Take off Rear Fender or Not?

[barrynfla]

Just got my darkside tire and according to the manual, you have to take off the rear fender to get the wheel off. Not that I'm doubting the manual at all, but do you really have to take off the rear fender? ;)

Thanks,

Barry

[oldbikers]

Barry I have changed 2 back tires in the last year and I have not taken off the back fender yet, go here it will tell you all you need to know.
http://www.gadgetjq.com/reartireoff.htm

[ringadingh]

Ive never had to remove the fender either, and Iv taken the back wheel off a few times now. But you do have to get it up high on the jack, so the wheel can come out from under the bike.

[redjay]

Hi, You do not have to take the rear fender off to fit a stock replacement tire but I did have to deflate the tire to get it past the final drive on one side and the swing arm on the other when instaling a larger than stock Avon Cobra.
I seem to remember someone stating that it is easier to remove the final drive and install it in the wheel and then put the whole assembly, final drive and wheel in place. A darksider should be able to give you the definitive answer.

[Yellow Jacket]

As stated, you do not need to remove the rear fender. I did have to deflate the tire (car tire) to get it past the final drive hub. Very easy to do, I can't imagine that it would be easier to remove the final drive, attach it to the wheel and then try to install the whole thing.

[ringadingh]

Those wheels get pretty heavy when trying to put them back on the final drive, I just thought of this now, you could lower the bike a bit once you get the wheel under the bike so you dont have to lift the wheel as high to get it on the splines. It should make it easier on the arms and back.

[rickyboy]

I'll say it one more time,.... you don't need to remove the fender. I didn't when I changed out my rear tire.

[barrynfla]

Thank you all very much. I've never had to do it before and couldn't imagine the Nomad would be different, but ya never know!

[dandolfn]

Barry, I just had an set of Avon Cobras put on my bike, with the rear one being slightly larger than stock.

The mechanic did not take the rear fender off, but he did deflate the tire before he put it in place.

[cactusjack]

Barry, follow the instructions on Gadget's page for removing the rear wheel. The rear tire and wheel assembly is heavy and you have to align the splines, so it takes some messing around to get everything lined up. I had my bike on a lift, and I used a floor jack to support the tire/wheel assembly. A second set of hands is helpful too. I recruited my son to assist me.

[barrynfla]

Scott, did you lube the splines when you had the tire off? I have a can of high temp disc/drum brake wheel bearing grease. I'm thinking this would do the trick. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Barry

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by barrynfla

Scott, did you lube the splines when you had the tire off? I have a can of high temp disc/drum brake wheel bearing grease. I'm thinking this would do the trick. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Barry

Yes, I used some Mobil 1 synthetic grease on my splines.

[macmac]

Ho Ho Ho..... No one I know but maybe the dealer would yank a fender to do a rear tire.

If you don't have a lift then you would need to pull the fender I guess, or maybe on some long ride where you are bound and determined to not get a tow to a shop, and had no lift.

This is the time, or the time has gone past 7,500 for a swing arm service, and so you should consider doing it all, and just not slap a new rear tire on.



There are a few more poor pics here
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Nomad/

If you do this yourself, be sure to lift the bike tie the ft brake and block the ft wheel well.

The rear is heavy enough to upset a lift when the weight is dropped away and free...

[barrynfla]

Good advice, mac. Thanks. I have tie-down straps for the lift but that's a good point about upsetting the whole thing. The odo has 6818 miles now so I should be close to 7500 by the time I change the tire.

[macmac]

Well I don't care what tire you choose. What ever it is will start to allow the bike to handle like it should have in the first place!

And yeah on a lift like mine which ever tire would be dropped away the other tire needs to be tied brake on and be blocked. Tipping over a Nomad is no fun, and tipping it over with the lift is even less fun!...

I could tell that before i did it, so I had blocks in place. My 06 Nomad has never once been down under any circumstance....... yet..

I can't say the same about my 01, as I crashed it once and dropped it riding after that crash. I never dropped it workingon it though.

At 7,500 that brick will be real trash. It was trash on day 0...... It was a pretty good facilime of a tire though.....