change your own tires
09-23-2013, 08:15 PM
#1
Senior Member
MotoGP
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,033
change your own tires
Hey guys, just saw this nifty little tire changer. Would pay for itself in like 2 changes. I have always done my own with the harbor frieght unit.
Portable Tire Changing Stand With Bead Breaker - Chaparral Motorsports
Portable Tire Changing Stand With Bead Breaker - Chaparral Motorsports
09-23-2013, 10:35 PM
#2
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 972
Hey guys, just saw this nifty little tire changer. Would pay for itself in like 2 changes. I have always done my own with the harbor frieght unit.
Portable Tire Changing Stand With Bead Breaker - Chaparral Motorsports
Portable Tire Changing Stand With Bead Breaker - Chaparral Motorsports
09-24-2013, 05:55 AM
#4
Senior Member
MotoGP
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,033
You buy the 1 oz lead wheel weights onlin, paint them to match your rims, then balance. It is VERY needed, dont believe lazy fake mechanics that tell you otherwise.
I made myself a really nice balance after finding roller blades where like $5 in thrift shops, but for years use this method to perfection.
I made myself a really nice balance after finding roller blades where like $5 in thrift shops, but for years use this method to perfection.
09-24-2013, 07:58 AM
#6
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 466
I've always changed my dirt tires, but never street as I was unsure of balancing. Wow, do I feel silly. Next set will be done at home, that's for sure.
Last edited by KCCO; 09-24-2013 at 11:17 AM.
09-24-2013, 08:03 AM
#7
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pa
Posts: 734
Also - I'm looking at that tire changer & I'm wondering 2 things
1. The way it looks - I'm guessing one would manually rotate the rim to break the bead.
2. And what about remounting - the ones I've seen have a bar that rotates to remount, placed between tire edge & rim.
I'm used to seeing something like these
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/
I go to a buddies house in NJ & he does them for a nominal fee. Plus I just ship the tires to his house. He's very neat & cleans my always filthy rims as well as balancing them.
But I wouldn't be against getting a unit to do my own, as well as others to make some side cash. DTR....
1. The way it looks - I'm guessing one would manually rotate the rim to break the bead.
2. And what about remounting - the ones I've seen have a bar that rotates to remount, placed between tire edge & rim.
I'm used to seeing something like these
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/
I go to a buddies house in NJ & he does them for a nominal fee. Plus I just ship the tires to his house. He's very neat & cleans my always filthy rims as well as balancing them.
But I wouldn't be against getting a unit to do my own, as well as others to make some side cash. DTR....
09-24-2013, 10:32 AM
#8
Well take off, eh.
SuperBike
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: QC, Canada
Posts: 1,201
Have one of these tools. Two flaws with this tool.
1. centrer bolt is not long enough for the rear Wheel. I had to cheat the mounting of the center bolt when doing the rear. I have found a new nut and bolt to take care of this problem.
2. The bead braking pallet/spatula is not long enough. The arm hits the bolt long before you have managed to brake the bead to it's fullest. My repare to this problem is three 1'' blocks to raise the whole arm to give me more travel.
I've seen much cheaper units on EBay (55-60$) which is what I have. If your willing to overlook these flaws, and tend to them, then yes, it's a good deal to save a few dollars, but not the best tool out there. Before you manage to get it working and manage to hold it down well enough for it not to move, then it's an ok buy. Doesn't take much space, pretty light unit to hang on the garage wall, and, one tire change later, it's already paid for.
1. centrer bolt is not long enough for the rear Wheel. I had to cheat the mounting of the center bolt when doing the rear. I have found a new nut and bolt to take care of this problem.
2. The bead braking pallet/spatula is not long enough. The arm hits the bolt long before you have managed to brake the bead to it's fullest. My repare to this problem is three 1'' blocks to raise the whole arm to give me more travel.
I've seen much cheaper units on EBay (55-60$) which is what I have. If your willing to overlook these flaws, and tend to them, then yes, it's a good deal to save a few dollars, but not the best tool out there. Before you manage to get it working and manage to hold it down well enough for it not to move, then it's an ok buy. Doesn't take much space, pretty light unit to hang on the garage wall, and, one tire change later, it's already paid for.
09-24-2013, 12:56 PM
#10
Thread Killer
SuperBike
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Geneseo, IL
Posts: 2,017
I have the Harbor Freight cheapo bead breaker and cheapo balancer. Did I really have to say "cheapo"? Had to straighten the shaft on the balancer, but both items work fine. Use the zip tie method now for mounting/unmounting. Need to get a lifetime supply jug of RuGlyde tire lube from NAPA as suggested by someone on here and I'll be set.
09-24-2013, 10:10 PM
#11
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 213
You could always just balance the wheel by mounting it on the bike without the caliper(s). As long as the wheel turns easily on the axle, which it usually does.
The problem with the tool in the OP is that it only breaks the bead. You'll need tire irons and rim protectors to finish the job. The frame probably helps a little with the actual changing but not much.
The problem with the tool in the OP is that it only breaks the bead. You'll need tire irons and rim protectors to finish the job. The frame probably helps a little with the actual changing but not much.
09-25-2013, 05:44 AM
#12
Senior Member
MotoGP
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,033
Beater, if it does it like my harbor frt, it does alot. This video show about how I do it on mine. If this table topper has a way to clamp the wheel w/o stressing the bearings then same result.
09-25-2013, 05:52 AM
#13
Senior Member
MotoGP
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,033
On my HF unit I fabbed some 'jojo" blocks to hold the rim out of delrin.(firm grip, no scuff) You can buy it in bulk from mcmaster-carr and hacksaw it.
The hf unit has a really good bead breaker so no prob there, but you need some plastic rim savers and a c clamp with innertube over it to speed things up.
The hf unit has a really good bead breaker so no prob there, but you need some plastic rim savers and a c clamp with innertube over it to speed things up.
09-25-2013, 09:48 AM
#14
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
I'm leery of the home balance job. It's easy enough to find the heaviest spot and to weight it's opposite but what about secondary? Don't electronic spin balancers identify the best location to place weights to address this? It seems like high speed balancing is more complicated than this to me.
09-25-2013, 04:52 PM
#15
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Posts: 1,456
Just to add to Joe's comment, if the tire comes with a marker for the air valve location, some mechanics can also tell you that if they install the tire with the marker on the valve, you will not need balancing, well that maybe true if your wheel is brand new, and even then I wouldn't trust that. It is always a good practice to balance your wheels when changing tires.
I made my own balance device from a Toyota window rod and couple other car parts that I found, you can be as creative as you can be, as long as you make it work
09-25-2013, 05:52 PM
#16
Senior Member
MotoGP
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,033
Toyota window rod? Now thats creative
At the racetrack when they mount my tires right next to the pros tires, they balance them just the same way I do and thats for maintained triple digit speeds at full lean.
Not sure how you are gonna notice at regular speeds
At the racetrack when they mount my tires right next to the pros tires, they balance them just the same way I do and thats for maintained triple digit speeds at full lean.
Not sure how you are gonna notice at regular speeds
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
marmaladedad
Rider's Gear
124
08-04-2011 12:40 PM
Sherm831
Technical Discussion
9
05-18-2010 07:07 PM
Stevebis1
Modifications - Cosmetic
2
03-03-2009 11:37 PM
NOrrTH
Technical Discussion
3
11-25-2005 09:59 AM
