Dong Fang DF250RTG - Page 47

Barnone · 07-28-2023, 08:58 PM

^^^^^^
Your suggestion might work.

Cmmoore72 · 08-04-2023, 05:46 PM

I put new chain sprocket on and has made a big difference. The bike handles great until about 50 mph. Then it vibrates pretty bad still. But I only have less than 300 miles in it. Does it get better after break in, is this common or do I have something else going on. I have tripled checked rear wheel alignment and chain slack. They look good. Thanks

grumpyunk · 08-05-2023, 09:24 AM

Cmoore... does it seem to vibrate more at one end than the other? It is possible one of the tires is out of balance. If you can suspend the tires the front would tend to rotate to have the heavy spot at the bottom, and might do that even if you rotated the wheel to say, 9 or 3 o'clock.
To check the rear tire, likely, unless heavily out of balance, the chain would have to be removed from the rear sprocket due to friction. If there was a heavy spot it would tend towards 6 o'clock.
You may want to check also for out of round. Spin the tires while off the ground and watch the tread as it goes by one spot. It should not vary much at all in its radial position. A round tire & wheel will rotate past one spot and the outermost surface of the tire will have the same position relative to a spot you pick. It should not vary but spin by smoothly. The rim of the wheel is also an indicator and can be observed the same way. Broken or mis-adjusted spokes can cause a rim to vary in its rotation.
tom

Barnone · 08-05-2023, 10:20 AM

Cmmoore72,
I don't have that 50 MPH vibration on my DF. One of your tires could be way out of balance as suggested above. There are no weights on my rims. Maybe out of round too?

Anybody try Ride-On Motorcycle Tire Balancer & Sealant on their bike to balance the tires?
I just had a flat on my rear tire and can't find the puncture so will remove the tire and check the tube. The bubbles are coming out around the valve.

Barnone · 08-06-2023, 11:20 AM

Turns out the flat was caused by a tear in the inter tube close to the valve stem. That must have happened when the wheel was put together at the factory. It was a very slow leak as I have over 100 miles on the bike. The soapy water test before I removed the wheel showed a very slow leak coming out of the nut area on the valve stem. Almost like it could have been a tubeless tire leak. I ordered a new tube from Amazon as no one had a tube.
First flat I have had in many years,knock on wood.
Dot on tire goes next to valve stem, right?

Hole in tube. I poked the pencil in the hole to show the size of the hole.

**JerryHawk250** · 08-07-2023, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnone

Turns out the flat was caused by a tear in the inter tube close to the valve stem. That must have happened when the wheel was put together at the factory. It was a very slow leak as I have over 100 miles on the bike. The soapy water test before I removed the wheel showed a very slow leak coming out of the nut area on the valve stem. Almost like it could have been a tubeless tire leak. I ordered a new tube from Amazon as no one had a tube.
First flat I have had in many years,knock on wood.
Dot on tire goes next to valve stem, right?

Hole in tube. I poked the pencil in the hole to show the size of the hole.

You're going to have to stop riding over pencils lol . The dot usually goes near the stem.

Barnone · 08-07-2023, 08:49 AM

^^^^
Will Sharpies make the same hole in the tube?
The tube is supposed to arrive today so I should be riding by tomorrow.

**JerryHawk250** · 08-07-2023, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnone

^^^^
Will Sharpies make the same hole in the tube?

Bikenut · 08-07-2023, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnone

Turns out the flat was caused by a tear in the inter tube close to the valve stem. That must have happened when the wheel was put together at the factory. It was a very slow leak as I have over 100 miles on the bike. The soapy water test before I removed the wheel showed a very slow leak coming out of the nut area on the valve stem. Almost like it could have been a tubeless tire leak. I ordered a new tube from Amazon as no one had a tube.
First flat I have had in many years,knock on wood.
Dot on tire goes next to valve stem, right?

Hole in tube. I poked the pencil in the hole to show the size of the hole.

I remember getting a flat long ago when the tire and tube slide backwards on the rim under heavy braking because low tire pressure allowed the tire/tube to move on the rim. That ripped the valve stem out of the tube causing a leak/flat. The valve stem had a locking nut at the base that kept the valve stem in place even though the tube had moved.

The solution was to remove that locking nut so the valve stem could move with the tube.. at least a little... without pulling out and, more importantly, keeping a close eye on tire pressure. But it was an easy to see visual indicator if the tire/tube had moved on the rim because without that locking nut the valve stem would move and be tilted allowing the tire/tube situation to be fixed before getting a dangerous flat tire.

grumpyunk · 08-07-2023, 02:25 PM

Barnone:Turns out the flat was caused by a tear in the inter tube close to the valve stem.

Did you consider using a patch? The tube looks good and fresh, not discolored with age or lacking in flexibility. I realize many don't know how, or consider patching something that is not acceptable nowdays, but it was done all the time prior to tubeless tires. I bought the large container of patch 'solvent' and store it in the freezer to keep it from evaporating, so I have some on hand. The little tubes dry out once they are pierced to allow dispensing. The patch just seals the tube from leakage, and it backed up by the tire sidewall (or potentially the rim) so it has no real pressure that is not compensated for by it being enclosed. My take is they are just as safe as a tube-type is prior to being patched.
I expect there will be differing opinions.
tom

Barnone · 08-07-2023, 04:49 PM

I would have patched it but it was a long tear. Patched tubes for years working in a gas station when I was a kid and some more later in life. No big deal.

Barnone · 08-09-2023, 04:57 PM

Got the new tube installed and the wheel is way out of balance. I put a heavy weight on it and it is still out of balance. Think I will take it to my local shop and have them check it.

Barnone · 08-12-2023, 10:06 AM

Local shop is closed for some reason. Only one in my area so I balanced the wheel and took her for a ride, all is ok.

Dadbike26 · 08-16-2023, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoResource95

My white DF250RTG
Current modifications: Bars, grips, mirrors, digital speedo, seat, blinkers

Speedo still needs to be programmed and I need to figure out a mount. Any suggestions on universal mounts for the gauge cluster? I was thinking one of these might work?

If anyone is interested in the stock parts I deleted let me know. I don't plan to use the bars, mirrors, or seat for anything. Located in Pensacola FL

Your bike looks sweet man! I’ve got a white DF250RTG and going to install the clubman bars. Was it a hassle to install them?

Barnone · 08-19-2023, 05:23 PM

Beautiful day here on the Dragon ETN & WNC.

07-28-2023, 08:58 PM	#691
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	^^^^^^ Your suggestion might work. Attached Thumbnails
	0

08-05-2023, 09:24 AM	#693
grumpyunk Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: nw of atlanta Posts: 169	Cmoore... does it seem to vibrate more at one end than the other? It is possible one of the tires is out of balance. If you can suspend the tires the front would tend to rotate to have the heavy spot at the bottom, and might do that even if you rotated the wheel to say, 9 or 3 o'clock. To check the rear tire, likely, unless heavily out of balance, the chain would have to be removed from the rear sprocket due to friction. If there was a heavy spot it would tend towards 6 o'clock. You may want to check also for out of round. Spin the tires while off the ground and watch the tread as it goes by one spot. It should not vary much at all in its radial position. A round tire & wheel will rotate past one spot and the outermost surface of the tire will have the same position relative to a spot you pick. It should not vary but spin by smoothly. The rim of the wheel is also an indicator and can be observed the same way. Broken or mis-adjusted spokes can cause a rim to vary in its rotation. tom __________________ vertical and above ground - my daily goal
	0

08-06-2023, 11:20 AM	#695
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	Turns out the flat was caused by a tear in the inter tube close to the valve stem. That must have happened when the wheel was put together at the factory. It was a very slow leak as I have over 100 miles on the bike. The soapy water test before I removed the wheel showed a very slow leak coming out of the nut area on the valve stem. Almost like it could have been a tubeless tire leak. I ordered a new tube from Amazon as no one had a tube. First flat I have had in many years,knock on wood. Dot on tire goes next to valve stem, right? Hole in tube. I poked the pencil in the hole to show the size of the hole. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Barnone; 08-06-2023 at 07:13 PM.
	0

08-07-2023, 02:25 PM	#700
grumpyunk Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: nw of atlanta Posts: 169	Barnone:Turns out the flat was caused by a tear in the inter tube close to the valve stem. Did you consider using a patch? The tube looks good and fresh, not discolored with age or lacking in flexibility. I realize many don't know how, or consider patching something that is not acceptable nowdays, but it was done all the time prior to tubeless tires. I bought the large container of patch 'solvent' and store it in the freezer to keep it from evaporating, so I have some on hand. The little tubes dry out once they are pierced to allow dispensing. The patch just seals the tube from leakage, and it backed up by the tire sidewall (or potentially the rim) so it has no real pressure that is not compensated for by it being enclosed. My take is they are just as safe as a tube-type is prior to being patched. I expect there will be differing opinions. tom __________________ vertical and above ground - my daily goal
	2

08-19-2023, 05:23 PM	#705
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	Beautiful day here on the Dragon ETN & WNC. Attached Thumbnails
	1

08-04-2023, 05:46 PM	#692
Cmmoore72 Join Date: May 2023 Posts: 24	I put new chain sprocket on and has made a big difference. The bike handles great until about 50 mph. Then it vibrates pretty bad still. But I only have less than 300 miles in it. Does it get better after break in, is this common or do I have something else going on. I have tripled checked rear wheel alignment and chain slack. They look good. Thanks
	0

08-05-2023, 10:20 AM	#694
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	Cmmoore72, I don't have that 50 MPH vibration on my DF. One of your tires could be way out of balance as suggested above. There are no weights on my rims. Maybe out of round too? Anybody try Ride-On Motorcycle Tire Balancer & Sealant on their bike to balance the tires? I just had a flat on my rear tire and can't find the puncture so will remove the tire and check the tube. The bubbles are coming out around the valve.
	0

08-07-2023, 08:49 AM	#697
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	^^^^ Will Sharpies make the same hole in the tube? The tube is supposed to arrive today so I should be riding by tomorrow.
	2

08-07-2023, 04:49 PM	#701
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	I would have patched it but it was a long tear. Patched tubes for years working in a gas station when I was a kid and some more later in life. No big deal.
	1

08-09-2023, 04:57 PM	#702
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	Got the new tube installed and the wheel is way out of balance. I put a heavy weight on it and it is still out of balance. Think I will take it to my local shop and have them check it.
	0

08-12-2023, 10:06 AM	#703
Barnone Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,352	Local shop is closed for some reason. Only one in my area so I balanced the wheel and took her for a ride, all is ok.
	1