Tire Changing....
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 818
From: Thornwood, NY
Tire Changing....
Hey all....
Need to swap my tires to my new rims in the next few weeks, and prices shops are asking is ridiculous.... (50 per wheel mount, plus dismount fees...)
So I'm tempted to buy the tools and do it myself even if it costs a bit more (next time will be free!!!!). Anyway... just curious to know if anyone has any experience with the Harbor Frieght tire changer... I know they sell junk most of the time... but all I need is a way to hold the tire down, as I'm tempted to buy the "No-Mar" dismounting bar to insure I don't scratch/damage my rims. Will probably do 1 set a year at best.
Don't know much about "spooning" tires, but Im a little weary there as I don't wanna bend/scratch the lips due to inexperence.
Thanks all!!!
J.
Need to swap my tires to my new rims in the next few weeks, and prices shops are asking is ridiculous.... (50 per wheel mount, plus dismount fees...)
So I'm tempted to buy the tools and do it myself even if it costs a bit more (next time will be free!!!!). Anyway... just curious to know if anyone has any experience with the Harbor Frieght tire changer... I know they sell junk most of the time... but all I need is a way to hold the tire down, as I'm tempted to buy the "No-Mar" dismounting bar to insure I don't scratch/damage my rims. Will probably do 1 set a year at best.
Don't know much about "spooning" tires, but Im a little weary there as I don't wanna bend/scratch the lips due to inexperence.
Thanks all!!!
J.
Administrator
World Champion
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 105,287
From: Fulton, MO
Dunno if you know it but my brother owns NoMar and he invented and manufactures the changers. I have the Pro model. If you have any questions regarding the changer please feel free and ask. I can praise the product until I'm blue in the face but I'd rather have someone else do that since my brother is the owner. Check out the website, watch the videos, do a Google search. You'll find nothing but good stuff on NoMar.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,315
From: Richmond, Virginia
I have the Harbor Freight, but got frustrated with it. It's very difficult to get the last bit of the bead on the rim. Having a helper would probably make a big difference.
Last time I used it I tore the bead on my BT020, so I stopped & took it to a local shop. They charge me $20 to mount & balance.
A friend has the NoMar & I've done my tires with him on it a couple times. Worked fine. The NoMar mounting bar is really the key, otherwise it's pretty much the same setup.
Last time I used it I tore the bead on my BT020, so I stopped & took it to a local shop. They charge me $20 to mount & balance.
A friend has the NoMar & I've done my tires with him on it a couple times. Worked fine. The NoMar mounting bar is really the key, otherwise it's pretty much the same setup.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 818
From: Thornwood, NY
Yeah... from what I've researched, the No-Mar changer looks like it is a great tool. I just don't have enough use to justify a 800 tire changer... but 100 for the No-Mar bar, and use it with an cheap "holding/clamping" unit... might be the way to go.
Thanks for the info...
Thanks for the info...
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 152
From: Phoenix
I have the Harbor Freight changer and the only thing I can tell ya is practice makes perfect and the more spoons and hands you have around the better. (BEER + FRIENDS = EASIER TIRE CHANGE)Just make sure the bead of the tire that is already on the rim is in the "drop zone to relieve the pressure and muscle it over the rim. MAKE SURE YOU USE RIM PROTECTORS the more the better!!!! I even use rim protectors where the rim is clamped to the changer cause I hate scratches!!
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 470
From: titusville, fl
I used this train of thought when I discovered how much the dealers charge: who has really good tire equipment? who has to mount/dismount those silly 250 and 300 series tires on bling bling rims? a custom/chopper shop! there's one in my town who'll do my tires for $20 each if I take the wheel off myself. then I balance them at home, very easy. ta-da!
RUNLEVELZERO #99
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,218
From: Skokie
New Rubbers On...
Went to my buds shop today (4&6 / Safety First Racing) and mounted the Conti Sport Ft & Road Rr and cleaned the thing since it was up on both stands. Must have worked 9 hours total. Have not spent that much time working on the VTR in at least a year. Next the RC51 ft m/c, flush the brakes & clutch and heat wrap the rr header adjacent the shock. Don't know if I will have the strength or time to flush the fork, raise the Penske a bit and lean the carbs (down a step on the mains). May just turn in the fuel screws a 1/4+ and see if it snows again. Which it will since I put the snow blower in the shed (but I faked out old man winter because I didn't mothball it).
63 today and warm the next few but rain. Hope to scrub in the Contis between the raindrops and will report initial impressions.
63 today and warm the next few but rain. Hope to scrub in the Contis between the raindrops and will report initial impressions.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 295
From: Seattle
I do my own tires and have no issues. You just need an arbor press to break the bead and a couple of rounded off flat bladed screwdrivers with some black tape on the end.
Use lots of water and soap to lube the bead while taking it off and going back on.
I balance them by inserting the axle putting it on a V block and playing with tape weights till the wheel is balanced.
Use lots of water and soap to lube the bead while taking it off and going back on.
I balance them by inserting the axle putting it on a V block and playing with tape weights till the wheel is balanced.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 208
From: East Tennessee
I do my own the old fashion way.
Break the beads with an 8ft 2x4 + 1ft fulcrum
Peal them off with a couple of Motion Pro 16" irons:
http://www.motorcycletoolchest.com/M..._p/08-0007.htm
and a few Nylon Rim Savers.
Then balance them with a Rod Neff mini-balancer ($60).
http://www.pbase.com/rodneff/minibalancer
Practice makes perfect ...
Break the beads with an 8ft 2x4 + 1ft fulcrum
Peal them off with a couple of Motion Pro 16" irons:
http://www.motorcycletoolchest.com/M..._p/08-0007.htm
and a few Nylon Rim Savers.
Then balance them with a Rod Neff mini-balancer ($60).
http://www.pbase.com/rodneff/minibalancer
Practice makes perfect ...
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 127
From: PA
I do my own the old fashion way.
Break the beads with an 8ft 2x4 + 1ft fulcrum
Peal them off with a couple of Motion Pro 16" irons:
http://www.motorcycletoolchest.com/M..._p/08-0007.htm
and a few Nylon Rim Savers.
Then balance them with a Rod Neff mini-balancer ($60).
http://www.pbase.com/rodneff/minibalancer
Practice makes perfect ...
Break the beads with an 8ft 2x4 + 1ft fulcrum
Peal them off with a couple of Motion Pro 16" irons:
http://www.motorcycletoolchest.com/M..._p/08-0007.htm
and a few Nylon Rim Savers.
Then balance them with a Rod Neff mini-balancer ($60).
http://www.pbase.com/rodneff/minibalancer
Practice makes perfect ...
This is close to my bead breaker, I use the running board/step of my Explorer:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-...ad-breaker.htm
These are close to my balancer:
http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/balancer.html
I use the same method for a mounting surface that I do with my dirt bike tires. The new tire serves as the stand when I'm taking off the old tire, and the old tire serves as the stand when I'm putting the new one on. They're always the perfect size.
Things that make mouting easier:
1) Warm tires, room temp and above
2) Lubed beads, I use soapy water
3) Getting the opposite side of the bead you are levering down in the "drop center"
4) Taking little bites of bead towards the end
5) Even levering pressure. Just get the bead moving, it will eventually slide over.
Oh, using tire irons, you need some way to hold the first part of the bead that you levered under the rim. I use vise grips for dirt bike rims, but they wouldn't play nicely with streetbike rims. I use a spring clamp with the clamping surcaces wrapped with duct tape.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
