How to Change a Dirt Bike Tire Tube

Riding a dirt bike can be a lot of fun. They come in many brands and sizes, making riding easy to become a family hobby. Whether you ride your backyard trails or travel to destinations made just for dirt-bike riders, be sure to bring a spare dirt-bike tire tube. A flat tire can compromise an afternoon or weekend of riding. Changing a dirt-bike tire tube yourself can save you money, because you won't have to take the time to haul it to a shop and then pay someone to change it for you.

Things You'll Need

• Channel lock pliers
• Adjustable crescent wrench
• Valve core tool
• Tire iron
• Baby powder
• Air compressor

Instructions

1. Remove the wheel from the dirt bike. To do this, hold one side of the rear axle with a pair of channel lock pliers and the other side with an adjustable crescent wrench. Turn the axle nut counter-clockwise until it comes off. Once this is done, pull the axle out with your channel lock pliers. Next, slide the wheel forward, and remove the chain from the sprocket with your fingers. Once the chain is off, you can pull the wheel out from the dirt bike.

2. Remove the old tube. Make sure all of the air is out of the tire tube by removing the valve core. To do this, place the valve core tool in the valve stem and turn counter-clockwise until the valve core comes out. Once this is done, remove one side of the tire. To do this, place a tire iron between the wheel and tire, then pull the tire up and over the rim; continue around the rim until this half of the tire is off the wheel. Reach inside the tire and pull out the old tire tube with your hand.

3. Place the new tube in the tire. Start by rubbing your hand around the inside of the tire to check for debris. If the tire is free from debris, shake baby powder on the inside of the tire; this will help the new tube expand properly. Once this is done, place the new tube inside the tire carefully, point the valve stem of the tube through the hole in the wheel and hold it in place with its valve stem cap. Once this is done, put the tire back on the wheel. To do this, use your fingers to press the tire back in its place under the wheel. Once you get the tire half on, put your tire iron under the lip of the wheel and pry the tire back onto the wheel until it's all on. Be careful not to pinch the new tube between the wheel and tire iron; this will ruin the new tube.

4. Inflate the new tube. Use your air compressor to add air to the new tube, and inflate it to the tube manufacturer's recommended pressure; once this is done let the air flow back out of the tube. Reinflate the tube again; doing this will allow the tube to expand properly with no defects. Once the tube is at the recommended pressure for the second time, replace the valve core. To do this, place the valve core and valve core tool back in the valve stem and turn it clockwise until it's tight.

5. Put the wheel back on the dirt bike. Place the wheel back in its original position, and put the chain back on the sprocket with your fingers. Once this is done, put the axle back in its hole, and place the axle nut on the axle. Use your channel lock pliers to hold one end of the axle and your adjustable crescent wrench to turn the other end clockwise until the nut is tight. You are now finished changing your dirt-bike tire tube.