Topic: Harbor Freight tire changer experience (now with pictures)

[fmctm1sw]

I did a lot of reasearch when I bought this.  I noticed the No Mar changer states it was specifically designed to change tubeless tires.  That led me to believe there was going to be an added degree of difficulty in changing tubed tires.  I've used mine few times and for practice tried it on some old wheels I had.  I'll start by saying I dont have it bolted to my floor.  I use my body as a brace at this point.  I've notcied it is extremely difficult to remove a tire with it.  Granted, these are old stiff, abused tires.  I bought a new 2.50x18 tire for my 175 and was able to get it on without much of a fight though.  So perhaps the best course of action is to cut the old tire off to save to frustration.  I used that dawn direct foam dishwaing liquid as lube.  Just saying it may not be as easy for you as the You tube videos make it look.  Just my 2 cents...

[jordanp]

my buddy bought one a few months ago...it was used twice. We now just look at it in the garage while we spoon off/on tires.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yeah, I couldn't imagine this being a whole lot tougher than some spoons and milk jugs and elbow grease. Maybe it is better for putting them on. I couldn't imagine breaking the bead on tires for these bikes being that bad, it's not like they are tractor tires...
 

[fmctm1sw]

Breaking the bead was easy.  It's the part where you put the bar under the tire and lift it over the rim that got me.  It is so tight it literally pops the bar out when I try to pull it around.  Or won't pull around altogether and I'm no weakling, or spins the rim in the changer.  I saw the videos on the No Mar site and I saw them talking about squeezing the opposite end of the tire into the well of the rim.  There's hardly any well at all in these rims though.  Maybe spoons but I'd probably have the same problem trying to yank the tire out over top of the rim.  I've tried it before and used cut up soda cans to try to protect the rim.  I will say that no matter what cranking I've done so far, I haven't scratched up any rims.   

If nothing else, I think I can mount new tires with it.  I used a c-clamp to keep it from "walking" off, that worked well.  Or maybe when the weather warms up I can let tires out in the sun for a while to soften them up.  At any rate, I was getting charged $30 a tire to mount and balance so with this one I'm $30 into the $100 I spent on it.  I also have a Harbor Freight balancer and did a half a$$ balance on it too.  Not like I'll be running around at 70mph on a 175 anyway.  I looked at it today and it's still good, I was worried about pinching the tube but I didn't.

[754]

Regardless of how shallow the well appears;
 NOT getting the oppsite side down into it can DOUBLE the effort to removre a tire..

 its all about technique, and getting the oppoasite beads into the middle, is the KEY to changing tires..

[jordanp]

I just got the original 1982 dunlops off my nighthawk...breaking that bead was a challenge to say the least...27 yr old bond.

[fmctm1sw]

Figured I'd put some photos up.  I think my arms are going to be black and blue in the morning.  The first photo got delted somehow off my camera.  It showed a c-clamp on the opposite end of the tire trying to keep it squeezed together.  The next photo shows the part where you pull the tire up over the rim to get started.  I enlisted the help of my hair dryer in the next photo and and don't really know if it helped out any but I got the tire started around the rim.  I actually used the wheel hub to pull the bar around, that worked pretty well.  I smartened up later and put a rag over it so I wouldn't marr it up.  Then I have the tube, the great thing about this changer is that you will never be tempted to reuse the tube since you will undoubtedly destroy it getting it out    Next came pulling the rest of the tire up over the rim.  Again, not easy.  It kept wanting to slide back down on the rim instead of stay out.  Anyway, I guess persistence paid off because I got it off. 

[fmctm1sw]

continued..

[MickeyX]

After seeing that, I vote cutting the old tire off 1st! 

I thought about getting a changer but I think I'll just take it over to a local shop. I just don't have that kind of patience or strength anymore. Good for you gents who can do that and want to.

[ron.cieri.313]

I agree...I would luv to be totally self sufficient but for 30 bucks get me the tire and tube on a rim if I bring it into the shop off the bike...I'm no thinking there are some things better left paid for.

[Don R]

754 said it, the secret technique.

[Simpson]

I own one of the Harbor Freight contraptions. After pinching/blistering my fingers to a pulp, I found it easier to do it on the ground with three tire irons.

[mrblasty]

I've used the hell out of mine, once you get the hang of it they fairly smooth.  I hosed down the tire clamps with undercoat to give them a little bit of bite on the wheel.  It really helps to have the thing bolted to the floor.  I don't have a suitable floor to mount mine to so I'm going to sink a hunk of 10x10 timber I found on the road side into a concrete filled hole in the back yard and use the 4 inch lag bolts I used to mount it before.  I should have it in the ground this April wen all the snow is gone.

[mystic_1]

Not nearly enough pinching with the C-clamp here, you want to clamp in two spots maybe a foot apart or more.  This allows the entire side of the tire to slide down into the rim.  In your pic, you can see that only a few inches away from your clamp, the tire is fully on the rim.

When clamped properly, the whole tire should be able to move radially (inwards where the tire is clamped, outward on the opposite side of the tire.  This is what gives you the extra slack to get the tire over the rim.

Once you have the tire started over the bead you can remove the clamps.  When doing the second side of the tire, just make sure the bead of the tire is aligned in the center of the rim and again the tire should be able to move radially giving you more slack.

mystic_1

[fmctm1sw]

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I'll keep at it.  I saw a video on the No Mar site where they put blocks of wood between the rim and tire to keep it in the drop center.  I guess that's what I really need to work on, keeping the opposite side of the wheel squeezed. 

[Simpson]

It really helps to have the thing bolted to the floor. 

I think this was a lot of my problems.

[andy750]

Timely thread.....Frank (754) alluded to it and I am sure others have their own tire changing method but can anyone write a "how-to-change-a-tire-or-replace-fix an-inner-tube" list for those of us who might find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere with a rear (or front) tire puncture and all you have is tire irons (or something else?), a tire repair kit and a small foot pump.....

I did it once on I-59 in MI but I had some help  - a buddy came in a truck and we used tire irons, dishwashing liquid and 3 guys helped! What if I was on my own?...(aside from finding external help)....any pointers? technique?

thanks
Andy

[754]

Id say the changer wont work not bolted down..

 I let the shop do mine this summer, partrly cuz leaving in a hurry I had a lousy tire pump, that the hose was falling off (not sure I could get air in. Plus the shop let me work in the yard and use die grinder to cut down the pins, on  my endless chain.

 But mostly I change them myself, on steel and thick alloy rims, both for exercise and to stay in practice.. The newer really lite wide rims worry me, they look fragile..

 On the road,  you should be able to fix a flat in under 1/2 hr, cant get help that fast, so it is good to knowhow to fix it yourself.. pack an air pump & tubes.

[donny]

pay the man. 
Or boy.  With two 750s I usually wear out four tires/year, and have changed some myself. The local NAPA tire guys charges @ $12.00 at most to mount for the tires I bring in.  It's worth that to me in entertainment to watch him wrestle around with it, and to be sure he does it right.
I'm a DIY/tightass the same as many of you, but some things are worth paying for.

[KRONUS0100]

my buudy broke his hand with one when the bar slipped trying to pop a tire over rim.  and it was bolted to the floor...it too now stands alone and unused.