Changer? Barely Know 'er!

"i86hotdogs" (i86hotdogs) 03/06/2020 at 13:19 • Filed to: None

1

28

After a few trips to the local shop to get my new rubber on the SHO wheels, and the Sparcos on the RallyCross wheels (pics to come), I realized how badly I would love to own my own tire changer. When I had the steel wheels, I tried the DIY version of prybars, mallets, and my own body weight to no avail. Square footage and budget is tight, so the large machines are out of the question. This keeps popping up in searches. Hard to look past a $30 machine when I am paying $80 a trip.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

What else do yous all recommend? 

slipperysallylikespenguins > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:29

2

I bought one of these last year, works great on steel. It tore up the aluminum wheels I used with it. It’s possible to put protectors on the wheels though.

CalzoneGolem > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:36

2

“Portable”

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:38

0

For $30, if it sucks, is it the end of the world?

i86hotdogs > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 03/06/2020 at 13:47

0

My only issue is having to mount it to the ground. I rent now, and I’m sure they wont like leftover drill holes when I eventually move out.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:48

1

I recommend you buy several varieties,  test ‘em out and report back.

The car trailers (busy rally-and-repair season) are going through trailer tires like I go through a SLEEVE of Thin Mints. I need to be able to change them and do a basic balance in my own shop. I just can’t tell if the HF changers are Shyte or not.

Any experiences, review and recommendations are heartily welcomed.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 03/06/2020 at 13:49

0

It is if it damages my rare Alfa wheel..

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > slipperysallylikespenguins 03/06/2020 at 13:50

0

Tell us more-- are they hard to use?  I need to mount 205R75-15 trailer tires.  Seems easy, but I often underestimate “degree of difficulty”.

slipperysallylikespenguins > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:52

2

I bolted mine to a heavy duty pallet.

BigBlock440 > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:53

1

It works, much easier with taller sidewalls and would be much easier if it’s anchored down (dirt floor makes it hard), but a pneumatic is much easier.  I got a coates 1010 from craigslist last year for $200 with a manual balancer, much, much easier/quicker than the manual HF.  It takes longer to take the tire off the car than it does to take it off the rim, it’s a bit more difficult with the manual (though many of my troubles may be due to it not being anchored).  

slipperysallylikespenguins > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 03/06/2020 at 13:54

1

It is easy to use and has an instruction manual that’s easy to follow. I was able to dismount my first wheel in maybe 5 minutes. Just really damaging to aluminum without some sort of guard .

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 13:59

1

I have one. Had to reinforce a lot of parts of it and I use screw drivers mostly for mounting the tire back on the rim.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > slipperysallylikespenguins 03/06/2020 at 13:59

0

Thanks. I’d love to be able to “reload” my spares for that one car trailer back at the shop— save both time and money. Those are all ugly steel wheels.

I figured I’d never change good wheels on one, but that looks like just the ticket for these trailer tires.

slipperysallylikespenguins > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 03/06/2020 at 14:02

1

Should work good for that, I just bought a set of tire spoons to try on my aluminum wheels.

i86hotdogs > BigBlock440 03/06/2020 at 14:04

0

I never thought to peruse craigslist for a used one. I know the pneumatics are the way to go, j ust room and budget issues hold me back. Almost all of my tires in question have decent sidewall meat. 55r and 60r.

i86hotdogs > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 03/06/2020 at 14:05

1

I wish I had the budget to do that. Typically that’s my way of weeding out products that cost less: buy 3-4 and return the ones that don’t make the cut

i86hotdogs > slipperysallylikespenguins 03/06/2020 at 14:06

1

Do send a pic if you don’t mind. That idea could work.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > slipperysallylikespenguins 03/06/2020 at 14:10

1

Much appreciated.  Thanks!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 14:13

1

Yeah, I was just kidding but one of these is now on my “Next HF 25% Coupon” list...

Thanks!

Pickup_man > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 14:15

2

The flimsiest piece on the HF one is the bead breaker, I’ve bent mine on smaller ATV and lawnmower tires but it’s easy to bend back and larger tires haven’t been a problem. It’s still in one piece and has more than paid for itself at this point.

+1 For don’t use it on wheels you want to keep pristine. 

CobraJoe > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 14:20

1

My dad got one of those to use on the farm.

It’s pretty handy, and very quick on steel wheels. I’ve also used it on aluminum wheels too, but very slowly and carefully.

The only weak point on my dad’s wa s the bead breaker. The lip bent immediately on ours, but the old one my dad had worked better anyways.

Overall, it’s a good investment if you have a place to mount it.  The DIY option by using tire irons is perfectly viable too, it just takes a little bit of practice and a lot more time.  

Darkbrador > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 14:25

3

Mounting tires is one thing, but how will you balance the wheels ?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 14:30

0

My dad used to have an old pneumatic with air bead-breaker and rotating bead-setter. I think a late ‘30s Coats like this one:

...but a little newer, with a fancier setting bar.

It was pretty sweet to have, but we weren’t doing that many tires and it was taking up room, so I believe he gave it to somebody who was doing more.

The bar for working on the beads has a recess that slots onto the drive pin at the top there. To pop the second bead in place, you catch it on the rim, catch the bar on the axle, and then push the pedal while it goes “chuff chuff chuff chuff” around and around.

You might find one like this on Craig if you really wanted to.

slipperysallylikespenguins > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 14:34

1

I already sold it so I don’t have any real good pictures but I’ll share what I do have.

It’s about a 200lb pallet used for shipping generators. 

i86hotdogs > slipperysallylikespenguins 03/06/2020 at 14:59

0

Youre the best!

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > i86hotdogs 03/06/2020 at 17:40

1

Get a nice alcove and....

I need to finish cleaning up back there.

i86hotdogs > GoodIdeaAtTheTime 03/06/2020 at 17:42

0

Once I get my house and some square footage, it’ s over for my wallet.

Urambo Tauro > Darkbrador 03/06/2020 at 19:46

0

That’s a g ood point. How much money does one stand to save if you still have to take them to a shop anyway for balancing? I can’t recall if the tire shops I’ ve been to even have   separate charges  for mounting and for balancing . I guess I’ve always thought of them as the same line item on the work order.

ateamfan42 > Darkbrador 03/09/2020 at 08:30

0

There are inexpensive tools that will do a static balance. Probably not as accurate as the dynamic balance commercially available, but I’ve heard they do a decent job: