05 1200RT Tire Change Procedure

[SAMSAR]

Looking for some quick feedback...

 

Want to recheck balance on a front tire that was replaced at the dealer. Never removed tire before on a 1200RT only done changes on Oilheads.

 

Questions...

 

1. How to remove the front fender so the tire can be removed

2. How to remove the axle. Center seems to fit with Toolkit part but is extremely tight and I don't want to break anything trying to loosen it.

 

Thoughts? or a place where I can get tire change procedures?

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

 

 

[ScottM]

Paul,

There is a set screw, I think 6mm that is on the bottom of the right (?) fork leg. The axle is then removed with a 22mm hex head. I welded 2 22mm nuts to cut off 3/8' socket to make the 22mm hex head.

Scott

[bobbybob]

For the fender, just the front (painted) section is removed. First remove the obvious 2 screws on each underside of the front of the fender. There is still a plastic catch holding it on under the fender--you can either tilt fender slightly upwards and pull forward to release it (pull forward hard). If it's stubborn, stick a long flat-blade screwdriver tip underneath the center of the fender until it slides up against the rear part of the fender, then pry the end down a little to release the tab--while pulling fender forward. You can jerk it hard--won't break anything.

[Limecreek]

Before you get too far along....you'll need to raise the front with a wheel stand, and a front wheel stand requires a rear stand or you run the risk of the bike falling over.

 

 

Take a peek at your owners manual--lots of good stuff in there.

[Fightingpiper]

http://www.jimvonbaden.com/Tire_Change.html

 

scroll down to the bottom for the front tire...

[RoyTemple]

Hi Paul,

 

I should have had my owner's manual with me but I don't think we had the correct tool anyway (see page 106). I see Jim VonBaden made his own. Relevant Manual pages here including the optional tool kit I have which does not contain the correct tool!

 

 

Roy

[NJRTrider]

A simple tool for the 22mm hex axle socket is the back end of either a 3/4" or 13/16" spark plug socket. First pull out the rubber insert of the sparkplug socket, plug the hex end of the spark plug socket into the 22mm axle socket, then use a 6" 3/8 extension fitted into the front end of the spark plug socket and push it all the way to the back of the socket until it fits into the 3/8" square hole. No welding or cutting required.

 

Note -make sure the spark plug socket allows you to insert the 3/8" extension bar in backwards - some spark plug sockets have an internal ridge that prevents this.

 

Sorry I don't have any pictures but it works very nicely and you can buy a cheap one and throw it in your tool bag.

[SAMSAR]

I really like the Spark Plug Socket idea. Talk about thinking out of the box!