Learning how to maintain and repair your own bike can take you a long way, but not everyone has the time and will to learn. However, knowing how to perform some basic maintenance and repairs tasks like changing the tyres can be extremely beneficial when you're out on the road, so that you aren't left stranded. In this article, I'll be going through the steps of changing your bike's tyre using irons like motorcycle tyre levers. First and foremost, put your bike on a stand, remove the valve core and the valve stem locknut. Then, you have to break the bead, which can be quite difficult. You can accomplish this by using motorcycle tyre levers, welding clamps C-clamps or special bead breakers. Once you've broken the first bead, flip the tyre and break the opposite side as well. Once you've broken both beads, the tyre can be removed from the rim. In order to ensure the bead slips away from the rim as easily as possible, lubricate both the rim and the bead. Next, install the rim protectors on the rim on the valve stem side and slip the tyre irons with the hooked end up right under the bead which is located next to the valve stem. Snagging a knuckle on a sprocket or a brake rotor is easy, so you need to be careful if they're still attached to the wheel. Keep a few blowout patches by your side, because leaky knuckles make things slippery.
Next, pry the bead up and over until the entire bead is over the rim. Some people prefer using the flat end of the iron to do so, which can also work. You can even pull the second bead over the rim without irons if you're lucky and reasonably strong, but irons do make the job significantly easier. The thin rubber band found under the tube should prevent the ends of the spokes from chaffing through. Remove the think rubber band, and inspect the rim for damage. Look for cracks between the spoke holes and use a wire brush to clean away any corrosion and rust. Then, find the directional arrow on the tyre and orient it to the rim with rotation in the right direction. Slightly inflate the new tube so that it takes shape, so that it doesn't get pinched by the tyre lever. Put it inside the tyre with the stem next to the tyre's balance mark. Lube the bead and force it over the rim right over the valve-stem hole. Push the tube and run down the locknut a couple of threads so that the stem doesn't slip back. Ensure the balance mark is lined up with the valve stem. Lube the second bead and put it down over the rim by pushing as much of the tyre onto the rim as possible. As you work your way around the rim, the bead my lift itself back. Hold it down with a knee and take small bites with a lever and work your way around. Once you've pushed the tyre onto the rim, inflate is slowly using the appropriate pressure.
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