Puncture repairs

[Bass]

Following our experiences in Oz and observations here, I have decided to properly equip myself for roadside puncture repair. The kit will include: -

1. Spare tubes
2. Vulcanising solvent
3. Patches
4. Tyre levers
5. Selected hand tools

I will also throw in some emery paper and my Slime air compressor

I seek some assistance however on supporting the bike with one wheel off the ground (no centre stand on a DR). In Oz Jamie discovered that the tomahawk stuffed under the rear linkage jacked the back up nicely but we never devised a means to hold the front up (and never needed it on that trip thankfully).

Has anyone out there come up with a small, portable, lightweight gadget that can be used to support either end of the bike for this purpose?

Obviously we have all seen logs, fenceposts, mounds and other bits of the scenery used, but I'm looking for something that I can toss in the bag and take with me.

[cooneyr]

Re the leg idea I had a length of cam locking tent pole that I could position just under the front of the bash plate (small hole in the plate and locating pin in the top of the pole) that worked but it was pretty wobbly. Doesnt work with the XTZ cause the front end is so damn heavy and the cam lock not strong enough.

Another very interesting product is the small portable bead breaker made by BestRest products in the states. Uses 3 tyre irons as the leavers so you don't have to carry too much more weight. Tempted to fire the welder up one day and have ago at something similar.

Cheers R

[Bass]

Re the leg idea I had a length of cam locking tent pole that I could position just under the front of the bash plate (small hole in the plate and locating pin in the top of the pole) that worked but it was pretty wobbly. Doesnt work with the XTZ cause the front end is so damn heavy and the cam lock not strong enough.

You give me an idea here - the telescoping tent pole might work but with the through-pin and multiple holes rather than the cam lock. I have quite a bit of medium/large bore aluminium tubing lying around the garage from when I used to make tuned pipes for my racing model aircraft.
Thanks for that.

Another very interesting product is the small portable bead breaker made by BestRest products in the states. Uses 3 tyre irons as the leavers so you don't have to carry too much more weight. Tempted to fire the welder up one day and have ago at something similar.

Cheers R

We found that one man standing on the tyre and the other using 2 tyre levers back to back, worked quite well. Not much use on your own but, and breaking the bead is often the most difficult part of the job.

[warewolf]

There's a commercial product available that is like a stout telescoping alloy tent pole. Motomail used to have them. Has a fitting at the end that pivots, you clip it to the bike, it lean/lift the bike and it swings underneath. Works on front and rear.

[cooneyr]

....We found that one man standing on the tyre and the other using 2 tyre levers back to back, worked quite well. Not much use on your own but, and breaking the bead is often the most difficult part of the job.

Yep the DR rear is a bit of a bitch and I'm waiting to see what the desert rear on the XTZ will be like before attempting to make a bead breaker. Side stand of another bike (put the bike onto the side stand with the stand foot on the other bikes tyre) apparently works but never had the opportunity to try it.

Cheers R

[Crisis management]

Interestingly I have found TKC's easy to break off but stiffer sidewall tyres, MT21 pirelli for instance, a real bastard on the DR, I'm not looking forward to trying the KTM as they have a nasty reputation.
Anywho, I was clearing the huge pile of crap in my workshop on the weekend and came across a pair of coil spring clamps (used to lower car suspension in a fairly dubious manner) which consist of a long bolt with two "hooks", one at each end. A quick look shows they may, with a bit of modification fit over a rim to break the bead. These things are cheap ($20 ish), light and easy to use and may be worth a look to see if they will really work as a bead breaker.

Slime air pumps, Bass where did you find yours, I've been looking for one for a while now......

[cooneyr]

...MT21 pirelli for instance, a real bastard on the DR...

Tis one of the reasons I stuck with the D606's - much easier to change on the DR. Interesting comments on the stiffer sidewalls being easier to break the bead on. Maybe there is less flex hence when you jump on the sidewall and it actually does something re pulling the bead off.

G clamps work well instead of the spring compressors but you need one that is big enough which means it probably wont fit in a tail bag easily.

Cheers R

[Bass]

Slime air pumps, Bass where did you find yours, I've been looking for one for a while now......

I brought it in from the States and remarkably cheap it was too - about $35 US. I followed a link given in a thread in the Oz forum on ADV, but have no other record of it. I will see if I can find it. It was in a thread about Repco having them on special over there.


Got it!!!! It was from here.

http://motopumps.com/

Called Slime powersport inflator

The other thing I recall was that it arrived 4 days after me placing the order - excellent response.

[Bass]

Tis one of the reasons I stuck with the D606's - much easier to change on the DR. Interesting comments on the stiffer sidewalls being easier to break the bead on. Maybe there is less flex hence when you jump on the sidewall and it actually does something re pulling the bead off.

Cheers R

Ummm.... I've read it a couple of times now and I know that I am well out into short plank territory, but didn't he say that the stiffer sidewall was HARDER to remove?

[Crisis management]

Ummm.... I've read it a couple of times now and I know that I am well out into short plank territory, but didn't he say that the stiffer sidewall was HARDER to remove?

Yer right, was about to point that out myself. The softer sidewall just caved in and allowed the bead to pop off where the stiffer wall required a greater degree of force.

The spring compressor I was talking about is actually very small, about the size of a tyre lever, see pic 1. My thoughts, admitedtly brief ones, were that with a bit of modification it could be made to hold the rim / tyre on one side and apply pressure to the bead on the other, something like pic2.
I will have a go at modifying it next week and see what happens.

[NordieBoy]

Following our experiences in Oz and observations here, I have decided to properly equip myself for roadside puncture repair. The kit will include: -

1. Spare tubes
2. Vulcanising solvent
3. Patches
4. Tyre levers
5. Selected hand tools

I will also throw in some emery paper and my Slime air compressor

I seek some assistance however on supporting the bike with one wheel off the ground (no centre stand on a DR). In Oz Jamie discovered that the tomahawk stuffed under the rear linkage jacked the back up nicely but we never devised a means to hold the front up (and never needed it on that trip thankfully).

Has anyone out there come up with a small, portable, lightweight gadget that can be used to support either end of the bike for this purpose?

Obviously we have all seen logs, fenceposts, mounds and other bits of the scenery used, but I'm looking for something that I can toss in the bag and take with me.

How about this one...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262648

[cooneyr]

Ummm.... I've read it a couple of times now and I know that I am well out into short plank territory, but didn't he say that the stiffer sidewall was HARDER to remove?

as you were. Doh - not looking good for the Deserts.

Cheers R

[Bass]

How about this one...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262648

Ace - thanks!

[warewolf]

I'm not looking forward to trying the KTM as they have a nasty reputation.

Never heard that before. The 640A and the EXC are neutral, no better or worse than any of the others I've done. Ditto the 9x0 I helped with, I didn't notice any unusual grief.

[Zeph]

I made a side stand jack out of an aluminium expandable walking stick as detailed in the "Adventure Riders". It works a treat. I store it, along with the puncture gear, in a PVC tool tube bolted to the sump guard. I keep a second one in the garage and use it when cleaning and oiling the chain.
Recommend the idea.