Changing rear tire

[Charlie1Horse]

I'm trying to find out if I back my 2002 Goldwing up onto a 1.5" thick block of plywood and another piece for the center stand. put it on the center stand, can I get the rear tire out from under the right side. I can take the plywood out from under the tire to have a little more clearance under the rear. I have a trailer hitch that is in the way of rolling the tire out of the rear and I really don't want to lay the bike over. I can even let the air out of the front tire for a little more room. The only thing I can find here or on youtube shows no trailer hitch so, I need to find just how high I need to raise it Thanks for any assistance.
Russell

[Andy Cote]

I don't think you can. I usually do the "nap" method but one day I thought I would use my PitBull lift (I have the hitch and the AMP so out the back was not my choice either). I had to go all the way up with the Pitbull. That's a whole lot more than a 2x4. No way it would wiggle sideways. You need to go high enough to clear the mufflers with the tire straight up and down.

Sorry.

BTW, I think coming out the left side would have move room than going out the right.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Many trailer hitches are made where the center part unbolts so that the rear tire can be removed once the rear fender is off. I know BushTec and Kury makes theirs that way. As far as lifting the back end high enough, you'd probably have to lift it maybe 15+ inches. If you keep the front tire straight, you can try wenching it up from the rafters.

[Charlie1Horse]

I meant to say left side. I ended up removing the passenger foot boards, rear crash guards, and frame covers. Then I removed the rear center fender and removed the entire hitch receiver which goes all the way up to the front of the rear sub frame. This hitch receiver does not come apart at the back so, I had to remove the entire thing. Lug nuts were over torqued so they were hard to break loose without an impact wrench. Now torqued at the proper 80 ft/lbs. Got it rolled out the rear and took it for new tire at Cycle Gear, the only place open here on Mondays. So after over $350.00 I have a new 25,000 plus mile Dunlop on the ground. Took most of the day in mid 40s outside with a pretty good wind. Now I am ready for Patriot Guard Riders mission tomorrow. Thanks for your replies.
Russell
patriotguard.org

[Andy Cote]

Glad you got it done.

[Snowmoer]

Next time just put the bike on it's side resting on the tip over bars. I put moving blankets under the tip over bars so they are not resting on the floor. Easy to get the wheel in and out of the bike. I raise it a couple more inches with the floor jack to get the wheel in easier. Way easier then removing all those parts. It took about a half hour start to finish to replace it. That does not count the tire mounting on the rim.

Just don't do it with a full tank of gas. It will leak out of the fuel fill hole and you will also fill the evap canister with fuel. I do it with a 1/4 tank or less.

If you don't know how to lower or pickup a wing like this, there are plenty of videos on You Tube on how to do it.

[Charlie1Horse]

No, I'm not going to lay it on it's side. I know a lot of people are doing that but not me. If I had a new tire already mounted and balanced, ready to go, maybe I would try it this way and I could change it in about 15 minutes. However, I don't have another rear wheel to do it this way. I would have to lay it down, take the tire off and take it somewhere and wait for them to mount and balance, usually several hours for them to get to it. Then go home and put it back on. All this time the oil is seeping through the piston rings and filling the cylinders with oil. That's not an option for me. As it is I started about 1000 hrs and finished at 1700 hrs. This would have been easier if I hadn't just installed a trailer hitch receiver last month. Now it is done and I am happy with the results. Thanks
Russell

[joeincalif]

Most shops will mount the rear tire on the bike for about $100 labor/. well worth it than going thru all that trouble

[Charlie1Horse]

Why pay someone $100.00 when I can do it myself and just pay $25.00 to have it mounted and balanced. I am retired so, I have the time and knowledge and plenty of tools to do it but I was just interested in how high I have to raise this "New To Me" GL1800 to change the tire without having to pull the entire hitch receiver off again. The 1800s have lug nuts like a car instead of an axle bolt like my GL1500. And there is quite a lot of room on the left side of the tire. All done and I'm happy now.
Russell

[wingpilot08]

I have used a lift (not a table) to raise my 2008 up to remove the rear tire previously and I believe that it was raised about 8-10 inches off the ground (I also have a receiver hitch). I made sure to properly secure the bike to the lift because you do need to wiggle the tire a bit to get it off and back on. It's best to loosen the lug nuts before raising the bike and tighten, torque the lug nuts when back on the ground. I now use the layover method since it is MUCH easier to do the tire change process!

[Wingsconsin]

Use the $100 you saved and buy a bike lift -
Once it's up (learn how to do it safely) you can drop the wheel out the bottom easy -
Lifting it up the 15" is another story - but if you are fit enough it can be managed -
My 2002 has no hitch so I remove the rear panel and roll it out - But my son's 2003 has a hitch so we do it this way .

[pidjones]

You can buy a spare wheel and tire fairly easy. I think mine came from a trike builder. Bartman posted this video up for me before I had a Youtube channel.


   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

[Terry D]

I have done it both ways. Much easier to lay the bike over. And especially easier if experimenting with a CT. Which I also have done. I have a brand new Yokohama CT in the garage I was going to try. But, I was afraid that the tread being flat across and not rounded like my favorite Dunlops or Bridgestones, that the tread would rub on the inner plastic fender near the top and sides. So, I wasted $97 for the tire that I'm sure I won't ever use.

[pidjones]

I have done it both ways. Much easier to lay the bike over. And especially easier if experimenting with a CT. Which I also have done. I have a brand new Yokohama CT in the garage I was going to try. But, I was afraid that the tread being flat across and not rounded like my favorite Dunlops or Bridgestones, that the tread would rub on the inner plastic fender near the top and sides. So, I wasted $97 for the tire that I'm sure I won't ever use.

You should go ahead and try it. I loved the car tires that I ran on my '06. Much more sure-footed in the wet, and never a rub. Lowering tire pressure to ~5 psi made them easier to squeeze in, but once bolted up never a rub, one or two-up.

[favoredone]

Just viewed an old video on the you tube channel re. car tires on the rear.
When I bought my 2008 GL1800, it already had a Michelin car tire on the rear.
I never experienced ANY "rise" when cornering. There was however far more grip, and the thing I REALLY noticed, is the difference it made in ride and control on these Texas roads that they have stripped the pavement for resurface, and leave the squiggly lines and roughness in the remaining texture. WHAT AN AMAZING DIFFERENCE, not feeling like your going to crash or get thrown in a direction other than straight ahead!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND CAR TIRE FOR REAR BECUASE OF THESE 2 FACTORS!!!!!