bent rim, can it be straightened?

[lumper]

Hi all,
So it all came together today.
After running out of gs on the highway this morning, my day shaped up and I came home to find my jack had arrived, so I swapped out the wheel and all is well
The bad news is by the time I got it all together and had today only to do it, I didn't bother with anything else.
Plus I caused a whole new problem I need some help with, lol.

I accidentally snapped one of the nuts/bolts that bolt the exhaust to the motor.
IT is tight enough that I dont have much of a leak and I can ride for a little while, but obviously this will not do, so I need to know how to replace the stud I snapped.
It looks like I can knock it through the other side and then replace it with a new one and get a new acorn nut to go with it?
I hope?

After doing this though, I see it is a nice easy little job, so I will plan on pulling the fender again and the wheel and then doing the brakes, and the gear oil and a good cleaning in there.

I have to work again in the morning and I didn't have any cash left after running out of gas this morning so I decided to just put it back together, make sure I did it right and then I can worry about it either next week or after Bike week.

I am going to pull the motor after Bike week anyway to do a rear valve cover gasket so I will go through everything at that point.
I decided I am even going to take the rear fender to a friend who has a body shop and have him smooth it all out and shoot it to match so when I relocate my plate and tail light there wont be any evidence of it ever having been on the rear fender.
I have an interview tomorrow for a different job that i really want to get and be done with the Harley sales thing, I love the bikes but I hate sales and remember why i got out of sales years ago.
thats another story, but I needed the bike to be able to run me 50 miles tomorrow early before work to see about this other job and now I can.

I am just glad this all worked out.
I got lucky with the wheel and tire being in such good shape and so cheap and the fact the it was a bolt on and go job made my life a lot easier.
I still have to take this other one to a shop and investigate and then either fix the rim or pull my tire and tube for a spare.
Thanks again for all your help.
I hope not but I know it wont be long before I am panicked about some new calamity, lol.
Thats just how it goes for me, but I really enjoy in this case as I am learning a lot about my bike.

Thank for everything, and if you know anything about replacing that stud for the exhaust to motor mount, please do tell.
Lump

[lumper]

thanks Troll.
I will def change the gear oil while I am at it.
The wheel doesn't have the disc so I am going to use mine, I was going to check the pads and if they are getting close I figured I would change them while I was at it but not if they are looking good.

The job is pretty cool.
The guy who I work for owns 8 or 9 dealerships and has a patent pending on his methods for running the dealership, he actually sells the concept to other dealerships and trains them in it and they then use his system, lol.
IT is interesting, fun though and something I Can do.
I hate sales hours which is why I got out of sales in the first place years ago and started my own business, but at this point with my back I dont have a lot of options so I am going to make the best of it and enjoy the fun parts and ignore the rest and see how long I can make it work.
Thanks again,
Lump

[Troll]

  The wheel bearings are sealed units, and shouldn't need any actual maintenance, unlike the earlier H-Ds that used normal cone bearings (that were actually outer wheel bearings from a Chevrolet). Late model H-Ds use sealed bearings now, too. If I were you, while I had it jacked up, I would dump the final drive oil. 80-90 gl 5, and not much of it, so unlike the cars that often have 2 quarts of 80-90, you have like 1/2 pint.  Does your "new" wheel have the brake disc on it? Unless you are going to replace the pads while it's apart, I would transfer the disc from the old wheel to the new one. It takes about 100 miles to bed in new pads, and replacing the disc with a strange one might cause the pads excessive wear, or they may never bed in properly and start to squeal, and not generate the stopping power they are designed for.  Good luck with the new job. I worked for an H-D dealer for a while before going back to cars, and it is an interesting experience.

[lumper]

Well my wheel shipped today, scheduled to arrive Tuesday so in the meantime maybe Sunday I can find time to go out and take off the fender and get ready.

As soon as my new jack arrives I am going to take it off and investigate.

I found a wheel off a 99 vulcan, and it has the same exact tire I have now and the tread looks really good, same valve stem, and the wheel itself looks great and straight so I got pretty lucky in that respect, 180.00 shipped with the tire, I thought that was pretty cheap.

With this new job it is going to be hard to find time to do alot of things I was able to do before so this way I can just paint the new wheel when it arrives and then pop it on so I am back on the road and not having to wait until I figure out what I can do with this wheel.
That way I will have a backup once I determine if mine can be fixed and it looks like it can be in my opinion but I need to look a lot closer.

I also bought wheel bearings and brake pads I figure while I am in there may as well take the preventative route and do it all at once.

We have had 7 days in a row of rain and today was the first day that it only rained for part of the day, so I haven't missed any riding at all, lol.
If I hurry and get this wheel on I can get back on the road never having lost a riding day to the wheel, only to the weather.

P.S>
I have now ridden every 2011 and 2010 model Harley that is out and I can honestly say I fit better on my drifter than any of the Harley's and I like my bike even more now after having been able to try the bikes I always wondered about but never had an opportunity to ride.

Although I really like the cross bones and that sporty 48 I wouldn't trade my bike for either one.
Lump

[Troll]

Good for you. Hope everything works out. I would really like to see the damage on the wheel. It's kind of a forensics thing...figure out what happened....this kind of stuff doesn't occur in a vacuum.

[lumper]

Troll, my new job is keeping me from having the time to get out there and take the pic, lol,
I will make time tomorrow to snap a pic though.

I came home today to find my tax return arrived,  I am ordering everything I need today and tomorrow and hopefully early next week I can be back on the road if all goes well and the wheel I buy will bolt right up.
Lump

[chief]

yep, meanie wheels will work, so will concours and various other vulcan models... look in the tires/wheels area of the mods/tips on the website for more info.

[Troll]

sure, go ahead. You have my address

[lumper]

I will try to get a pic tomorrow, I cant get the wheel off yet though as I still need a jack, but I think I can get a shot that will show it.

I found used wheels from $100.00 to $200.00.
I really want to stay with the spokes, I love the look.
Whichever I get I will have to sand and paint them anyway so as long as they are straight I dont much mind the finish.

Do you think if I sent you a pic of a few wheels or a link to them if I cant copy them that you could tell by looking at it?
I have never had one off yet so I am not sure what I need to look for or anything.
I have a manual coming any day though,
Thanks Troll,
Lump

[Troll]

Go to http://www.bikebandit.com and look up the part numbers. I'll bet, but I can't prove it at the moment, that mean streak alloy wheels would fit, too.   Can you provide  a picture of the damage? Replacing the hoop is going to be cheaper than the whole wheel, unless you get a real good deal.  I just checked, real quick, and all the spoked wheels for vn1500s use the same hub assy., so therefore, by extrapolation, you can assume the rest of the wheel is the same......

[lumper]

Hi guys,
Chief, or anyone who knows, will a spoked wheel for a 2002 Vulcan Classic FI VN1500-N fit on my 1999 Drifter 1500?
I am looking at some used wheels and if any of these will work on my bike I can probably afford to grab a used one for now and then see if mine can be fixed or not, so I Will have a back up until I can buy a new wheel.

I found a few I wondered about.
I found a 99, a 2000, a 2001, a 2003, a 2005 and a 2006 all from Vulcan classic 1500's.
Do you know if any of these are the same as our Drifter spoked wheels

Any info would be great, if I can verify I can use these I am going to bid on a couple one at a time and try to get one next week.
Thanks again,
Lump

[lumper]

Drifter will never be for sale, it is my full on project bike and I dont see myself ever getting rid of it.

I actually saw an 800 Vulcan classic two tone with a lot of extras there today some one traded, I might snag it for my wife, it runs good and sounds great and is very clean.
I think I get a 20% discount so I am going to look into it but I didn't want to mention it on my first day.

I was able to ride about 15 Harley today though, every model except the new rocker, it was fun.
I am spent now, after two years of sitting and resting I just spent 10 hours on my feet and these dogs are barking.
Anyway still bumming my bike is here with a flat and I am not able to ride, but I just keep thinking positive and soon enough I will be back on the road.
Lump

[VN1500]

Well I got hired today at the Harley dealer so things are looking up.
I will let you know though as soon as I get this wheel off.
Lump

So how long before your Drifter will be for sale?

What kind of work will you be doing at the H/D dealer Lump?

[chief]

I hope they appreciate your bike as much as we do! 

[lumper]

lol, I'm not even going to ask, just glad I can afford to fix it myself.
I will see if I can get them to take the tire off this rim and mount it on the one I buy though, then if this one can be fixed it will be my back up and spare.

I am sure in time using the shop will be a cool bonus but I am not taking anything for granted, at least now I dont have to ask my wife to fix my bike, lol.

Thanks again though, it feels good to have figured out a way to get back to work and working with bikes is always fun.

Whats funny is the last time I pulled in there on my Drifter when I came out I had a crowd around it and people love to talk to me about this bike, it is going to make my job a lot easier when I fix the flat and can park it right in front, I can just hang out around my bike and meet the customers as they come to me, lol.

Lump

[Troll]

Good luck with the new job....they should be able to fix your tire there....I would hope so, anyway

[lumper]

Thanks Chief,
I cant stop smiling, it's a good Friday the 13th for me.
So much is going to change for the better, granted I wont have all the free time I have had, but at least I am back in the work force after 20 years of self employment, got the job I wanted and the pay I need, just great news all around.
Thanks again buddy,
Lump

[chief]

Congrats!

[lumper]

Well I got hired today at the Harley dealer so things are looking up.
I will let you know though as soon as I get this wheel off.
Lump

[lumper]

Step 1.)  buy a manual, ... check it's on its way.
Step 2.) get a job of some kind, lol
I think I got a job today at my local Harley dealer as a salesman, I find out tomorrow, if so, ...check.
Then I can just whip right through these costly lessons.
Next thing is a Jack, I found one just need the $$ so next week I think I will be able to do it all, get a wheel and jack and a tube.
Figured I would do the rear brakes since I have the opportunity too at the same time.
Fingers crossed on he job, that would change everything.
Next week I will update this again once I have the tools to proceed.
Thanks again guys,
Lump

[chief]

Keep us advised!

[lumper]

Thank you for that clarification on the tubeless, I was only going by the tire markings, I have no idea what is going on inside there.

I dont know about sending them out, I am going to take them to a local shop and see what they say, I am on a very limited budget I am disabled and I dont get a disability check or anything, my wife pretty much covers everything right now while we figure out the next step for me to become productive again in one way or another, that being said I have to always look at the least expensive way to do everything that I have to have done.
It is going to take this weeks budget to buy a jack if my eBay items sell, then next week once I know what is up I can decide the next step and least expensive way to go and get back on the road.
This I am very new too, I ran my own construction company for 10 years before hurting myself to the point that I am now, so budget is new to me and let me tell you, it sucks.

It used to be if something like this came up, there wasn't even a second thought, I would most likely be looking at new wheels if I were working, always looking for an excuse to buy something new.

Anyway thanks guys, I will keep you posted once I get a jack and get the fender off, and the wheel to a shop, ugh.

Lump

[chief]

To add to what Troll said...

We have spoked wheels which, unless someone has sealed them, will always require tubes. There are as many holes in the wheel as there are spokes. There are very few tube only tires nowadays... all of them will say tubeless and may be run as tubeless on the correct wheels. But because of our spoked wheels we require tubes.

[VN1500]

Hi all,
You guys are getting to know me a little by now, lol.
Check this out, I have been having a run of dumb luck, bad luck, dumb nonetheless.

So yesterday when I finally got the bike started after a weekend of diagnostics, I celebrated with a little ride, nothing to serious literally a little ride, 50 miles or so.

I go out this morning to pull the bike out, and I find a flat tire.

After closer examination I see a nasty bend in the rim near the valve stem .

I just filled the tire and an hour later is was flat again.

I dont think I have a puncture or anything, I believe the air leaked out from this bend in the rim.

Do I need to buy a new rim or is there anyway to safely straighten this one?

I was hoping I could pull off the rear fender and use a mallet and some rags or a block or something and bang it straight but I thought I better get some opinions on this before I go destroying my rim any worse.
After reading I see I need to pull the tire off the rim and there are methods but I dont think it is something I am going to be able to do.

What do you guys think?

I have been looking at used wheels on eBay and find for 150.00 to 250 for most.
Will a wheel from a 2002 vulcan 1500 classic that is spoked like mine fit?
Are there different years and models that will fit?
The more I read the less I think I can fix it.

it's something new and exciting every day with ole Lumper, started with the discovery of a valve cover gasket leak and now I am on a roll.

Thanks for any opinions and info,
Lump

Lump, If you decide to send it out?  be careful,where you send it & make sure they understand.

I called a place [Wheel-Works] explained in detail the damage,they said fine, send it out. So I did. I called to see if it was done or? & they said they could not straighten it. So I said well send it back then.

They did!......shipping C.O.D.  I refused it.

{BTW} there is a procedure to seal the wheels,to allow using tubeless tires.

Something i plan on doing to mine...........one of these days.

Ron

[Troll]

The tire is tubeless, but the rim is spoked, and therefore has a tube. I just priced the correct tube for the tire (rear) about an hour ago. 27.95.....the tube should NOT be repaired, but replaced. The tube you need has a steel valve stem with a 90 deg. bend in it. I am going to have to replace my tires in another 2,000 miles, so I started looking early. You have to get the bike up on a stand or jack, remove the rear fender (pretty easy), and drop the caliper. Then you pull the axle out the left side, and the caliper bracket will be free. Slide the wheel to the right and back out of the swing arm....I can send you the complete instructions via email.