Wheel Removal for Tire Change

[corey]

What all is involved in removing my wheels to take them in for new tires?
Can i do the front wheel on just a fork stand?
Do i need to remove rotors?
What about the back wheel? Rotors off?

Bikes an S2R800...

[NAKID]

Back wheel is easy. Get a 46mm socket. Take the retaining pin off, put the bike in 6th, have someone stand on the rear brake, turn counter-clockwise. Front wheel will need the rotors removed at the same time as the wheel. Meaning you will need to un-bolt the rotors before attempting to remove the wheel. To remove the wheel, jack up the front end using your preferred method, un-do the pinch bolts on the front of the fork bottoms, removes the nut on the right side (while looking at the front of the bike from the front), pound out the axle, remove wheel...

[DarkMonster620]

What all is involved in removing my wheels to take them in for new tires?
Can i do the front wheel on just a fork stand?
Do i need to remove rotors?
What about the back wheel? Rotors off?

Bikes an S2R800...

What all is involved in removing my wheels to take them in for new tires?

Can i do the front wheel on just a fork stand? Bike up on rear and front stands? Then, yes. loosen axlw nut, loosen axle crimp screws, with tool for front axle removal and hammer, remove front wheel axle. All this after you've removed the calipers from their support[made installation much easier,even I had to work more]. Then if you don't have the tools, take wheels to un/install new rubber, balance and before installing, do some detailed cleaning and lube job on axle crimp area[in my area, hi humidity so 1500grit sandpaper, 3in1 oil and then before install], then just a dab of copper molycote on the axle or anti-seize, install axle, pre-tighten nut and ..forgot order to tighten fork crimp screws and torque..Sorry 

Do i need to remove rotors? Do not remove the rotors, so I've been told by dealer's tech

What about the back wheel? Rotors off? To my knowledge, only the sprocket.

Bikes an S2R800...

Trying to help, done twice at home.

[Spidey]

Tutorial:  Front wheel removal and installation

No, you do not need to take off your rotors for a tire change.

[NAKID]

Not sure why they told you not to remove the rotors, but you can't remove the calipers without removing the rotors. Also, forgot to mention you'll need to remove the calipers from their mounts as well...


edit: at least I couldn't without scratching my wheels trying to get them off...

[Spidey]

Not sure why they told you not to remove the rotors, but you can't remove the calipers without removing the rotors. Also, forgot to mention you'll need to remove the calipers from their mounts as well...

Is something particular about the s2r specifically that makes it so that he can't remove the calipers w/o taking off the rotors?  That doesn't sound right.

[NAKID]

I ran into clearance issues with the rim itself...

[Spidey]

Ah, gotcha.  Yeah, that can happen.  Mine get pretty close and/or barely touch.  You have to kinda twist 'em.   Use duct tape or something to protect the rim if necessary.  If there are serious clearance issues, it helps to separate the pads beforehand with a screwdriver before removing the calipers.  Just don't gouge the rotors if you're separating the pads. 

[NAKID]

That makes sense, but in my case, it was just easier to remove the rotors too since I was switching to different wheels as well...

[billg69gmc]

Yes to removing the calipers! No to rotors!

1-Break torque on front axle nut
2-Get two pieces of speaker wire long enough to tie off on each side of handlebar and reach the calipers
3-Pre tie pieces up on the handle bar
4-Remove hex bolts securing calipers, bottom first prevents caliper from swinging out and tagging rim.
5-One hand holding caliper, remove top bolt.
6-Flex caliper to seat the pads/piston further into the caliper, done gently using the rotor. I dont use any kind of screwdriver. But you do want to be aware the pad material is vulnerable.
7-Once you get enough wiggle room, the caliper will tilt sideways so that as you withdraw it away from the rotor and lean it outwards, it clears the rim.
8-Run speaker wire through top bolt hole (I use speaker wire since it has a nice coating on the wire, doesnt slip and you really only need a single knot. You can place some painter tape on the rim, just for safety.
9-Repeat on opposite side.
10-Raise bike, loosen pinch bolts (axle nut is already broke loose) If using a Pit Bull stand, you can twist the front wheel with room to remove the axle, but I prefer to brake the torque off the stand since it can get in the way.
11-Do not fiddle with the front brake lever, put a rag over the control if you are a habitual brake pumper/clutch puller.

Rear Wheel is the easiest. Bike on lift, use an electric impact wrench. Done. Use torque wrench on re-install.

On the caliper issue, I've used different wires before, but settled on the speaker wire (see thru coating) since it just plain works on cars or bike. Hope I didn't miss anything...hmmm last reminder, Don't pull the brake lever!!!

[NAKID]

Hmmm, maybe you can do that on the 2 piston calipers, but there was no way the 4 piston calipers would clear on my S2R1000...

[Howie]

Though my bike is not a SR, the wheel size, rotor size and offset and calipers are the same as yours and mine clear.  It is tight, but they clear.

[booger]

S2R800 shop manual doesn't mention removing rotor bolts prior to removing wheel. Remove caliper bolts, calipers, LH axle nut, pinch bolts, knock the axle out from the left side with a plastic hammer or equivalent, slide wheel out and collect the spacer on LH side, in that order. I can't imagine why you would have to go to the trouble of removing the rotor bolts just to get the front wheel off. Talk about an illogical pain in the ass. On an S2R1k it's probably tight but doable just the same without removing them. This is why it helps to have the shop manual, it will define the wheel removal process for you.
You may want to remove the rotors after you get the wheel off though, to prevent damage to the rotors themselves during the tire removal and mounting process, idiot tire techs considered. You will need an allen tool made of quality tool steel, penetrant, and/or gentle application of heat to get these bolts out. Use threadlocker on reassembly. Or you could just remind the tire tech to use caution and save yourself the headache.

[NAKID]

You will need an allen tool made of quality tool steel, penetrant, and/or gentle application of heat to get these bolts out. Use threadlocker on reassembly. Or you could just remind the tire tech to use caution and save yourself the headache.

It's not an allen tool though, it's a torx. T-40 if I remember correctly...

[corey]

Well, once last question i guess..
I'm going to be taking BOTH wheels in for tire changes.
Is the bike stable enough to sit on the stands without at least one wheel?
Obviously, this will be my first attempt at removing wheels...