| Author | Message | ||
     Buuueller |
I ran across this very informative site for mounting and balancing your own tires. If your interested: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html | ||
| Buuueller |
Just a quick follow up. I used the instructions on the site I mentioned above and set out to mount motorcycle tires for the first time ever. I got my new Avons in this past week to replace the Dunflops. I have to say that Im glad I tried this. It took a while to get everything set up and ready. And the cost of all the supplies and tools came out to what the cheapest shop would charge for one tire. But I changed both. Now Im set up for the next tire change and that one wont cost me a dime. The instructions on the site are very informative. I goofed up the first balance attempt because I didnt follow the recommendations. But once I did, the balance went very smooth. More than I expected. If you have a few square feet of shop space available I highly recommend giving this a shot. | ||
| Ezblast |
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| Gearheaderiko |
Another option: Harbour Freight sells a tire changer with motorcycle adapter for about $100. Wait until they go sale (which is often) and you can get it for $80. Includes most everything you need (except extra tire irons, lubricant and bolts to mount it to the floor or a plywood sheet). It basically accomplishes what the above referenced site does with less, for only slightly more $$. Works well for mc tires and it sure beats wrestling with tires on the 'shop' floor. | ||
| Swampy |
I used a 120 lb empty grease drum with a piece of square tube mounted across the diameter a few inches down from the top. Then I mounted a piece of threaded rod sticking up throught the center. Then I set a 13 inch car rim centered over the drum and ran a block of wood and a fender washer and nut to hold the rim to the the grease drum. I covered the edge of the rim with a piece of garden hose slit leangthwise and then just put the motorcycle rim on top of it all. I also mounted the grease drum to a piece of 3/4 inch, plywood. I like it mounted to the plywood because it is nice and sturdy while you are working on it but you can move it out of the way when you are done using it. I made a bead breaker from a piece of 2X4, about 6 foot long, with a bolt to pivot a 12 inch piece of 2X4, that is tapered to a point a foot from the end of the 2X4. The end is placed under a wall perlin. I place 4X4 cribbing under the rim while breaking the bead to keep the hub/rotor/sprocket off the floor. I have used this rig to do car tires when needed. Come on over I can show you how it is done.... | ||
| Buuueller |
$80??? Wow, thats not bad at all. Swampy, it sounds like your set up is pretty close to mine. Id like to see a photo of it. Or the next time im in Michigan.... | ||
| Toniportray |
I read from the Cycle Gear Magazine ad that they will balance tires for free. No need for any store purchases or having to pay for the mounting of the tire. Just bring it in with the tire on and they will balance it. I don't think you even need to pay for the weights. Nice! I haven't done it yet, but I'll post here again in a month or so to see if Cycle Gear keeps their word. If not, I have the ad still that I can fight them with. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Nice! Must be a promotional special. Last time I was there they werent about to balance for free! | ||
| Luke_sidewalker |
I mounted and balanced my own rear tire on Saturday in my driveway with nothing more than 2 17" tire spoons and a pool of sweat. (It's hot in Florida) It was way easier than I imagined. Now, I may sound like a knuckle dragging gorilla, but I actually balanced the rear tire by placing it on the axle and holding it in my hands palms up. May not be precision, but it worked extremely well. I did my front tire also. I bought the bike used in March, and it never had any wheel weights on it. As the rear Pirelli wore down, I developed a rough vibration that got worse over 75 mph. Rode 100 miles today with no vibration whatsoever. | ||
| Swampy |
The knuckle dragging gorillas way of balancing tires! Same principle, same results! Good on you! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
You could've just mounted it on the bike and balanced it?!  | ||
| Billyo |
Ever try Dyna Beads? I use them in my xb and blast with no weights at all. They work great. 2oz in rear and 1oz in front. They're good to at least 100mph (umm, so I hear). www.innovativebalancing.com | ||
| Berkshire |
interesting...  | ||
| Indybuell |
I'm going to try to mount my new MT75s tonight. Wish me luck! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Two critical tips... 1) Dilluted liquid dish soap everywhere, and lots of it. 2) Squash the end of the tire you are currently *not* wrestling with so the bead is squarely in the center of the rim at the point opposite where you are levering. 3) Add more soap. Everywhere. 4) Three hands work a lot better then two, but two will do it. 5) If you use enough soap. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Beads are real popular with the 4x4 offroad crowd because the big ole offroad tires are hard to balance, mainly from them being out of round...most of them use "airsoft B.B.s" ...personally I always went the "true the tires and add lead route". | ||
| Swampy |
Indybuell, I took a trip around the Oak Tree for you tonight. | ||
| Ezblast |
Gotta luv hi tech solutions! EZ | ||
| Johnk |
Not seeing a motorcycle tire changer at Harbor Freight anymore. Everyone doing this out of custom setups at home or have they come across new sources for a changing stand? Thanks! | ||
| Swampy |
The Harbor Freight motorcycle changing set up is the regular tire changer and a motorcycle adapter. They have a motorcycle wheel stand for lacing wheels, and it will work for static balancing your tires. The bead breaker that I came up with above is a very simple setup and will even break the beads on car tires, the only thing you have to remember is use lube, and keep the pressure on it, it takes time don't try to do it all at once, same with spooning off a tire or spooning one back on. I would try using zip ties to tie the beads together when you put the tire back on the rim, it really goes alot faster and easier. Try your favorite waterbased sex lube it is realy slippery! |
