Tire replacement.

[520fd]

I have a 2001 Goldwing with an Tow-Pac Insta-trike. I was wandering if I had to remove the trike portion to replace the rear tire. I'm replacing then with Dunlop Elite 3's. Stock sizes. Thanks Jerry.

[dadztoy]

Jerry,

If you have a full table lift with the cutout for the rear tire, you can probably put the bike up on the lift and on the center stand with the Tow Pac conversion still on, and then drop the rear tire thru the hole in the lift, but it's going to be a bear to get to the lug nuts and get enough leverage to drop and then lift the tire into place...

Otherwise, you'll have to remove the Tow Pac kit as it will be impossible to slide the tire out thru the rear, because of the Tow Pac sub-frame...

I personally use the "lay the bike over" method for changing tires - much easier when your running darkside with larger tires... The Tow Pac comes off so fast, it's just easier to do it that way for me because I have to partially disassemble the Tow Pac sub-frame on the left rear of the bike and pry it out of the way to get the car tire on the bike...

I sometimes lift the entire trike assembly on my 23 year old Handy Lift for trike maintenance and cleaning... It's easier than this "ol boy" bending over or being on my knees, as my left knee does not cooperate when weight is put on it like kneeling...

When changing tires, I simply lay the bike over on it's right side on some carpet pads and change the rear tire as seen in the photo below... My Tow Pac comes off in about 10 minutes and reinstall in the same amount of time... Alignment holds true if you follow the same tightening sequence all the time... For me that is the receiver first, then left rear bolt, then right rear bolt...

Les