Wednesday, February 1, 2012

I Broke My Mojo

new tires mounted

Installing my new tires proved to be a bit more adventure than I expected when I began. I thought it was going to be a nice Saturday afternoon project, but it turned into a multi-day affair.

Previously, I mentioned the fun I had with the caliper. Now it was time to start removing the Duros, so I could put on the new K37 snowtex. I had brought the tires into the house to let them warm up. Fortunately, our basement still isn’t finished from the disaster last summer, so I had a nice warm place to work.

The first thing I did wrong was start replacing tires without having new tubes. I like to replace the tubes in the Ural every year. The valve stem rusts. I’m also not fond of flat tires in the snow. I also replace the rim strips each year to protect the tubes from puncture.

The first tire went smoothly. Balancing took a bit longer since I was out of practice, but it went fine. The second tire…. not so good. It went on easy enough, but wouldn’t hold air. My first pinch flat. Ever.

The flat reminded me why I have new tubes around. Don’t have it, definitely need it. gah. A trip to the store for new tubes. MSR HD 110/90-19 TR6 tubes. I’ve used these tubes before.

new tubes

The store robbed me. I last paid $16. They charged $27 + tax. The price for my lack of planning.

New tubes in hand, the second tire went on perfectly. The third and final tire decided to be difficult. Rust had built up inside forming a nice lip for the tire bead of hop over. It wasn’t tall, but it added enough friction to make it very difficult to remove. Tire lube didn’t seem to help either.

In the end, I broke the tip off my mojo lever by using it with too much force. It was a stupid mistake, but I needed more leverage to get the tire off. I usually don’t curse when things go wrong like this, but this time I made an exception. I was really annoyed with myself for being so dumb.

Time for another break! (sorry, couldn’t resist!)

broken mojo

I eventually removed the old Duro with the help of two larger levers. There was a lot of corrosion on the inside of the rim. I put a metal wire brush on the dremel and cleaned it right up. It is now smooth and shiny again.

Duro vs K37

All three tires mounted, balanced, and back on the Ural. Just a fluid change and a brake bleeding await. What else could go wrong?!

 

PS: I have an email into the guy who makes the levers. I hope I can just buy a new end. I really love my mojo lever. It makes changing tires, especially tubeless sport tires, very easy.

12 comments:

  1. What started out as a simple, routine task turned into a chore. I have yet to try changing the tires on my airhead. The tire shop had so much trouble mounting the K60's that I'm not sure I want to try just as an exercise.

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    1. funny how things turn out huh? :) Some tires are worse than others along with some wheels.

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  2. Poor Chris! Breaking your mojo... never a good thing.

    Thanks for reminding me why I bring my bike to the shop instead of doing it myself... ;-)

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    1. lol. I can't really afford to take all my stuff to a shop. I do it when I'm lazy or really can't handle it. Tires are generally easy, and save a bunch. The local guys usually charge $50 a tire. The tools to do it myself are $300. Adds up quick with as much as I ride. I like the freedom to do the work when I want. I also like how I feel after I'm finished and everything works. :)

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    2. Sounds like I should bring my bikes to your place next time... no wait, just too darn far away.

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    3. lol. I noticed you don't have an email link on your profile. Can you send me an email?

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  3. Chris, did you hit a gypsy with your scooter or something?

    Hope things get really easy for you soon~

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    1. ROFL. awesome comment. nope, I don't recall hitting a gypsy with my scooter or anything else. :)

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  4. Dang Chris, you managed to break the tip off a mojo lever?! I believe you can get just the tip....or I could be confusing it with another candidate for purchase in my future, the no-scufflever which is very similar to the mojo lever.

    dom


    Redleg's Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

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    1. yes, I broke it. very annoyed with myself for it too. I emailed the guy who makes the mojolever about getting a new tip. he hasn't responded yet. I REALLY like my mojolever and mojoblocks. Makes life really easy.

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  5. Did the guy respond re being able to send you just the tip? Am considering a mojo lever but if repairing it is difficult, may go with the competitos instead.

    Dom

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    1. He just responded last night. He is going to send me a new tip and bolt free of charge. He said his spam filter caught my email and that is why it took him 3 weeks to write back. He also said he fixed his filter.

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