Crickets...

[hootmon]

Ok.. IF nobody else will post, then I'll post...
So..
My Rear Tire is coming to the end of it's useful life... Michelin Commander II - Good tire, sucks when it's wet...
Most of you know, (but for those who don't, I'll summarize just a little)
I've had most every rear tire that's available on my Magnas..
I've had Dunlop, Avon, Metzeler, Michelin as well as a couple different Car tires..
I am choosing to stay away from car tires on the Magna (my favorite tires!) because of a post I read that you are not suppose to put car tires on 15" Motorcycle rims.
This is because of the rim diameter difference between car rims and Bike Rims. Bike rims are a bit larger (I've evidenced this with needing 115 PSI to get the tire to seat).
I was going to go with a Metzeler again (my favorite among M/C tires), then I heard about Perelli Night Dragon tires.. They have one that will fit. I talked to my local mechanic and he thinks it will be a good choice for the type of riding I do.. SO that's the direction I'm going with.. I believe I'll get a few less miles out of the tire than with the Metzeler, but we shall see (I haven't bought one yet, but will)..

I've been wanting to try the EBC Sintered rear brake shoe.. I think the rear Magna brake sucks and the Sintered front brake helped, so I thought while I had the rear tire off, I might as well get this done... I have already bought this.. See picture below

well I was lubing up my chain, and it is loose, I cleaned off the chain indicator, and it's time for a chain.. SO.. Might as well do this at the same time..

Man this is getting expensive! (but cheap next to owning some other brand bikes I know)..
I've put almost 30K miles on my new Magna and I guess it's time to invest a little in Maintenance, since it is nearly my daily rider..
(Terry is going to help me out with the chain purchase, so I'll save a few buck on this..)

So.. Approx #'s
      $150 for a rear tire
      $ 50 for rear brake shoes
      $120 for a new chain

I was going to take the rim off and take it down to the mechanic to have the tire swapped and do the brake job myself to save $$$
I refuse to do the chain myself.. I don't have the right tools, and this seems to be a key part on a motorcycle, so I have a professional install my chains..
So I might as well just take the bike down and have my mechanic do all three.

So, it looks like my local mechanic is going to make a few shekels on me this go round..  $300 in parts, probably $200 in labor... That's probably the most I've spent on a Magna all in one shot, ever... But it needs to be done..

Now you wish you posted more, don't you???

[TLRam1]

I wish I had the time to post a whole lot more, work on my bikes and ride all my bikes.

I like the tread on those shoes, tell us how they perform.

So you are getting this ready for MOOTMag coming up, I need to through on a tire myself.

I hear what you are saying about the raised section of the rim in a MC wheel, supposedly it's there so you don't lose your sidewall structure in the event of a flat from what i have read, would not stop me from putting another one on though.

So you are going to treated like Royalty for once and sip on your latte ay, the mechanic has to eat also. 

[hootmon]

I hear what you are saying about the raised section of the rim in a MC wheel, supposedly it's there so you don't lose your sidewall structure in the event of a flat from what i have read, would not stop me from putting another one on though.

It's not that there is a raised bead on the rim.. All Rims have this.. For some reason there is an actual difference in Diameter between a Car Rim and and Motorcycle Rim..
This difference is greatest in the 15" tire size..
I guess IF you knew someone that made custom rims, you could buy a used Magna Rim and have him shave a bit off and make a rim for Car tires..
The question is, would this weaken the rim? Since I don't know the amount that would have to be removed, I can not answer...

Terry.. I know you check the site pretty much every night.. I see you respond most anytime someone else posts..
I do understand you (and others) are busy.. But I just want to know you all are doing OK..

[lragan]

Compared to mounting the 15 in car tire, changing chains (and sprockets) is a snap!  All that you really need to be careful of is the rear wheel alignment.  Following the method Alan showed me,  I simply count the turns on the alignment nuts and make sure both sides are the same.  I scratch a mark on one of the flats on each nut to facilitate this.

[hootmon]

Compared to mounting the 15 in car tire, changing chains (and sprockets) is a snap!  All that you really need to be careful of is the rear wheel alignment.  Following the method Alan showed me,  I simply count the turns on the alignment nuts and make sure both sides are the same.  I scratch a mark on one of the flats on each nut to facilitate this.

My issues are:
1)Getting the old chain apart
2) Riveting of the Master Link.. I don't prefer Clip style as they can come loose.
I know I could do it.. But it needs to be done so seldom, that I'll pay to have it done by someone that has done it dozens of times..
The labor should be 2 hours tops..

But thanx for the responses and the encouragement..

As for alignment.. I start with an assumption..
I push the axle fully forward (and assume that the wheel is perpendicular to the bike.
I then, by hand, turn the adjusting screws until they just touch and start pushing the axle back..
With both bolts at this point, I turn the nuts on complete turn each, then another until the chain starts getting tight..
Then 1/2 turn, until the chain is where I want it adjusted..
I've never had an issue with this method, I've never had any odd wear on my sprockets..

Since the Mechanic will be installing the chain, I'm trusting he knows how to align the chain and sprockets..
From there, I will adjust the nuts, 1/2 turn at a time to tighten the chain in the future...

[TLRam1]

Terry.. I know you check the site pretty much every night.. I see you respond most anytime someone else posts..
I do understand you (and others) are busy.. But I just want to know you all are doing OK..

Some reason when I read this I thought Lawrence wrote it and I was trying to figure out what Lawrence was saying all day, thought Lawrence was going off the deep end.......Now I know You wrote this, it makes sense.

[Jerry G Turner]

If you pour some sea foam on the chain it will change itself. Maybe.

[hootmon]

If you pour some sea foam on the chain it will change itself. Maybe.

I'd be happy if it just shrank a little..

[TLRam1]

If you pour some sea foam on the chain it will change itself. Maybe.

If you had Chuck Norris, you wouldn't need a chain breaker.