| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
Was wondering how many on here do their own tire changes and could maybe recommend a site or place to get the tools to do this at? The place I get mine done at here have raised their prices to almost $30 for a single tire change and that's becoming a bit to rich for my blood. I've been toying with the idea for some time, but just never got around to it. | ||
| Etennuly |
Harbor Freight has this really cheap azz tire machine and a motorcycle rim clamp. It is a minimal OK for limited home use. Buy a Wonder Bar for the working end, it will protect and save against rim damage. I use two jack stands and a rod to static balance them. If you want to spend the money and have a better time of it there are some good machines out there for a price. Someone will show up here with a link soon. | ||
| Swampy |
It is really simple to do and I would recommend you doing it yourself. Harbor Freight just came out with a motorcycle tire balancer for $50-$60, you would have a difficult time making one from scratch for that kind of money. Tire Irons, and fabricate a bead breaker($40 for a store bought one) and you are in business. All in all about $100 bucks and you can change and balance your own tires. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
NO>>NO>>>NO>>> Stay away from that Harbor Freight POS!!!!! Get a No Mar Bar, That is all you need. To break the bead, A 2x4 under something gives excellent leverage to break the bead. I been doing tire changes for ALL of the NEBO crew for years now, never messed up a rim yet.... I DID scratch the hell out of my rim last year at March Badness using That Harbor Freight clunk of junk.....Served me right for even trying that clunker.....  (Message edited by firebolteric_ma on January 30, 2009) | ||
| Etennuly |
Yes No-Mar-Bar is what I meant. The cheap machine will break beads pretty well and hold the rim for ya. I pad the rim grippers with a piece of cardboard. The Harbor Freight machine comes with a bar that will guarantee to rip the powder coat off. It does not even work well on a steel car rim. | ||
| Teeps |
I have levered hundreds of motorcycle tires, back in the day. And, I would not even consider changing modern low profile, wide tires without a "proper tire machine." I'm really spoiled now, as I have access to one of these: http://www.toolsusa.com/asp/item_detail.asp?T1=PBE %209TX%20TC-400&trackcode=GoogleBase This: http://www.nomartirechanger.com/product/show/1 would be the minimum tire machine I recommend. If you search Badweb you will find that people that get the Harbor Freight changer to work, but not without modification. If you do go the Harbor Freight route, at least get the No-Mar Mount/Demount bar. http://www.nomartirechanger.com/product/show/6 Tires can be changed with tire levers and a 5 gallon paint bucket (support), but it aint pretty. Doing a tire change with levers increases the likelihood the rim will suffer damage... | ||
| Froggy |
I like what I got at my disposal:  I am just afraid to try the Buell rims in it  | ||
| Fresnobuell |
My buddy who owns a repair shop has become really adept at changing our bike tires on the auto tire changer. What a god send. Regarding the harbor freight tire changer, be prepared to bolt it down. I suppose on any of the garage units, bolting is mandatory. We were stubborn and didn't bolt it down--it makes the job twice as hard when you are wrestling with the stand AND tire at the same time. If you have some riding buddys that are in the same boat, it really does make financial sense to invest in a tire changing system. Figure you are saving $50 a side ($30 on the changing and $20 buying cheaper internet rubber)--that's only 10 full sets of tires to breakeven, estimating the initial cost of $1000 to become well equipped. Split between riders, this is almost a no brainer. | ||
| Xl1200r |
froggy - we have that same machine at the garage I used to work at. I used to mount up some tires on a set of custom aluminum wire rims for my sportster with low profile tires. It worked fine, no damage, just have to take extra precautions to make sure nothing bit the tire ever touches the rim, which is possible to do with that machine. | ||
| Preybird1 |
I have used my own hand pry bars and they work good, but we have a car mag machine here at the shop and it works very well! | ||
| Oldog |
I have the No mar, get the basic machine package and the bar, I also suggest some no scratch clamps and a couple of spoons with out those its a fight with them its a breeze ( I use metal spoons too ) the clamps keep the bead in the rim trough. I bolted the stand to a 3/4" sheet of plywood at the center on one side an put handles on the other side at each end. the main stand stays on the plywood, the top and over arm are removed between uses this allows me to place the PW against the wall out of the way, its about finese not brute force =) | ||
| Indybuell |
I just use 4 of the motion pro spoons, and some elbow grease. | ||
| Paulxb12r |
This is a little off topic but if you just take the rims off the bike instead of bring in the hole bike some shops will only charge 15 a wheel to change tires. no tools to have to buy. Just a thought. | ||
| Oldog |
Not here in wilmington nc. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Shop around, my guy changes them in his garage for $20 a wheel and at the rate I change them I'd have to live 200 years to break even. | ||
| Hammer71 |
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/ | ||
| Crusty |
I also use a NoMar. It beats kneeling on the garage floor. It also beats paying $60-$75 per wheel. I have three bikes in the family that get ridden, so the NoMar will pay for itself in a year or so. It's light years ahead of that Chinese crap Harbor Freight P.O.S. and it's made in the USA by people who have pride in their work. | ||
| Hammer71 |
and if you have any issues you can call and speak with the actual people who designed it, build and sell it. Great product and great people to deal with. | ||
| Dfishman |
Just use tire irons & a great big C-clamp(with 2 pieces of 6" flat bar welded on it)to break the bead.Done a bunch of tires tis way. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I learned the tire trade in a gas station with a manual tire changer..and at a Target Automotive center with a Coats 10-10. Experience counts tons after you've dealt with 35 ply aircraft tires and 6 foot diameter earth mover tires. After that, you feel you could do car tires with a kitchen spoon.Patience and lube is the key.I have the Harbor machine and it works great, simply because I know it's limitations and what a tire does........or won't do. I stretch tape the rim clamps and the standard bar and get along just fine ,even tho it is a PITA bar. Will prolly get the No Mar bar with the next tire order. Also have the Marc Parnes balancer. It's all paid for it's self well. Even with the old manual machine at the station, two beads at once was "Pie". | ||
| Firemanjim |
And it might help to know that one of our own is a No Mar manager--I see Seth Heim at Laguna and the IMS.Going to invest myself. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Thanks for the info. Keep it coming. | ||
| Dynasport |
I have never changed a motorcycle tire, but in a previous life I changed semi tires for a living. A sledge hammer and a really big set of tire irons. I wouldn't let myself near my bike rims. | ||
| Doz |
3 tire irons, 3 rim protectors and a big c-clamp is all thats needed to change a tire. A cheap static balancer is my most extravagant tool in this process. Don't forget to order/get wheel weights, but I've heard of many doing without weights/balancing claiming the tires are good enough as they are. | ||
| 46champ |
Has any one used the no mar with the hitch mount for a 2" receiver? After all I'm always going to have a pickup with a receiver. |
