Easy rear tire removal for 86 and up

[Great White]

I've recently modified my bike to make rear tire removal less painful. It can be done on the centre stand and without removing the front wheel.

 

My bike is pretty stripped right now, but good enough for you to get the idea.

 

I'm also waiting for some penetrating fluid to do its thing so I figured I'd make this post while wasting the time away.

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/OverByteSales/ImpaitentlyWaitingTappingFootWatchingClock.gif

 

First, remove the rear bumper, reflector and license plate holder:

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/8346DC50-5691-4232-824E-A360D4E489E7_zpswlqmu6hp.jpg

 

With the plate holder removed, you can see the 10mm bolt I installed on the rh side of the rack. This is the secret to being able to just roll the rear tire out and where you will need to modify the racks:

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/B21E5DAA-7E15-44F8-B4A9-1914E34FF1B1_zpsfwngo9p3.jpg

 

Take out the 3 bolt in the rack and remove the modified center bar:

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/776E2EA4-707A-4874-8F37-3DEF095106E8_zpsmkg4lwdq.jpg

 

All it is is a piece of round stock turned to fit the ID of the rack tubing. It's plug welded on one end and the other is drilled and tapped for the 10 mm bolt.

 

Now you need clearance to remove the axle. Normally you'd be pulling at least the RH muffler, but there's another way to do it.

 

You have to reverse the two linkage bolts at the swingarm in order to get them out without removing the mufflers. Unfortunately, you have to remove the mufflers to do this. Yamaha installed them with the bolt heads out and there's no clearance to pull them with the mufflers in place. But it's a one time removal. You won't have to remove them again once the bolts are reversed as they will pull out if installed from the wheel side.

 

So, remove the 2 shock linkage bolts:

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/594703D2-4A65-489F-BADB-6C969CAA7D1E_zps3irjnuqd.jpg

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/A55EE711-FF7A-402D-910F-050A0F51FC01_zpsam4s6vs4.jpg

 

The swingarm will drop low enough to clear the mufflers ( even the stock ones) and you can remove the axle:

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/A4BEA56F-C477-411B-B651-ADFCA5FF952F_zpsj8qwp9fv.jpg[

 

And just roll out the wheel after pulling it out of the differential:

 

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/justonepict/1A12BE36-B0D2-4C32-A23A-30D094431F5B_zps5pce9irb.jpg

 

Easy peasy!

 

Now that's not a perfect guide on removing the tire and the modifications needed to do it this way. Things like the brake caliper also need to be dealt with, you may have to ull the rear part of the inner fender and my bike is in a serious tear down and modification stage so it's not the perfect example. But you get the idea if you want to modify your bike to be able to remove the tire the same way.

 

Coles notes: make the center bar on the racks removable and reverse the two swingarm bolts. Then there's no muffler removal or side boxes the need to be removed. Just pull the bumper, reflector and license plate holder and you're good to go.

 

Edited November 21, 2015 by Great White

[KISA]

Interestingly. It is simpler to me to remove a front wheel)

Edited November 23, 2015 by KISA

[syscrusher]

I appreciate it. I'll look more closely at doing this when I have to replace my tire fairly soon. I have to say I'm not looking forward to it.

[dna9656]

Of course if you have a Harbor Freight M/C lift you can do this without removing the fender or bumper. The lift has a removable trap door on it allowing the tire to fall out (a controlled falling; controlled in some way by you; I use a rope over the the side rails behind the saddle bags) under the rack. It takes some brawn to get it out or (back) in there but that's how I do it.

Edited December 17, 2015 by dna9656