Pardon my ignorance, but I'm still on the learning curve when it comes to HD maintenance! My bike is a 1998 FLHTC Electra Glide Classic. I'd like to remove both wheels, re-pack bearings, and have cycle shop mount/balance new tires. I have the HD service manual and have read the procedures. But I still have some rookie questions:
1) I have a bottle jack lift called MEGA 1500:
http://www.cal-products.com/mega1500.html
I usually center the lifting surfaces of the lift under my scoot so that it is balanced when I jack it up. My question is if I do that, and then remove one of the wheels, will the bike be off balance and tipsy? (I really don't have a good ideal of how heavy the wheels are).
2) I read one of your posts in the Dyna Tech section, where you described motorcycle wheel balancers large enough to balance with rotors and drivepulley (rear wheel) still installed on wheels. This is what you would want if you were NOT servicing the wheel bearings, right?
In other words, my question is: I have to remove the brake discs (front) and brake disc/belt sprocket (rear) from the wheels in order to remove the bearings for cleaning/grease re-packing, right? If so, it sounds like I should re-pack the bearings first, fully re-assemble the wheels including re-installing brake discs on front and disc/rear sprocket on rear, THEN bring the wheels to cycle shop for new tire mounting/balancing. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong! I've never done this before
3) You also mentioned in your post about aligning the dot on the tire with the valve stem. I looked on the tires that are on my bike now but saw no dot. What does this dot signify and why is this important? My new tires are the Dunlop D402 HD tires series blackwalls.
4) Is there a date code on these tires showing date of manufacture? Any trick to reading it?
Thanks so much HIPPO. I really am eager to learn how to do this stuff myself. And I'm relatively young (31 years old), so just think how much money you will be helping me save in HD labor costs over my Harley riding lifetime
I have a dream of ridin' out west through your neck of the woods, and when I do I'll have to buy you a KEG of your favorite beer for all the great advice you give.
- OB99
1) I have a bottle jack lift called MEGA 1500:
http://www.cal-products.com/mega1500.html
I usually center the lifting surfaces of the lift under my scoot so that it is balanced when I jack it up. My question is if I do that, and then remove one of the wheels, will the bike be off balance and tipsy? (I really don't have a good ideal of how heavy the wheels are).
2) I read one of your posts in the Dyna Tech section, where you described motorcycle wheel balancers large enough to balance with rotors and drivepulley (rear wheel) still installed on wheels. This is what you would want if you were NOT servicing the wheel bearings, right?
In other words, my question is: I have to remove the brake discs (front) and brake disc/belt sprocket (rear) from the wheels in order to remove the bearings for cleaning/grease re-packing, right? If so, it sounds like I should re-pack the bearings first, fully re-assemble the wheels including re-installing brake discs on front and disc/rear sprocket on rear, THEN bring the wheels to cycle shop for new tire mounting/balancing. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong! I've never done this before
3) You also mentioned in your post about aligning the dot on the tire with the valve stem. I looked on the tires that are on my bike now but saw no dot. What does this dot signify and why is this important? My new tires are the Dunlop D402 HD tires series blackwalls.
4) Is there a date code on these tires showing date of manufacture? Any trick to reading it?
Thanks so much HIPPO. I really am eager to learn how to do this stuff myself. And I'm relatively young (31 years old), so just think how much money you will be helping me save in HD labor costs over my Harley riding lifetime
- OB99