Airing up your tires....... [Archive]

wishey1

12-12-2005, 09:41 PM

....well.....I got my 1st oil change the other day......the Service Manager said I only had 27 lbs. of pressure in my tires......I told him that they didn't look that low, and I got a mini lecture about tire pressure........
Today I went to the station to ck. my pressure and it said.....39lbs. on the gauge.....I decide to bring her up a little......put my 50 cents in and.....just could not get the air nozzel on the back tire....another 50 cents and no way can I get the air in there.....I felt like someone was playing a joke on me, but...........did I tell you I was new at this...?

I did a search for tire pressure.....oh boy....you guys are into all this technical stuff......nothing on how to get air in the back tire......

So.....somebody please.......there's a trick to it right...?

Tor

12-12-2005, 09:53 PM

the Service Manager said I only had 27 lbs. of pressure in my tires...... 27 lbs huh???? Go get you a portable 12V air compressor. Comes in handy on trips. The nozzle on those things are easier to get on the stem in the rear too. It slips on easy if you bend the stem just a little ;-). Oh, and did I mention "get an air gauge". Keep it in right fairing pocket. Check pressure often. http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6311

mshihrer

12-12-2005, 10:02 PM

you really do need to check your pressure often. Especially now that it is getting cold. I guess the air contracts when it gets cold, and your pressures will drop. I had my Magna parked for a while, and one day decided to take it for a quick spin. The tires "looked" fine. When I was riding it, I never remembered it being so hard to steer. Took it back home, checked the pressures, only 10 lbs! Both tires! Just from sitting for a month. I check every time before I ride now.

steve3b3

12-12-2005, 10:05 PM

Wishy,

I've had problems putting air into the tire from the pump at gas stations. The one I've tried in the past has an interface to the stem that's in-line with the hose, and I found that there wasn't enough flex in the hose to connect.

I have a compressor and hose at my house, and the air connector is at about a 60 deg. angle to the hose, which allows me to connect and fill.

To measure air pressure or to fill with air, you've still got to search for the "sweet spot" where the tire is in the proper position to connect without losing air. For me, the stem is positoned at about a 7:00 to 9:00 o-clock position when I'm looking at the rear tire from the right side of the bike.

Steve:04biker:

dond

12-12-2005, 10:23 PM

Wishy, bike on centerSTand, remove left bag. Rotate wheel 'til STem is amoST at the bottom. Notice the round hole in the hub and how it lines up with the oblong hole betwen the spokes. Feed that STraight hose right down through the round hole. into the oblong hole and onto the STem.
If you have trouble with the front pass the hose through the hole in the rotor carrier.

SpEd

12-13-2005, 06:36 AM

SpEd

12-13-2005, 06:47 AM

Something like this. (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=223844-45003-L14PKL&lpage=none) Portable, so you can take it into the drive and air the whole family's tires

Littlejohn64

12-13-2005, 07:31 AM

I did the feed the hose through the disc thing last Sunday. It worked really well. I'm considering a portable compressor with a tank on it. Lowe's and Home Depot have them for around $100 or so, and you can put the little round inflator head on the hose, allowing you not to have to string the nozzel through the disk.

Plus, you can do this at home, and not on the cement when its below 30 degrees. That makes it a little more attractive. LOL
Howard,
I just bought a portable Campbell Hausfield (sp) from Walmart for $10. It works fine on the bike, and stuffs away into the saddlebag to take with you. Not real high volume, so dont plan on it workin good on a car, but works fine on the bike, and I just plugged it into my power receptacle for the GPS.

SpEd

12-13-2005, 08:06 AM

I'd like to check it out next time we ride. By the way, what days are you going to be off over the next couple weeks. I'm thinking a mid week ride might be nice, especially if the weather cooperates.

Blue STreak

12-13-2005, 08:26 AM

If all you want a compressor for is to inflate tires, this works well, and is a lot smaller and cheaper than a regular compressor:

http://tinyurl.com/9j7se

It's AC powered, so you can't use it on the road, but it won't kill your battery, either.

tccox

12-13-2005, 09:20 AM

And I believe its pretty inportant that pressures be checked with tyre cold. If you're riding it to the station to check you're not getting a accurate reading. I bought one of the small compressers with tank at Walmart, works great.

wjbertrand

12-13-2005, 10:02 AM

Next time you change your tires fit some of these babies:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/268485706/430631527XXehDH#

Littlejohn64

12-13-2005, 10:05 AM

I'd like to check it out next time we ride. By the way, what days are you going to be off over the next couple weeks. I'm thinking a mid week ride might be nice, especially if the weather cooperates.
No problem, Ive got it in the saddlebag. I havent tried it alone on the bike, but it works great in combination with the EZ air gage Jill has, and hopefully I will have after Christmas...LOL

Littlejohn64

12-13-2005, 10:06 AM

I'd like to check it out next time we ride. By the way, what days are you going to be off over the next couple weeks. I'm thinking a mid week ride might be nice, especially if the weather cooperates.
Im off starting the 22nd through the 26th. On the weekend we will probably be up in Leona.

Medicine Bear

12-13-2005, 10:08 AM

I bought the little portable from Sears as it has a built in gauge and auto shutoff when it gets to the preset, uh, setting.

Fred :03biker:

Littlejohn64

12-13-2005, 10:33 AM

I bought the little portable from Sears as it has a built in gauge and auto shutoff when it gets to the preset, uh, setting.

Fred :03biker:
I looked at that one, but decided that I wanted one a little smaller. That, and the fact that the gage comes out of the unit makes for one more place to leak down the road. On the bike, Im more about reliability than too much gadgety stuff.

wishey1

12-13-2005, 10:52 AM

....I feel soooo much better now.....thanks for all your suggestions......I like that 90 degree valve stem.....had that from factory on the Wing......I am going to get one of those small compressors too.......it should pay for itself in no time.......I'm paying 50 cents a pop........LOL......who would have thought 20 years ago we would be paying for 'air and water'.........LOL.......and asking for reduced tax cuts!......it's getting to be a crazy world and have you noticed that NOTHING is easy anymore........anyway........thanks again guys!!!

Best,
Wish

Blue STreak

12-13-2005, 11:40 AM

Littlejohn64

12-13-2005, 12:56 PM

I don't trust the pressure gauges built into any of those small compressors. The one on my Sears unit is about 7-8 psi high (when the compressor's not running - even higher when it is). Get a couple of inexpensive tire gauges: if they agree, then you're good to go. If not, buy a third and throw away the one that doesn't match (hopefully 2 of the 3 will). Recheck them periodically.

One of these (EZ-Air) works great along with whatever means you use to inflate the tire. You leave this hooked up during inflation, and attach the air source to the back side of the gage. If you get a lil too much in, you let it out with the relief button. It also fits very well through the hole in the rim for the rear tire.

http://www.getagauge.com/graphics/Ez-Air_Lg2.jpg

Lots of places to find them online, and I even found one at Brookstone store in the malls.

Louie Louie

12-13-2005, 01:35 PM

Little John, I use the same gauge. According to MCN its a good buy and a very accurate product!
Regards

NormanPCN

12-13-2005, 02:04 PM

Louie Louie

12-13-2005, 02:11 PM

Are those perpendicular or angled stems safe? I think Uncle Don D. Warned me against them. It seems to be the best solution besides Don's technique.

SteveST1300

12-13-2005, 02:31 PM

Someone said remove left bag I find it much easier to remove the right bag and you dont have a brake rotor in your way.:03biker:

Louie Louie

12-13-2005, 03:49 PM

Check this out.
www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6311&highlight=compressors

I got the airman sparrow and its a terrific product. I also got the campbell that Curt recommended and carry that one in my car!

NormanPCN

12-13-2005, 06:38 PM

Someone said remove left bag I find it much easier to remove the right bag and you dont have a brake rotor in your way.:03biker:

I don't think you read the post closely. You go in from the left side when using the air hoses typical at gas stations. The bike is designed to make this reasonably simple and the brake rotor is not in the way since you feed the hose through the rear hub.

When I use my bicycle pump to air up my tires I access from the ride side so the brake rotor is not in the way given the typical bike pump hose.

SpEd

12-13-2005, 09:43 PM

One of these (EZ-Air) works great along with whatever means you use to inflate the tire.

So, you can hook this up to an air compressor like I was talking about? Way cool! I've got a couple on my "watch list" on ebay now. Thanks!

wjbertrand

12-13-2005, 10:43 PM

Are those perpendicular or angled stems safe? I think Uncle Don D. Warned me against them. It seems to be the best solution besides Don's technique.

This design is safe because they are made entirely of cast aluminum. The ones that break have a plastic or rubber section and must be supported by a little brace. These are very light and strong. They come OEM on Ducatis and Italian wheels. Got them from www.motowheels.com

Putt

12-13-2005, 11:48 PM

Here is the URL for the 90 degree stems... (long url)

http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=621%7CTires%2C%20C hains%20%26%20Valve%20Stems&productID=3371&showDetail=1&categoryID=624|Valve%20Stems&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=621%7CTires%2C%20Chains%20%26%20Valve%2 0Stems
Might have to order a pair..

Putt..

dond

12-14-2005, 06:15 AM

LouieLouie, the STems like Jeff B uses are the safe ones AND very trick looking. Go for it! ;)

Littlejohn64

12-14-2005, 08:15 AM

So, you can hook this up to an air compressor like I was talking about? Way cool! I've got a couple on my "watch list" on ebay now. Thanks!
You dont actually hokk up the gage, but yes, you can use a compressor to fill the tire while the gage is still attached.

Louie Louie

12-14-2005, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the link. I will try them out. If J. Bertrand, Uncle Don & Putt recommend them I cannot go wrong.:bow1: :bow1: :bow1: :bow1:

MidLife

12-17-2005, 01:28 PM

Have a gauge similar to the gauge below (quote). But is is a cross between the two gauges found at

http://www.getagauge.com/MotorcycleTireGauges.cfm

It has a 90 deg chuck like the top gauge on the Getagauge site, but also a threaded port like on the second gauge (also in quote below). I would like to hook up the air hose chuck to the fitting on the back of the gauge, but it is 1/2" NPT male (probably 1/4" NPT into the body of the gauge).

Anybody who knows where to find a fitting that would go from NPT to Valve Stem Thread?

One of these (EZ-Air) works great along with whatever means you use to inflate the tire. You leave this hooked up during inflation, and attach the air source to the back side of the gage. If you get a lil too much in, you let it out with the relief button. It also fits very well through the hole in the rim for the rear tire.

http://www.getagauge.com/graphics/Ez-Air_Lg2.jpg

Lots of places to find them online, and I even found one at Brookstone store in the malls.

wishey1

12-27-2005, 09:26 PM

I don't think you read the post closely. You go in from the left side when using the air hoses typical at gas stations. The bike is designed to make this reasonably simple and the brake rotor is not in the way since you feed the hose through the rear hub.

When I use my bicycle pump to air up my tires I access from the ride side so the brake rotor is not in the way given the typical bike pump hose.

Well, I am a little disgusted right now, about airing up my back tire........I was unable at my first 3 or 4 attempts to thread any hose thru that hub and have it 'come out'......

Also I bought a Wal-Mart tank that you fill up and while I am able to get it's connection piece on the back tire stem, I am unable to lock it as the locking lever is up in the hub and won't let me push it down.......so........

I am going to have to find a brass fitting I've seen that has an angle on it.....Also the air pressure gauge I bought at the Honda shop (the expensive one) won't fit on the back tire stem either.

So, you use a bicicle pump to air up your back tire.....maybe I need to try that.

:biker:

:(

wishey1

12-27-2005, 09:38 PM

This design is safe because they are made entirely of cast aluminum. The ones that break have a plastic or rubber section and must be supported by a little brace. These are very light and strong. They come OEM on Ducatis and Italian wheels. Got them from www.motowheels.com

On the site they recommed the straight ones for the back tire......
So does that mean the angle ones are ok or not ok...?
I'm lost on this back tire thing......

TIA....

wsh