Rear Tire Change and Oil Filter

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:05 am

I went on fact-finding trip to the back of my Stella 4T this afternoon. I needed to change the crappy Sava whitewall on the back after only 1,500 miles. I have a brand new 3.5 x 10 Vee Rubber racing tire http://www.scooterworks.com/Vee-Rubber- ... P9917.aspx so I was going to use it with the existing tube and rim. I know I will get scolded for not changing the tube - yes it is recommended to change the tube with every tire change but 1,500 miles is not that many and I will change it with the next tire change. Anyway, after resting the engine "block" on a 4x6 block of wood, changing the tire with the split rim was a snap. I kneeled on a 2x4 block of wood to push the sides together and bolted them together.

I was able to see the location of the oil filter with the rear tire off. You can see it in the picture below. So a mystery was solved with this project - I found the location of the oil filter and you have to take off the rear tire.

However, I ran into a problem when I re-installed the tire. The right side of the Vee Rubber tire was rubbing against something. It is a little fatter with more tread than the Sava. At first I thought it was the shock absorber but then I noticed it was rubbing against the two little metal extensions of the oil filter cover. I tried sanding off some of the right edge of the Vee with 60 grit sandpaper and also tried pushing the tire more to the left with washers but it still rubbed. I ended up using the unused spare and put the Vee in the spare space. And even that was a tight fit.

So I am now very interested in what tires you have found that fit on the Stella 4T. As I discovered, the 3.5x10 Vee Rubber racing tire does not.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rghiles/6228862032/" title="Stella_OilFilter by rondothemidget, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6213/622 ... 9100_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Stella_OilFilter"></a>

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:02 pm

Michelin S83s and Continental Zippys fit.

I know there were fitting problems with the Prima whitewalls, too.

Is the Vee a tubeless? (I know you have to put a tube in anyways…)

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:58 am

ericalm wrote:Michelin S83s and Continental Zippys fit.

I know there were fitting problems with the Prima whitewalls, too.

Is the Vee a tubeless? (I know you have to put a tube in anyways…)

The Vee is tubeless. Maybe tubeless are fatter? I have to correct myself - I just noticed it's 100/90/10. There's got to be someone on MB that knows the exact differences between a 100/90/10 and a 3.5x10 tire but maybe it's enough to not make it fit.

I'm going to replace the stock Sava whitewalls now. Have you heard anything about the Heidenau K61s.This Vee http://www.scooterworks.com/Vee-Rubber- ... 7C566.aspx at ScooterWorks is a tube tire and comes up when filtered for the Stella 4T so it should fit. What are the reviews on the 3.5x10 Zippy? I can't tell if it is tubeless. http://www.scooterworks.com/Tire-Contin ... 8C566.aspx

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:39 am

On the topic of tire changes, has anyone found a portable item that will prop up the engine "block" so you can do a tire change on the side of the road? The 4x6 block of wood I'm using works well at home but I can't really take it with me. I've seen YouTube videos of people using a Coke can on the 2T but the 4T engine is about a half-inch higher than a standard soda can. And I've seen people take off their right-side cowling and tip over their 2T to do a tire change but fluids leak out on the 4T. I tried a small, collapsible camera tripod but it was about a half-inch too tall (if you lift up the rear too much, the kick stand springs up). There's got to be something that is just right and fits in the glove box.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:51 am

I actually prefer tubeless.

Don't know if the Heidenau K61 fits. I opted for a less expensive tire because I really don't need the high performance benefits of the Heidenau.

3.5 x 10 tires = 3.5" width. 3.5" sidewall height. 10" rim diameter.

100/90/10 means 100mm (3.94" wide), height is 90% of width (90mm/3.54"), 10" rim diameter.

So it's quite possible the 110/90/10 is just too wide.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:24 pm

rondothemidget wrote:On the topic of tire changes, has anyone found a portable item that will prop up the engine "block" so you can do a tire change on the side of the road? The 4x6 block of wood I'm using works well at home but I can't really take it with me. I've seen YouTube videos of people using a Coke can on the 2T but the 4T engine is about a half-inch higher than a standard soda can. And I've seen people take off their right-side cowling and tip over their 2T to do a tire change but fluids leak out on the 4T. I tried a small, collapsible camera tripod but it was about a half-inch too tall (if you lift up the rear too much, the kick stand springs up). There's got to be something that is just right and fits in the glove box.

I use a chunk of 2X4. . It fits in the glove box and holds up my stella rear end just fine.

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:51 am

ericalm wrote:I actually prefer tubeless.

Don't know if the Heidenau K61 fits. I opted for a less expensive tire because I really don't need the high performance benefits of the Heidenau.

3.5 x 10 tires = 3.5" width. 3.5" sidewall height. 10" rim diameter.

100/90/10 means 100mm (3.94" wide), height is 90% of width (90mm/3.54"), 10" rim diameter.

So it's quite possible the 110/90/10 is just too wide.

That has to be the problem - with the 100/90/10 being nearly 4" wide, they just won't fit.

I just bought a pair of K61s. I'll be installing them in the next few days so a review will follow in the very near future.

Why do you prefer tubeless? Is it cost? I was paying $12 to have the local Honda dealer mount my Buddy tires and a new Michelin tube cost me $14 so in my opinion, it's a wash. Is it safety? I've heard pros and cons about the safety of tubed versus tubed tires. EDIT (tubed vs. tubeless)

What swings it for me, right now, is how easy it is to replace the tires. I know there are machines you can buy from Harbor Freight to mount tubeless tires but I don't have a place to anchor it into a cement floor. And I think you need a bead breaker too.

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:05 am

jimmbomb wrote:I use a chunk of 2X4. . It fits in the glove box and holds up my stella rear end just fine.

Do you do anything to support the bottom? It seems it would tip over easily.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:22 am

I like tubeless simply because they're less likely to have a blowout. On tubeless rims, the tires are also very easy to patch and repair if they're punctured.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:59 am

Ill get a pic tonite. It is very sturdy. I've even pulled the muffler, changed filters etc all with that 2x4 under there. Perfect.

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:31 pm

Has anyone had any experience with the Bajaj Cheetak jack stand? Does it fit the 4T?

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:00 pm

rondothemidget wrote:Has anyone had any experience with the Bajaj Cheetak jack stand? Does it fit the 4T?

I bought it.
And no it does not fit.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:24 am

here's a picture of the 2X4,, it's about 6 & 1/2 inches long.
I want to cut another at 7 inches though, but this works just fine .
If it worries you, cut 2 of them and screw them together to make one 4X4.. it will fit in your glove box..

good luck... jh

noodoggy · Post by **noodoggy** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:55 am

jimmbomb wrote:here's a picture of the 2X4,, it's about 6 & 1/2 inches long.
I want to cut another at 7 inches though, but this works just fine .
If it worries you, cut 2 of them and screw them together to make one 4X4.. it will fit in your glove box..

good luck... jh

how do you get it up on the 2X4?

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:39 pm

ok... get behind the stella and have the 2X4 in your right hand.
drop down to one knee (left) and try to put your chest against the tailight.
right hand get your wood block ready to slip under.
With your left hand, raise up under the bumber guard and lift the ass end off the ground.
Slip the 2X4 under the the motor near the drain plug.
Set the ass end down on to the wood
test for steadyness. lift and wiggle till real secure.

ps,, lol sorry... make sure your scoot is on it's center stand before beginning with the front tire off the ground.

good luck...

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 12:28 am

desmolicious wrote:
rondothemidget wrote:Has anyone had any experience with the Bajaj Cheetak jack stand? Does it fit the 4T?
I bought it.
And no it does not fit.

I saw a picture of it, how would that even fit to the engine? Would that work with a 2T stella?

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:58 am

Lokky wrote:
desmolicious wrote:
rondothemidget wrote:Has anyone had any experience with the Bajaj Cheetak jack stand? Does it fit the 4T?
I bought it.
And no it does not fit.

I saw a picture of it, how would that even fit to the engine? Would that work with a 2T stella?

Yes
I used one with my 08
The bottom of the shock sits ontop
of the jack just right. I gave it to the guy that bought the bike though.

rondothemidget · Post by **rondothemidget** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:44 pm

I've got over 300 miles on my Heidenau K61's and they are awesome. The ride is much softer, almost like I've got new shocks. I kept checking the air pressure when I first put them on because it felt like I was riding with flats. And I really feel the grip on faster speed turns. The stock Savas feel like solid rubber tricycle tires compared to the K61s. And with it being really easy to take off the tires on the Stella, I will be rotating them every oil change.
The only negative I've found is they don't like the wet stuff. It gets squirrelly going over gutters so I can only imagine what they'd be like in the rain. I'd have to switch to winter or all-weather tires if So. Cal. got more seasonal rain.