Here is the tire that the Ural community has been waiting for (IMHO). The Heidenau K28 designed for use on sidecar rigs. It has a square profile and a center continuous rib for long life. The BMW airhead sidecar community has had this tire for the last year or so with excellent reviews and this is what I have on the rear of BMW/Cozy rig.
I wanted to install the K28 on the spare tire using only the tools that I will be carrying and that prompted me to add the little plastic container of tire lube to my tool bag. Removing and installing the tire didn't take very long at all. Removal and installation of the first bead were done with the rim sitting on the trunk lid. To install the second bead, I put the tire on two 2"x4" pieces that I carry in the foot well of the sidecar. There are now a number of additional tools in that little tool bag including several ¼" sockets with small ratchet and extension. Extra "O" rings for the oil filter, a selection of extra carburetor jets, a spare compliance fitting, cotter pins and other miscellaneous tools and hardware. I also looked in the small ammo box in the bottom of the trunk that the previous owner had packed with spare plugs, spare clutch and throttle cables, a pre-measured bottle of oil for the rear drive housing, extra fuel filters, fuses and a bunch of other Ural specific things.
The engine, transmission and rear drive fluids got changed as well as removing the final drive to grease the splines on the drive shaft and the universal joint. The "donut". a chunk of rubber that connects the transmission output to the drive shaft looked to be in good shape. I had picked up some full synthetic oil for the engine, transmission and rear drive. Mickey said that I should be able to safely increase the change interval with full synthetic oil. There was essentially no swarf on the engine, transmission and final drive drain plugs. The transmission fill plug had a little. This photo is the transmission drain and fill plugs. Not bad at all for 10,000 km. Transmission and final drive had full synthetic before.
One of the springs holding the shoes in place in the rear brake was broken. The local Napa store had a "universal" brake spring. Just bend it to length and clip off the excess. I was hoping they still carried those "universal" springs. I hadn't seen one in an auto parts store for years. I had picked up this handy brake installation tool from Gobium on SovietSteeds. The axle goes through the sleeve and you first measure the diameter of the brake drum using the inside arm and lock the caliper at that point then move the setup to the drum brake shoes and adjust each shoe to just clear the caliper on the outside arm. This way you can get equal wear from both brake shoes. As it was, there is more wear on the leading shoe than the trailing shoe.
I performed all of the other items listed for the 30,000 km service except for replacing the spark plugs. I did remove them when I adjusted the valves and they looked good. The center electrode insulator was a nice amber color with no trace or oil or carbon.
BruceW from Ketchikan, aka Whojigger on SovietSteeds, sent me this wonderful belt buckle. A friend of his made them for the Alaska Airheads group a few years back and this was the last one from that production run. He had mailed it up with some of his fabulous smoked salmon. My favorite way to have the smoked salmon these days is in a cold pasta salad.
Only seven more days before heading out!
Now this belt buckle is something. Nice workmanship. Will you wear it on your tour?
ReplyDeleteI'd have to get a new belt. I don't think I have one that allows you to change the buckle anymore. But probably.
DeleteWow that is one hefty looking tire! Nice belt buckle. Are you getting excited about your impending trip?
ReplyDeleteIt almost looks like a car tire but compared to most bikes, it's still pretty narrow for a rear tire.
DeleteYes, I am getting excited about the road trip. But then again, I look forward to just about any road trip.
Cool belt buckle.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you'r sonly 7 days away from your trip.
I don't remember how many he was planning on making. Something like 20-30 total. Very nice workmanship...
DeletePlanning on leaving on the 17th and being gone until sometime in August.
I remember when you could easily buy belts that allowed changing buckles. Western apparel shops would have loads of those belts!
ReplyDeleteSmoked salmon. With a lot of black pepper. Side dish of brown rice or vinegar chips. :^)
We have a shortage of "western apparel shops" but there are a number of leather shops that will make just about any belt in any color.
DeleteI made the pasta salad w/smoked salmon, dill, Greek yogurt and cucumber. Pretty tasty.
ReplyDeleteYou are frighteningly thorough and efficient. Had you a bear guard I would say riding that tricycle through the wilderness would be a doddle with your knowledge and parts and skill. As it is I see you crouching in a pine forest checking for swarf when a Far Side bear sneaks up on you...Then you will remember me telling you there is hardly any dangerous wildlife to speak of in the hot humid Florida Keys.
I'd rather deal with the four legged variety of wildlife than the much more dangerous and unpredictable two legged variety you have to deal with every day.
DeleteFWIW, Richard, the brake pad springs for the '87 R80 airhead work just as well for brake springs on the Ural.....
ReplyDeleteLooks like your rig is ready! Since you're carrying the K28 as the spare, I won't say I'm looking forward to reading about its wear and usage....hopefully its a long time before you need to swap it in.
After the Top of the World Hwy, I plan on swapping the pusher with the spare and the original Duro spare will go on the front. Depending on the weather the gravel road could get pretty messy and the K37 still has some life left in it. BTW, do far the K37s have over 9K km. The rear is about half gone, the front has some cupping and the sidecar still looks brand new.
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