Modern Vespa

Today I have replaced the 20 year old tires on my recently purchased 2006 GTS250ie

The old tires looked fine, but fresh rubber makes so much sense.
I opted for a 110/90-12 City Grip on the front in an effort to add rideability on our mostly dirt roads. After the fight breaking the bead wihn replacing the rear tire, I told myself "there has to be a better way!"

And there IS!

The Front tire/wheel assembly was removed from the scooter, and the schrader valve core was removed.
a two foot length of 5/16-3/8" fuel line was pulled from the misc. hose bin. One end was pressed onto the valve stem, the OTHER END WAS PUT ONTO THE INLET OF MY VACCUM PUMP! It took less than 3 seconds of pump run time before the gratifying POP! was heard as the bead slipped free of the wheel groove.

What a treat!

Now I know everyone is not going to have an oil sealed rotory vaccum pump available, but I would suspect a shop vac might do the job, though adapting hose sizes would be an issue.

Any way, The new tire is on, I went for an extended ride on area dirt roads, wood land trails , and paved secondary roadways. Speeds up to 70mph indicated. The combination of the Michelin XZX 145/70R12 (car tire) and the 110/90 -12 streetsmart handles like a dream! It steers well off pave, and is very neutral in 45-50 mph paved bends and corners.

There is some tendency to "stand up" at the 10-15 mph range, but nothing to cause concern.

I'm a happy camper, and will NEVER break down a tire with presses, clamps and brute force again!
Well, at least not in my own shop.

ps, I needed a third hand to lever the first bead of the new tire onto the rim and called in my wonderful wife. And I had to use a ratchet strap to aid bead sealing during the initial air fill.

Her comment was that it is a good thing that new tires are going on now, as in a few years into the future, I won't be able to!. Growing old isn't a problem, it's the side effects!

Cheers

if you really want a tire challenge , try doing a 6" front tire from a riding lawn mower that has been on for 15 yrs. that sir is a tough bead to break. the bead to the inner rim is about 2" long that the tire still has to slide down to get the bead to pop off. Now doing the other side is ever a bit harder. Tire rubber is stiff as hell as there is no give to them anymore.

Did 2 of those today. IT SUCKED, but was able to beat that dam tire and rim.

I've done those, bent a rim!

My bet is that vacuum will do it without issue.

I use a bench vise for the second bead. (pad the rim, squeeze the tire. Works well, but often needs three hands!

well I did it with some bar clamps 3 of them to squeeze the side well down , about a 1/2 inch on just a 1/3 of the tire. added a block of wood and a 3lb hammer to help coax it further to the middle. used plenty of spray tire lube to keep the bead somewhat slick. then pressed with a piece of round stock and my measly 190lb weight pushing down in small increments to finally get t=it to pop to the center. then once I bead lubed the tire itself it made it much better to pop back over top of the rim.

I have a no-mar tire machine and the bead breaker on that would not budge the tire in to the center it was stuck so hard.

great suggestion on the bench vise don't think its tall enough for the tall mower tires though.

If I have it correctly, The pictures of your set up are posted "somewhere". I did enjoy your creativity!

But..

I have lacerations on both lower legs just from the irons being flipped out during the first go around. I can't imagine the cuts, bruises and scars I could sport if I tried negotiating all those other options

My Rabaconda works a treat on Vespa wheels/tires.

I looked at the cost for those units, and the storage space ..

Nah, those are too much for too little

My son-in-law picked up a 2001 Sportster recently that had the original front tire on it. We removed the front wheel easily enough but the tire was hard as stone. I knew it would be extremely difficult to break the bead and remove the tire. We put in in the back of the truck and went to the local Cycle Gear store. Buying the replacement tire from them was no more expensive than anywhere else and they removed, mounted and balanced the tire for $25. I have replaced countless tires in my life on my own, but I'm glad we let Cycle Gear have at this one. Even with the hydraulic machine they use, the tech said it was one of the hardest to remove that he ever worked on. No sore back for this one!

I had machine for a while when I was replacing motorcycle tires working out of my garage and it sure came in handy. It paid for itself many times over and I actually broke even on it when I sold it over a year ago. I only work on my own stuff and friends bikes now and mainly in a supervisory position as I don't need any more back surgeries - 3 is enough!

There are three Cycle Gear stores near my location. Each over a two hours drive ONE WAY!.

I guess that option is a last resort. But as the Vacuum pump works so well, and is already in the shop....

well, just sharing...

storage space? it's all in a bag that's about 2 cubic feet max.....if that's going to exceed the limits of available storage space for you, i'd suggest moving to a larger abode.

You are right, the tool is just too expensive for the amount I would use it...
Cheap bastid that I am...

That's sadly often the case with great tools I'd love to own. OK, $20 for a one-off use that saves you $100 is fine. $400 for a one-off tool that can be emulated (admittedly with some effort) with other tools already owned seems wrong to those of us who are inherently thrifty. Must be due to being brought up in the UK soon after WWII.

True but when I've had to do 4 tires one day and then 2 more the next, I am very glad I bought the Rabaconda. So far since I bought it, I've done about 10 tires.
Definitely saving this old man's back and knees!

Odd that moving house would be an acceptable option to a tire change...

seems excessive

I quite bending over years ago.

Scooter or motorbike, they go on a work table! Even if just a scrap bit of plywood on top of saw horses.

An old gate hinge, scrap of 2x4 and 3 tire spoons. I do everything from 10" scooter tires to 15" car tires this way. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Lh1LzAicDCw

nice homemade bead breaker , I like the 3 different settings for the chisel on the board.

OH! I have FOUR tire spoons AND plastic rim protectors!



The tool I'm sold on at present looks like this

https://www.robinair.com/products/6-cfm-vacuum-pump

do you think a 3 cfm would preform as well as the 6 , there is a big cost difference.

I still have my old bead breaker set up like this, taken apart for now, but it uses an eight foot bar lever for those difficult tires and ease of use. I will go on record as saying the rig like the Rabaconda is worth every penny. If it had been around 20 years ago, I would have bought it in a heartbeat. $800 is nothing if it saves your back (surgeries are $$$). Also I changed a few to a dozen tires on a weekend.

oh so you lied then. gotcha.

Now the downside of owning a Rabaconda. Once the local riders discover you own one, you will get many visitors (wanted or not) hanging around your garage. If you have a beer cooler in the garage as well (I don't), they will come from all over and you will never get rid of them.

I worked in the IC (mostly NSA with some 'branching out' now and again) for the last 16 years of my career. The first 5 were working with command/control of nuclear missile launch facilities.

The locals won't be finding out I have shit.

I do.

I want to try this with the brake bleeder hand vacuum pump.
Just to see how "minimalist" one can get.

Put it in a vice or is that vise??

For my big bikes, 18" and 21" I use a shovel.
Lay the wheel flat in the ground or on 2 4by4's.
Shovel on the tire near the rim, climb on it and give it s small jump like you would in solid ground.
Works een levert time.

m/c and scooter tires I have no issues, but those dam small 6" lawn mower tires that have been on for 15 years, they are a bitch to break.
I help our older folks in the area for little stuff and cant see them spending huge money to repair shops and pick up and delivery charges for repairing tires on their riding lawn mowers. Have about 10 very senior folks I help out.

Yes, the vise with a pad against the metal rim for the second bead.

It works for me.

I have seen a video online with several ADV riders out in the boonies and one rider got a flat on a tubed tire. They got the wheel off the affected bike and broke the bead using the side stand of another bike. I thought that was pretty clever.

I am seriously considering purchasing a Rabaconda. I'm fortunate to have space to store it when its broken down and I don't mind helping my local club mates. I recently changed the rear tire on an old Honda Elite 250 for a friend using spoons and it was a total PITA 10" wheel; this will make it easier - although the Rabaconda only goes down to 12".