Lever-free tire change (and gear issue)

**Kalidurga** · 10-09-2006, 05:55 PM

Alrighty, I did it. Un-mounted the old tire on the rear wheel and mounted up a new one, totally lever-free. And then I did it again, just for good measure (well, really because I neglected to pay attention to the rolling direction of the tire...). My thumbs are a tad sore, but overall it wasn't too bad. I figure I'll do the front tire tomorrow night.

One silly little issue has popped up, though. Once or twice in the past when I've re-installed the rear wheel, the derailleur has ended up skipping when in the 34-25 combo (granny gear). The first time it ended up that way I took it to shop, where the LBS tech loosened the quick-release, jiggled the wheel, then tightened it up again and it was fine. I must have jiggled that wheel more than a dozen times this evening and the darned gear still skips like it wants to shift. The brakes are lined up to the rims just about perfectly, so it doesn't seem to be out of alignment. Any ideas?

**KnottedYet** · 10-09-2006, 06:08 PM

How on earth did you get the tire off without a lever?!?!

I bow at your feet, teach me!

Some day, I too shall have this magical power.

Meanwhile I will use levers and gloves because I have to do massages every day at work. Hands with boo-boos cannot do manual therapy.

**DebW** · 10-09-2006, 06:10 PM

Not sure what you mean by skips. If the wheel is centered between the brakes/seatstays and also between the chainstays near the bottom bracket and is pulled back as far as it goes into the dropout and the QR is tight enough, it should be good. Does it "skip" while riding on the road or while shifting it on a workstand? Is it not going into the gear, shifting itself out of the gear, or the chain skipping over the cog?

Congrats on the leverless tire change.

**Trekhawk** · 10-09-2006, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

How on earth did you get the tire off without a lever?!?!

I bow at your feet, teach me!

Some day, I too shall have this magical power.

Meanwhile I will use levers and gloves because I have to do massages every day at work. Hands with boo-boos cannot do manual therapy.

Check this out
http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp

**KnottedYet** · 10-09-2006, 06:29 PM

Great link, thanks!

**DebW** · 10-09-2006, 06:47 PM

Knotted, you shouldn't plan on doing that with your Campy rims. Maybe worth a try on the Kona.

**KnottedYet** · 10-09-2006, 07:26 PM

Yup. I've already discovered that Campy rims are a whole 'nother world.

(besides, I really do have to protect my hands for work)

**Pedal Wench** · 10-09-2006, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by DebW

Knotted, you shouldn't plan on doing that with your Campy rims. Maybe worth a try on the Kona.

I can do this on my Mavics without a problem. It takes levers, an eternity of time, and language I can't repeat to change out my Campy rims.

**Kalidurga** · 10-10-2006, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

How on earth did you get the tire off without a lever?!?!

Originally Posted by Trekhawk

Check this out
http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp

Yup, that's how I did it. I had read that article and a few others, and seen two demonstrations at LBS's. The other two times I've had to do a change, I used levers. After the conversation in Knotted's "Tire and Tube Trouble" thread the other day, though, I just had to try it lever-less. Though if I did massage for a living, I would probably stick with the levers. I had the beginnings of blisters on my thumbs last night (fine this morning, though). I'm betting that it'll be much easier when I do the front tire tonight.

Originally Posted by DebW

If the wheel is centered between the brakes/seatstays and also between the chainstays near the bottom bracket and is pulled back as far as it goes into the dropout and the QR is tight enough, it should be good.

As near as I can tell, it is. I wasn't able to ride on it last night, so this was all on the stand. Let's see if I can describe it: As I move through the range of gears, the chain moves smoothly around the cogs and pulleys in every gear until I get to the largest cog. In that gear, the derailleur is almost right up against the cog (where it should be?), but there's one tooth of the cog that seems to push against the top pulley as it comes around its revolution. This causes a "skip" when I rotate the pedals that makes it sound as if it's between gears and wants to shift. Everything looks like it's lined up properly, aside from the fact that the derailleur's so close to the cog, so I can't tell what's out of whack. I'm going to take a spin around the parking lot this evening to see how it feels, then fiddle with it some more.

**DebW** · 10-10-2006, 03:43 AM

Originally Posted by Kalidurga

As near as I can tell, it is. I wasn't able to ride on it last night, so this was all on the stand. Let's see if I can describe it: As I move through the range of gears, the chain moves smoothly around the cogs and pulleys in every gear until I get to the largest cog. In that gear, the derailleur is almost right up against the cog (where it should be?), but there's one tooth of the cog that seems to push against the top pulley as it comes around its revolution. This causes a "skip" when I rotate the pedals that makes it sound as if it's between gears and wants to shift. Everything looks like it's lined up properly, aside from the fact that the derailleur's so close to the cog, so I can't tell what's out of whack. I'm going to take a spin around the parking lot this evening to see how it feels, then fiddle with it some more.

Is that one cog tooth bent, or is the cassette supposed to have asymmetrical teeth? In general, the derailleur pulley shouldn't be sitting right against the large cog, though sometimes you can get away with that. You might see if you can get some extra space there by rotating the derailleur back (sometimes there is an adjusting screw for this) or mounting the wheel a bit more forward or maybe adding a link to the chain. Sorry I can't help much. You might need to visit the LBS on this one.

**li10up** · 10-16-2006, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Alrighty, I did it. Un-mounted the old tire on the rear wheel and mounted up a new one, totally lever-free. And then I did it again, just for good measure (well, really because I neglected to pay attention to the rolling direction of the tire...). My thumbs are a tad sore, but overall it wasn't too bad. I figure I'll do the front tire tomorrow night.

You inspired me to try it without the tire tool. My mtn. bike had a flat on the front. I popped that puppy off without a problem. It came off so easy - I was surprised! One more skill down but sooo many more to learn.

**Kalidurga** · 10-20-2006, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by li10up

I popped that puppy off without a problem. It came off so easy -

And how did you put it back on, hmmmm? It's putting the tire back on with no levers that leads to sore thumbs

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