| Author | Message | ||
     Lake_bueller  |
Okay...now that I have 3 bikes in the garage, I decided it's time to start looking at more economical ways to deal with tires. The portable tire changer from Harbor Freight is on sale for $34.99. Add the optional motorcycle changer and it totals $77.98. That's 3 tire changes at the local bike shop. Based on the fact that I have a set of "track rims" that are scratched to •••• already, I feel more at ease with learning the "secrets" to a good tire change. Any pro's or con's to this equipment. I've heard good and bad on SACBORG. | ||
| Steve_mackay  |
3 Bikes? That's it? Dude, where's your priorities!!!! Seriously though, I've been tempted to get that same unit myself. Considering we currently have 3 bikes that will need tires come spring, it would pay for itself. | ||
| Kinger  |
I have been looking at this as well. My only questions is how does it work with the pulley installed? If it doesn't you will need new bolts every time you take the tire off to change it. You might as well get the balancer to go with it. Then you wouldn't have to go anywhere to get tire work done! | ||
| Charlieboy6649  |
I've got one. I like it. Better than tire iron alone for sure! If you're careful, you won't scratch a thing... My XB rims are still beautiful. I just used lots of dish soap like the mexican shop down the street... | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Charlie....do you also have the balancer? If not, what do you do to balance the tires? | ||
| Lpowel02  |
interesting...does anyone have any experience with these changers from Rand? I've thought about getting one of these too... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43998&item=451 9831114&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW | ||
| Spiderman  |
That's the same as the Harbor freight deal | ||
| Gowindward  |
The base on those doesn't look wide enough to be real stable. What's your experience with it? I found a 5 gallon plastic paint bucket to be just the trick an the XB wheels. I break the bead with a big jorgenson wood screw clamp, then tire irons from there. | ||
| Spiderman |
They recomend you bolt it to the floor. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Right, bolted, but in my case to a sheet of plywood, so when I move, I don't leave bolt holes in the floor. Lake, As far as balancing, I just bought a Metzler static balancer with stick on weights available at most speed shops. I havn't used it yet, but can't wait to learn, as I have a friend who is going to teach me... Can't beat the cost as it will pay for its self within 3 tire changes @ $100 a whack! | ||
| Gowindward |
I have the Metzeler static balancer. It's simple to use and seems to produce a consistent result. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Dumb question....can I "re-use" a tire that I've taken off? Not so dumb question....where can I find a Metzler static balancer? I did a google search but came up empty. | ||
| Davefl  |
I built my own balancer.. details here complete with pics of nasty work bench http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/25227.html#POST218381 (Message edited by davefl on January 18, 2005) | ||
| Mikej  |
Dennis, click here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/25227.html?1073321657 | ||
| Wyckedflesh  |
Dennis as long as you haven't damaged the bead when you take the tire off you can reuse it. So Charlie when my tires come in I can bring them to your house so I can do a big deahtburnout for the rear right?  | ||
| Rotchcrocket51  |
I have one of the Harbor Freight changers. I tried using it once. The first thing I did was bend the rim. So I pushed it into the corner and haven't tried using it again. I have been doing my own tire work for years so I am used to doing it "the old fashioned way". I used to use Balance Plus in my tires but after the resulting corrosion made my H-D wheels useless (without putting a tube in them) I decided to stop using it. All I do now is to make sure I line up the balance mark with the valve stem. This works fine on my Buell and the RC-51. When I take the race tires off and put the street tires back on, I just take some model car paint and put a new yellow dot in the appropriate place so I will know where to put the tire when I remount them later. I've had no problems with tire shake or abnormal wear and that's with speeds up to 160 mph (on the race track). | ||
| Mbsween  |
Lake, I use this balancer http://www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/balancer/ and a milk crate. And something called tire pliers to brake the bead. I'm tempted to get the harbor freight unit tho. Let me know how it works. motorcycle online did an article about the harbor freight unit awhile back. Between myself and friends we've changed upwards of 30 tires in the past 3 years. Several have been tested in excess of 130 mph, no issues so far. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Wycked, Absolutely! I plan on burning mine next change too with plenty of pictures. Eliz says were not allowed to mark the driveway though. Guess we'll make smileys in the street... | ||
| Al_lighton  |
I use the HF tire changing stand. It is a little more helpful than doing it on a bucket, and is the only way I've been able to do it by myself. But I don't use their 4 foot bar for anything, I just use the stand and irons. A little bit of duct tape on the surfaces that would scratch is a good idea. It works well for me. I built this balancer, works great! http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/20411.html?1049953989 Al | ||
| Mbsween |
Al, that looks remarkably like the one I bought. Too bad I suck at welding. If you don't use the bar, how do you break the bead? As to taping, does the duct tape leave any residue, if so is it difficult to remove? I forgot to ad the part that it takes two to successfully change the tire with th bucket/milk crate | ||
| Al_lighton |
Clarification: I don't use the bar for any of the tire prying. I do use it for the bead breaker part of the job. The duct tape is on the surfaces of the stand that would scratch the wheel, not on the wheel itself. There is lots of residue on the stand, but none on the wheel. And actually, I've switched to Gaffers tape, and it doesn't leave residue on anything. I put a layer of tape on the wheel clamps, the stand foot where the bead breaker works, and on the bead breaker tire pusher thingie as well. Al | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Picked it up yesterday. $65 out the door for the portable changer and motorcycle adaptor. I'll be putting it together tonight (after clearing last nights snow from the driveway  ) | ||
| Gowindward |
Get three pairs of these for protecting the wheel from the tire irons. http://www.pitposse.com/plrimsa.html | ||
| Bluzm2  |
Lake, Don't put that shovel away, ya got more on the way..... Just as soon as it leaves here! | ||
| Al_lighton |
I've found the rim protectors to be too thick. A cut up milk jug works great. It protects, but is thin enough to not affect the task at hand. YMMV Al | ||
| Henrik  |
For bead breaking, MCN had a positive review of this: Race Tool's Bead Popper They have a nice axle alignment tool as well. Henrik | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
The bead breaker on the HF stand works great, just put a towel on the floor over the angle iron to protect the rim and you're good. Al, good idea on the tape "on the stand". I'll do that next time. I was using rags and it was a pain getting them to stay while mounting the tire to the stand. I'll also try the milk jug idea. | ||
| Lornce  |
The only problem I've found since bolting the HF change stand to my basement floor is the effect it's had on some of my riding buddies who've found out about it....  Which isn't much of a problem, really, and one of the best parts of having the thing. The bead breaker feature works great, much better than jacking up a truck on your tire. ymmv, Lornce (changes tires for beer) | ||
| Swampy  |
That axle alignment tool looks like the tool I use to tune arrow rests on bows! | ||
| Al_lighton |
That bead popper looks cool, I think I'll get one, and if I like it, add it to the store, as we are already a Race Tools dealer (repacking kits for Buell Race and V&H SS2R mufflers). I've broken beads out there on the road with my trailer tongue jack, big clamps, and a portable bead breaker thingie, but that bead popper looks god for another reason. As you tire iron your tire onto the rim, if you have something like that wedge exactly 180Degrees around the rim from where the the tire finally pops on, it makes a HUGE difference on how easy it is. I often use the heel of my hand to keep a radial crease in the tire at that position to keep it pushed down into the center of the rim to get some slack on the tire. But that Bead Popper wedge looks perfect for the same task. I'd bet with that tool, a solo change would be easy. Usually I try to have an assistant, but it is doable solo with irons, especially if you have a wood block or a wedge like that. Al |
