Checking The Tyres; Repairing The Head-Lamp - MINSK Repair Manual

Alternatively, tap them with a spanner and listen for a clear sounding noise. If they
are loose then this tapping will produce a dull thudding sound much different from
the harmonic ring when they are tight
Normally a visual check while spinning the wheel will tell you if the rim is
warped but if you want to be more accurate about where exactly the warp is then
do the following. With your fingers and palm braced against the back suspension,
stick your thumb out so that it touches the rim of the back wheel and keep it in that
position. Then spin the back wheel. Any buckle will become apparent by virtue of
the rim either pushing into or moving away from your held-in-position thumb.
To rectify a buckle you need to selectively tighten the spokes. There are two
kinds of spokes. Half of them pull the rim to the right and half of them pull the rim
to the left. Find where the buckle is and rectify it by tightening the spokes which
pull the rim back into the right position and by loosening the spokes which are
otherwise pulling the rim into the wrong position. It is a process you just have to
keep doing until it is right.
The tool you use to do this tightening is the one same one you use to
remove the tyre from the rim when you have a flat. On the side of this
tool is a notch which fits perfectly onto the screw at the end of every
spoke. Alternatively, leave this somewhat complicated job to a
mechanic.
If your bike is a new one then make sure the spokes are tightened up
before heading out as they tend to come pretty fresh out of the box. Just
go around the wheel and tighten each spoke – not to the full limit, just
tight. Use the tyre removing tool or a #9 spanner.
If you are driving on difficult road with two people then check the spokes
every couple of days.
Checking the Tyres
Feel around the sides of both tyres for any bulges or lumps. Such bulges
indicate that the tyre wall is weak at that spot and runs the risk of blowing-out.
Often pumping too much air into the inner-tube causes this – always be wary if
you use an electric pump as they can be too strong. Also make sure there is plenty
of tread on the tyre and that there are no groves cut into them by inopportune
contact with the mud guards or frame.
Repairing the Head­Lamp
Replacing the bulb in the front headlamp is a snap. Just undo the screw at the
bottom of the headlamp, remove the cover housing the glass, pull the wires out
from the bulb and unclip the faulty bulb. The bulb has three clips coming
out of it. The correct position for the bulb occurs when the three
connection clips are positioned like this diagram
i.e. the middle clip is horizontal and at the top.
©Digby Greenhalgh 2000
Minsk Repair Manual
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