changing flat tire

What Make/Model of scooter do you have? it looks like it might be the 3000 watt motor for the 2008 Zapino.(steel rim/no slots in rim)
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Front & rear tires have 90 degree valve stems to put air in the tire.
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Your rim looks like a steel rim. Might be able to reform it back to its normal shape so it will hold air again. If not, replace it. There should only be one hole for a valve stem so if you don't see it, then it broke off.
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Here is a picture of my wheel, 2008 Zapino/3000w motor on a steel rim with 90 degree valve stem.

1st place to check is the dealer and try to get a original stem. Or ZAP in Santa Rosa, CA.
2nd is any tire store.
3rd is Honda. I have a GL1500 and the valve stems are 90 degree. Original are rubber and a lot of owners are finding metal stems to replace them with.
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One problem you might have is the wiring to the motor. On my 2008 when I changed tires from the Kenda to Michelin S-1, the motor cannot be disconnected from the controller.

I used two tire tools and a large screwdriver to remove the Kenda. Installed the Michelin the same way. Inflating is a challenge also.
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To remove the tire with motor still connected, I placed the hub motor/rim on two blocks made up of several pieces of 2X6 nailed together (I built these to put the wheels of a car on rather then jack stands). The wiring was on the underside and I pried the tire off the rim. One of the problems with this is the brake rotor will be on top. Had to use a lot of care working around the rotor.
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I like the Michelin S-1 as the tire is much stronger then the Kenda. If you take off the Kenda to fix the rim, that would be a good time to replace it. I paid $78 including shipping for two 100/90 x 10".
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/32/404/5939/ITEM/Michelin-S1-Performance-Scooter-Tire.aspx

I got this message from ScooterTech:
Banned post removed.

Edit by andrew: That individual never requested that anything be posted. I may remind you (whoever you are) that I am also a moderator and can also edit messages. You could have contacted ME directly, and I would have gladly removed the message had we agreed to anything. Please contact me next time you decide to set policy on the fly.

The valve stem that is missing is the same as in the picture I posted above.
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I bought the 100/90 X 10 from the link I posted. I cannot recommend any other tires as I have no knowledge of them. Scooter Tech would be the better source of this information.
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I was wondering about how the rear tire rim got bent and no damage to the front wheel. Ususally when you hit something in the road, the front tire takes the bigger hit. I
was wondering if the rear tire had low pressure? Also the front tire is alloy and the rear is steel. Since they are different, one is stronger then the other. Iwould think the alloy would damage 1st.

I just deleted my post it pertained to a message from a banned individual which is apparently verboten....

The size is right. If they are anything like the 100/90x10 I bought you will be surprised at the increased strength of the sidewalls and tread.

When I wanted to replace the Kenda with the Michelin, the first thing was to disconnect the motor. On the 2007 I had, it was a connector. On the new one, no connector.
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I cut thru the Shrink tubing up to the point where there feels like joints in the wires to the motor. There was more shrink tubing so I decided to just remove the tire as I
described in earlier post. I don't know if the joints I felt were connectors or wire splices. Depending on which side of the rim the motor is bolted, you may be able to do as I did and not disconnect the wiring.
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I agree with you, not worth taking a chance on a bent rim if a new one is only $60.
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Keep tire pressure up. I have to go into an alleyway that has a 2" lip on the street. It feels like I am almost to my rim when I go there and I go really slow. Not much sidewall. But again, when you compare the Kenda sidewall with the Michelin, I think you have more confidence in the tire.

Today I found my front Zapino tire completely flat. I rode the scooter a few days ago and checked that the tire pressure was 36 lbs then. So the leak is a fast leak. So here's my question. Since I have to get a new front tire, I would like to go with the Michelin S1. But should I also replace the rear tire at the same time? I don't know if my scooter dealer is up to the challenge of replacing the rear tire since the controller cannot be connected on my 2008 Zapino. Also, does $85 labor seem reasonable to replace the front tire (my dealers estimate for the repair)? I don't have any experience with the cost of scooter repairs.

I thought I was being ripped off; when, I was charged $25 to mount a front tire on my scooter. They ruined the tire that I was having removed and told me that I must have hit a pot hole, the tire had less that 50 miles on it. They won't be getting any more business from me.

Removing the wheel is easy; all you have to do weight down the rear, so the front tire is in the air and remove the bolt that goes through the wheel. If you think you won't have enough clearance put a 2”X6” under the center stand that will give you more clearance to remove the wheel. Don't squeeze the brakes while the tire is off, or you might pop the pistons out of the caliper.

Philip

Thanks for the info. Doesn't the wheel have to be rebalanced like a car wheel after a tire is installed? Or does this not matter at such slow speed?

I use a piece of plywood with hooks and a packing tiedown strap with ratchet to hold the scooter end
down opposite to the end I am working on. As for balance, the tires are not perfect but balancing is
tricky. I have not seen any weights on any of the scooters I have worked on, so none have been balanced.
When rotating the tires I have seen a few that appear to be out of round. This results in vibration.
You can deflate the tire and rotate it on the rim to see if that helps.

For the 2nd Gen Zapino (2008) I found that the six motor wires are connected to the controller wires
with screws and nuts thru terminals. I have now removed a couple of motors since my previous posts
about changing the rear tire.

If the motor cannot be disconnected from the controller, how can I change the rim? I ordered a new rim and am planning to unbolt the motor from the old rim and mount the motor onto the new rim. Can this be done?

Did you get the Michelin S1 installed on the rear wheel? If so, how do you like the new tire?

Steve Tanner

Hey, Robert, Thank you SO much for your detailed recommendations on changing the Zapino rear tire. Mine went flat about 3 weeks ago and your directions helped me figure out how to fix it. Actually, your directions helped a local bicycle mechanic figure it out, with my help. Thanks, especially for the information and link to the Michelin tire. (I think that was you.)

I have a follow-up question for you (or anyone else out there). Once my tire was changed, we took the scooter off of the blocks and I started it up. The first little hill I went down, I put on both brakes. My front brake worked but the rear one didn't at all. I drove a few yards further and then the rear brake started working but it still doesn't feel like it's at full strength.

Is this to be expected? Is there a way for me to check that everything is hooked up right? Or do you think I need to have a motorcycle mechanic look at it?

Thanks!