Sauna Time helped no end.
Cheers Ken.