Tire Removal for Dummies

[Wilmer]

I need to remove the tire on my Segway. Problem is, I'm not mechanically inclined. I also don't own any tools except a few screwdrivers.

Will a torque wrench like http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944690000 do the job? How about a fitting like http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00919387000 ?

Once I have the tools, is the actual removal/reseating procedure difficult?

By the way, I haven't posted in this forum for a while, but that doesn't mean I've stopped using my Segway. Quite the contrary. I've had the machine for 18 months now and still use it nearly every day. Segways rock!

[ZoliHonig]

Its easy to get the bolt off, the hard part is getting the WHEEL off. That takes forever. They say you need to hit it with a rubber mallot, but its difficult.

Those tools whould work. I don't think you need that fancy torque wrench though.


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[8]-Zoli[8]

[Sal]

Don't be afraid to whack the edge of the wheel with a rubber mallet... After the first time y ou take the wheel off.. it becomes easier and easier...

-Sal

Think Different
www.apple.com

[KSagal]

After the nut is off, I whack the side of the tire, not the wheel itself.

I don't know if this is best, but it works for me.

If you have had the wheel on for a while, you will need to hit it more than once. Try a patern like a hit at 12 o'clock, then 6 o'clock, then back to 12, then 6 and like that. At some point, maybe several hits into the cycle, you will hear the wheel start to move.

At that point, I grab the wheel (Tire) at 12 and 6, and wiggle it off. It is less like pulling off the wheel and more like lifting off one side then the other of the tire...

This is easiest done with the seg on it's side. (One wheel down)


Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Florida Ever-Glides]

The wheel is 'easy' to get off the HT using the above instructions. Taking the tire off of the wheel is a different story. You need to find a 'very good' tire shop that has the proper tool to safely remove the tire.

The wheel can be fairly fragile so be careful...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[Stan671]

Wilmer, those are the exact tools I use - they will be perfect. The torque wrench is most important when re-tightening the lug nut. Follow the torque wrench's instructions on how to hold it and read the guage. You want 50 NM tight.

Do you need to remove the wheel from the Segway or the tire from the wheel?

Stan Dobrowski

[Stan671]

One of the classes we are looking to give at the SEG America SegwayFest in Sacremento on May 14th is a hands-on instuctional for doing all kinds of basic maintenance and parts removal/replacement on the Segway HT. Attendees will be shown how to do such things as wheel, fender, battery, & kickstand removal and replacement and then they will do it themselves.

Stan Dobrowski

[woodenapple]

quote:Originally posted by Stan671

One of the classes we are looking to give at the SEG America SegwayFest in Sacremento on May 14th is a hands-on instuctional for doing all kinds of basic maintenance and parts removal/replacement on the Segway HT. Attendees will be shown how to do such things as wheel, fender, battery, & kickstand removal and replacement and then they will do it themselves.

Stan Dobrowski
Stan - Basic maintenance classes are an excellent idea for the SegFests.

Rodney

May all your days be Segway days!

[wayne]

quote:Originally posted by Wilmer

I need to remove the tire on my Segway. Problem is, I'm not mechanically inclined. I also don't own any tools except a few screwdrivers.



I'm sure you are speaking of the wheel.

Always put a small amount of grease on the axle before putting on the wheel. This will help the wheel slide off the axle easier the next time you have to remove it.


Seg-On
Wayne

[fredkap]

Rodney,

I think that a maintenance class is a great idea for all of the Fests...but we are not guaranteeing that all 3 fests will be identical. If you want the FULL story, please come to all 3 fests!!!

Since many will be able to attend only one or two fests, which 1 or 2 fests will you be attending? (if you aren't coming to all 3)

Fred

[woodenapple]

I agree that the fests should not be identical. Things like a basic maintenance class are the types of things that will make it different than what we have already had at the 2 previous national fests.

I may not actaully make it to any of this year's fests. Being from Florida, none of them are at all close to me. Last years Fest was the convenient one for me.

Maybe my timing is just a little off. Our family will be near Sacramento about a month after that Fest, and we will be in Washington 7 or 8 months after that Fest.

Rodney

May all your days be Segway days!

[Stan671]

quote:Originally posted by wayne
[brAlways put a small amount of grease on the axle before putting on the wheel. This will help the wheel slide off the axle easier the next time you have to remove itWayne, are you suggesting putting grease on the cone shaped part sticking out the back of the wheel that goes into the cone shaped socket in the gearbox? That's a big no-no.

Segway's instructions are: "Clean any debris from the outside of the Drive Shaft and inside of the the Wheel Hub Taper using isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag."

The point of this cleaning is to get those two tapered metal serfaces very clean so that they can actually bond to each other and make a solid joint. The fact that it is hard to seperate them is actually a feature.

http://www.segway.com/support/docs/tire_wheel_0604.pdf

Stan Dobrowski

[wayne]

Stan,

It works for me.
Vasoline will do the same thing.
The nut will pull the wheel up tight on the tapered joint anyway.
For those that like to go in water a lot this will help keep down some corrosion.
LLC also says don't pull a trailer, don't ride double and etc. but....


Wayne

[BarnyFife]

No grease on the taper! It is supposed to be super tight, that is why they tapered it. They wanted a high friction connection there due to having only one lug bolt.