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Scooters - 125 to 300 => Downtown 300 => Topic started by: kfc.android on August 04, 2014, 02:44:57 PM

Title: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: kfc.android on August 04, 2014, 02:44:57 PM
happy Monday guys,

I did a semi-DIY rear tire change last weekend.
(BTW, The old Diablo lasted for amazing 8500 miles)

What I did is: remove exhaust pipe, rear fork, brake assembly, rear shock (R), and then the rim.
Brought it to my local shop, paid $15 for that.

Next, I applied small amount of multi-purpose (w/ anti-seize) grease on the drive shaft, then
put everything back in reverse order, tighten all nuts and bolts with torque wrench.
Rear Axle Nut: 12.0 kgfm
Rear Brake: 2.7 kgfm
Rear Shock and all other bolts: 4.0 kgfm

I am not sure if it's because of the wind (around 10mph these days) or the weight of new tire, or anything else. I can now feel the overall (0-80mph) acceleration is slower, both on local and freeway, single and two-up, day and night...very strange!

Anyone can think of any possible cause or there's something wrong with my steps?
Thanks in advance!
 
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: de dee on August 05, 2014, 01:20:33 AM
 you may have some brake drag, put it up on center stand and spin the tire
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: kfc.android on August 05, 2014, 05:17:11 AM
de dee:
I tried to spin it, but can't really feel the dragging.
Should I re-install the brake caliper? Any thing I should pay attention to?
Any opinion will be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: de dee on August 05, 2014, 09:07:06 AM
when I changed my tires , I cleaned the pins and the sliding stainless steel in the brakes, and used brake lube , very high temp. lube for brakes ,  so the pads retract when you let go of the brakes
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: kfc.android on August 05, 2014, 04:04:20 PM
Thanks de dee!
I will definitely take a look at my rear brake caliper today after work.
Maybe I will remove it first, try to rotate the tire to see if there's any difference.
Btw, if I take out the brake pads, do I need any special tool (like air compressor) to push the pistons back? I never service my rear brake and I saw that on the repair manual so just curious about that.
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: mrmike on August 05, 2014, 11:21:08 PM
How's the tire pressure?
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: de dee on August 06, 2014, 02:07:25 AM
  when I did my brakes I just sqeezed the calipers with my fingers, not very hard at all,. 
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: kfc.android on August 06, 2014, 04:46:32 AM
How's the tire pressure?

Mike,
I put 33psi as I always did, but somehow can still feel the dragging :(
My alternative solution: change engine oil since it's almost due, will test it tomorrow and see how it works.
Thanks for the input :)

  when I did my brakes I just sqeezed the calipers with my fingers, not very hard at all,. 

Thanks de dee, I will give it a try. As I mentioned above, I just did an oil change tonight,
will see if the loss of power is related to (almost due) engine oil.
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: de dee on August 06, 2014, 09:38:57 AM
some times when you change tires ,it is smoother riding and feels slow , hot heavy days does feel slow all so,. cool mornings my scooter feels like a tiger,.
Title: Re: Lose (some) power after tire change?
Post by: kfc.android on August 06, 2014, 04:22:47 PM
de dee,
I agree with you, I think those hot days our transmission is not performing as well as it should be because of the excessive heat. I have heard some DT owner in Taiwan burned their clutch outer by going up hill on summer days with heavy traffic.

I tried to test my bike and see how it fells after last night's oil change, unfortunately I was going SW which is 10 mph head wind (Can't go faster than 75mph in that strong head wind condition). Guess I will need more days to see how it performs.

Will definitely check my brake as you mentioned before, just want to eliminate all possible causes.