Got grip

Well, I hope so after all the effort!

Today was tyre changing day on the Tenere - after slithering around all over the place the other day it was time to ditch the Tourances and slap on more familiar (and grippy) E-07's.

First up was the front.

Front wheel removal was a piece of cake

After the wheel was off it was time to grapple with tyres.  Plenty of soapy water and my bead braking axe soon had the old tyre off and then it was time to put the new rubber on.

Lots more soapy water and plenty of grunting, hammering and levering eventually got the tyre on.

Next came main event - the other end.  Funnily enough, I'd never taken the rear wheel off so this was a learning exercise.  It turned out to be pretty easy although would have been easier if the cush drive hadn't decided to fall out and reduce the clearance for removing the wheel.

No chain to get in the way eh - just this thing.

Once again the mighty bead braking axe was pressed into service and the tyre came off pretty easily.  Getting the new one on was a bit trickier.  One side went over the rim easily but at about 75%  on I struck difficulties.  Lots of soapy water, hammering and levering was put in practice but it wasn't until Mark popped in and was able to loan me those extra arms that I don't have that I finally got the sod on.  Mark did agree that it was a little tricky...

With Mark there the wheel install also went fairly easily although I was a little worried about the clearance you see between the swingarm and the washer in the below picture but it is apparently sweet as - I should have taken a before picture...

So, that's that done and I reckon for the last time in my shed...although I do have a set of PR4's laying around that need to find a home...