Hey baust55, I had almost the same experience with my ride. I bought my 06 with the 402's on it, I had them put a new one on the rear when I got it. I had to change the rear at just under 11,000 and really should have changed it a lot sooner. I put the E3's on front and rear when I changed and have got 12,000 plus on them now. The front still looks great and the rear isn't even near needing changed yet. The major plus besides mileage on the E3's over the 402's is the handling, those 402's track grooves and cracks bad, I felt like I was fighting the bike everytime I got on grooved highways. All that being said I am really thinking about going to the Mich Commanders on my next change. I would really like to see 20,000 plus on the rear tire.

 

Are you equipped to pull your rear wheel yourself? That way even a local metric shop can mount your tire for you.

(My local Indy charges $25 mounted and balanced if the wheel is off the bike.)

 

I am not sure if i have all the tools i would need or the skill to pull the tire my self .
I do have a yellow HF lift and a 1100lb capacity sissor jack..

I live a 100 miles from my HD dealer my fav indy is 80 miles and my GFs son recomends a V-star dealer about 80 miles away he had mount a tire on his SoftTail.
So i need to make some calls to get prices.

 

Well other than your normal socket set, you'd need a 36mm socket and a foot pound torque wrench that goes up to 105 ft lbs to reinstall.

 

I need to check my sockets for a 36mm . i have a foot pound torque wrench .

i am a little intimidaed buy removing and installing the brake and setting the belt tension .

I rode a shovel for 30 years , i just learning to do work on the 96twin cam .

I do have a service manual .

 

Brake caliper doesn't need to be removed. There is a horizontal "nub" on the frame at the cam adjusters.....you can take a sharpie and put a mark on each cam adjuster at the top of the nub for reinstall. That should get it pretty spot on. Then just do the "twist" method to check the belt tension. If you can only twist it 45 degrees it should be good to go.

 

ok cool ... now i need to determin what inner tube size and rim strip size do i need for a spoked wheel, i have the FLHRC i am asumming new is the way to go ?

 

what no inner tube experts ? ha

 

Yes you'll want a new inner tube and rim strip. I would imagine you will want a 16" side metal valve tube and accompanying rim strip.

 

anyone have recomondations for tube brands ? i see kenda advertises a stronger thicker tube ?