What did you do to or for or with your Laverda today?

Thomas aus LAU said:
Oh yes, that will help you very much, when you have to fix your tire in the middle of nowhere next to the road. ;)

Thomas aus LAU
Click to expand...
That is one of the rare occasions when I'd whip out the mobile phone and the visa card though taking the wheel out and getting a lift into town is nearly always feasible. (French word: faisable)

Paul
 
It varies a lot how hard tyres are to get on and off, and getting the valve core into the hole on some really stiff tyres can be extremely hard, so I understand Paul completely. There are rim protectors in plastic to avoid damaging the rim, and nifty little cable things that screw into the valve core to help get it through the hole, but even then it can be a real struggle, especially if the tyre is old, cold etc, even with tons of tyre fitting gunk. There are lots of tricks and tricks that you learn over time doing it heaps that avoid pinching tubes, and reducing the effort required. There are also pressure pack puncture sealants if you get stuck with a flat, disgusting shit for the poor bastard who eventually fixes it. There are also mobile phones as Paul has mentioned while I wrote this.
 
Paul Marx said:
My tyre dealer has a machine.

Paul
Click to expand...
So does mine ;). Except the last time it took me half an hour to get there, half an hour while I waited (despite having made an appointment) and then half an hour to get back. And the sweet charge of 36€ for my pains.

Stuff that for a game of soldiers ...

(I wonder where that expression comes from? I'll have to go look it up).
 
Working in a shop the late 70s (Avon Roadrunner days on skinny WM3 rims on Kwaka 9s and the like) it was tyre levers and the indispensable rubber mallet and soapy water for fitting. Only time I had to do a tube swap on the road was dusk about 100km east of Mt Isa - not a lot of fun, but doable.
 
piranha-bro2 said:
tyre levers and the indispensable rubber mallet and soapy water for fitting.
Click to expand...

I used to do it the same way until I decided it was a lot easier to take it to someone with a tyre changing machine.

I once saw a bloke rip a motorcycle tyre off a rim with his bare hands. No tyre levers, nothing. He was a big bloke with big hands, and it was one of those skinny 1980's tyres with soft sidewalls that Q was talking about. I think it was as much technique as it was ultimate strength. He laid it flat on the ground first and stomped on it to break the bead, then he stood the wheel upright on the ground grabbed the top of the tyre with both hands, squeezed it flat and kinda folded it over the edge of the rim while leaning down heavily on it and just peeled it off. He made it look easy, but I've never been able to do it.
 
There's a few hand machines around for under €200. Otherwise, second hand professional machines can be found quite cheaply.
It's just that they take up a lot of space.
4 tyres will have been changed this month for my wife's bikes. 2 for her Triumph and 2 for her 125 DTMX.
Plus an on/off for my S.

Paul
 
The local shop took the tyre off. I bought a spoke wrench from them.

We went to the local recycling place and threw away 25 litres of used oil from the bikes. About 18 months worth.
I also threw out a thin web rear wheel. It was on the SFC when it burnt. It appeared intact but the tyre that was on it had burnt so too risky to trust.
The front wheel had melted .

Paul
 
Got and fitted some shims to go behind my clutch hub (https://www.laverdaforum.com/xf/threads/102257/).

Needed a bit less than originally feared. 0.3mm brought it snug with just a little free play. Still haven't fathomed out why it needed them in the first place, tho' ...

(Oh, and fitted two new needle bearings in the drum. 20 minutes in the oven, and not even the faintest whiff or whisper of smoke ..;) ).

Next round: see if I can get the two back plates 'spring-tensioned'. Or just give up, as before ...
 
4FA32602-C95A-4B64-A23E-A39C723320C7.jpeg
78BD4D14-19DE-46E0-B09A-F0B4508A4E32.jpeg
I put a coat of paint on one of my Executive saddlebags. The paint is the same shade I used in the late ‘80’s: mostly Porsche Tangerine/Blood Orange (the same color) with Guards Red blended in.
The paint booth is my garage with a canvas floor, plastic walls and furnace filters and fans for air cleaning. It works pretty good, but I’ll still have to use compound and polish when it cures.

I have the front fender and one of the side covers completed as well. Next is the fairing and seat cover. I’m saving the tank for last. Actually the replacement fiberglass hand guards will be the very last since they need to be fitted to the fairing.

The top picture is rotated, I don’t know why…..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top