Harley Davidson Model WLA (motorcycle, solo). Service manual (October, 1943) - page 7
Section XXV TIRES, WHEELS, AND HUBS
Description ..............
Tires ....................
Rims and spokes ..........
Front wheel replacement . .
Front wheel hub adjustment Rear wheel replacement
122. DESCRIPTION.
a. Wheels have drop center rims to accommodate 4.00 x 18 tires. Front
and rear wheels are not interchangeable. Front wheel hub is of
ball-bearing design, having cone adjustment similar to that of a bicycle
hub. Rear wheel hub is of roller-bearing design and must be taken apart
for adjustment. Both wheels have ’‘knock-out” type axles.
123. TIRES.
a. Description. Wheel rims are of the drop-center type, having a
depression, or well, in center of rim. The rim well, being smaller in
circumference than the rest of the rim. allows one casing bead to fit
loosely in it while other bead is being worked over edge of rim. Bear in
mind the importance of keeping one bead in rim well while other bead is
being worked onto or off rim. NOTE: It is not always necessary to
completely remove casing from rim. Removing one side only allows inner
tube to be removed and reinstalled, and also allows inside of casing to
be inspected.
b_ Remove,
(1) Remove wheel from vehicle and lay wheel on its side. To remove front
wheel, refer to paragraph 125. To remove rear wheel, refer to paragraph
127.
(2) Remove valve cap and valve core to free all air from tube.
(3) Press casing head into rim well to within a short distance of each
side of valve.
(4) Using tire iron “B” in vehicle kit (fig. 11). start bead over edge
of rim at valve. Do not use force when starting bead over edge of rim
with tire iron, because bead wires may be broken or stretched, and tire
ruined. With first bead in rim well, bead on other side can be started
easily over edge of rim. After a portion of second bead is started over
rim edge, casing can be further removed from wheel without aid of tire
iron.