| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
Well, I'm braking down. Can anyone list what tools are needed for doing tires. Or if you do your own what tools do you use? | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I use the Harbor Frieght tire changer/bead breaker with changing levers and old milk carton (Ala Al from American Sport Bike) to protect the rim... | ||
| Aldaytona |
Since you've already changed it, you probably used long curved tire irons (or wish you had). See you Sunday! | ||
| Cataract2 |
I went to someone who did it the "old fashioned way" with the tire irons and bead braker. That's what way I want to do it. (Don't ask, I'm just weird like that.) | ||
| Aldaytona |
There isn't anything wrong with the old fashioned way, the HF tire changer holds the wheel securely and at a workable height (I don't use the overhead piece or the big mounting bar). Tire irons work real good with the HF and beats the you know what out of the 5 gallon bucket. | ||
| Glitch |
This helped me. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Thanks for the link Glitch. We have a Sportster that needs new tires here at the house so I though I might "practice" on that. Thanks also Al. I was browsing though HF and saw they had a tire changer for breaking the bead running about $40. (Message edited by Cataract2 on December 30, 2005) | ||
| Fullpower |
the sportster is good to practice on. the 16 inch rear will be a royal BIOTCH to break bead. have fun. I use a couple wood blocks and a 6 inch bench vise. inn comparison, you will find that the 17 inch radials almost fall off the rims, the Buell is the easiest and fastest bike to swap rubber on that i have ever worked on. | ||
| Whodom |
The best bead breaker I've found is a couple of pieces of 2x4 and a good horizontal, stationary object (like a heavy workbench or the exposed 2x4 framing in your garage). Cut one 2x4 to be a vertical piece which will press on the side of the tire to break the bead. Use the other 2x4 as a horizontal lever. Hook one end of the lever under your work bench, house frame, or whatever. Place the wheel/tire on the floor below it. Probably a good idea to put a piece of plywood underneath the wheel to prevent the rim from getting scuffed up. Place the bottom end of the vertical 2x4 on the tire, right up against the rim. Place the top end of the vertical 2x4 under your lever, near the stationary end of it. Press down on the lever until the bead breaks. Let up, rotate the rim a few degrees, press down again. Repeat until the entire bead is broken. Easy to do; hard to explain. | ||
| Kootenay |
I know I've posted pics of my own home-made tools previously on this site--got the designs from the site Glitch linked to. Got some 12" irons, cleaned up the edges, and use pieces of thick poly as rim guards--worked great once I got the hang of it. |
