Tire changing Equipment

[Deans BMW]

Saturday, I am driving the car down to the Pheonix area to stop by Harbor Freight to pick up their tire changer with motorcycle attachment and their bubble balancer. I order all of my tires from SouthwestMotoTires in Tuscon and it is almost impossible to get them mounted and balanced up here. All three pieces of equipment are on sale at their retail outlets only.
Changer
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34542
M/C attachment
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42927
Bubble balancer
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39741

Here is a PDF file on how to make your Harbor Freight Changer more useful
http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/TireChangerMods1.0.pdf

Here is an evaluation of the harbor Freight equipment.

http://www.4strokes.com/reviews/harborfreight/mctirechanger/


What the changer looks like all assembled.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/42900-42999/42927.gif

All that stuff should cost $120.00 or so.

[Promethean]

How hard is it to change a tyre on the R? Just curious. I should be changing mine out in about 2-3 k miles. I'm planning to get Z6s or Pirellis.

[Deans BMW]

Not too hard at all and you can save a ton of money doing it yourself.
Your owners manual gives instructions for R&R of your wheels

Here is an excellent pictorial from Advrider,

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118369

A fantastic source for tires, no shipping charges on two or more.

www.swmototires.com

I would recomend Michlen Pilot Roads for your bike and you can save close to $200.00 per set installed by doing the above.

[Fly]

Do you think the bubble balancer will do the job?

$120 all in?

I used to change my dirt bike tires but I've been afraid to tackle the streeter. The dirt bike rims were scratched already and balancing didn't make difference when you're going 15-20 mph.

[taosports]

I agree with Dean...not difficult at all to change your own tires.

Here's a pic of my homemade tire changing stand (2X6" wood, carpet, and a 1/2 inch X 12 inch threaded rod. The inexpensive bead breaker was purchased online but I can't recall from who. The wheel balancer is by Marc Parnes.

http://www.michaelmaloneyphotography.com/bmw/tirechange.jpg

BTW, those white pieces of plastic on my tire changing stand are rim protectors, cut up from a plastic laundry soap container. I found they work better than the ones I bought. And speaking of soap, that's the key to making the job easy. You need lot's of lube to pry that last bit of tire over the rim.

I followed this excellent tutorial my first time :

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

[R4R&R]

I bought the Harbor Freight setup for around $100, but I got a flyer in the mail yesterday that had both pieces on sale for about $70 (always my luck). I bolted mine down to the floor for stability and dipped the three 'fingers' that hold the wheel in the rubber-like plasticote stuff so they don't mar up the wheels.

So far I've used it about a month ago and it was waaaay better than wrestling the wheel on the ground. I ordered a new rear tire and should be doing that next week. I also ordered the right angle valve stems.

[Deans BMW]

Right now, all three pieces are on sale at Harbor Freight in retail store only, not on the interner. All three pieces come to a total of $119.97 plus tax on sale.

According to the guys at Advrider, the bubble balancer works fine and will do the R and K1200 rear wheels. Read all of the links above to give you plenty of info.

[BobFV1]

How hard is it to change a tyre on the R? Just curious. I should be changing mine out in about 2-3 k miles. I'm planning to get Z6s or Pirellis.

Hijack - Z6's ROCK!

[jamming]

If your gonna change your own tires ya need one of these. Check out the link.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/prestondrake/mojoweb.htm
Its a MoJo lever....its as Bob would say...bitching..
I ordered one and can't wait to wear the tires, to try it.
I like the Paynes balancer, its pretty simple to use. Just be sure to look for a mark on the tire for the heavy spot..IF there is one.
Oh and thanks for the info on the tire changer. Been waiting for them to go on sale.
Hey Bob, yell if ya want help on the tires, beers on you.
Roger

[Acacia]

I do my own tires, as well as a friends.

I can certainly recomend the Marc Parnes balancer as illustrated above by Taos. Way better than any electronic ones I have had do my tires before. Bubble - cant see it being as accurate as the Parnes one. Balancing takes patience.

Bead breaker is a setup made of 2X4's - about $6 worth.

Back tire is easy to get off the rim. The front is a bear due to it stiffness and smaller size.

Make sure you set find and mark the rims natural heavy spot before you mount the next tire. A small white spot on the rim now marks mine - a dont assume that it is at the valve!

The Z6's come marked with their heavy spot. My Michelin had a mark on the bead, but when monuted it needed way too much lead for my liking - I suspect it really being 180 degrees out. I have taken it off and am using a half worn one around town - saving the new one for summer long distance fun

[taosports]

The Z6's come marked with their heavy spot.

Brian,

The two red dots actually mark the lightest spot on a Z-6.

http://www.metzelermoto.com/product_info/faq/page_0001.htm

[killer]

If your gonna change your own tires ya need one of these. Check out the link.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/prestondrake/mojoweb.htm
Its a MoJo lever....its as Bob would say...bitching..
I ordered one and can't wait to wear the tires, to try it.I have the Mojo bar and it makes changing tyres a breeze, it's way better than the bar that came with the Harbor Freight kit which I also have.

[Deans BMW]

Bob, I have enjoyed reading your reports on the other sites and I plan to look you up when visiting Torrey this comming May. I have been to Torrey and the surrounding area three times so far and have fallen in love with Utah.

By the way, just ordered a MoJo lever from Mitch, ment him in Cody at the UN last summer, a great guy.

[Acacia]

Toas,
you are correct - I was thinking 180 degrees out.

Anyone know how Michelin mark theirs for the heavy spot? I could not find it on their site and have mailed them - awaiting a reply.

Dean, you are a Michelin man?

[Deans BMW]

Brian, don't know as I have yet to mount any tires myself. I always thought that the dots went at the valve stem thus the dots denoted the lightest point on the tire.

Tomorrow, will begin to put all my new goodies together and set up my tire shop, went thru 4 rear and 2 fronts on my ST last summer. I tend to change tires BEFORE the wear marks.

I buy all my tires from South West Moto Tires and by mounting and balancing them my self will easily save $100.00 per tire, last summer $600.00 to $700.00.

[Acacia]

Dean,
Once you get the routine it is enjoyable - at least I find it so.

A plus too is that you know it has been done right. As I have stated above, I have the Parnes balancer - it is really worth the $100. Between that and the Twinmax - two of the best investments I have made. I also got the NAPA parts RuGlyde rubber lubricant to make the tires slide on - much better than soapy water

[jamming]

Brian..question for you, I'm ready to order the balancer, My riding buddy has a Sportster and is willing to spilt the cost. On the website it showes the universal for my ST with the BMW rear wheel adapater. Will the universal fit the sporty as well without the BMW adapter of course?
Thanks in advance...Roger

[Acacia]

Jamming,
I am going to go out on a limb and say yes it will fit - sight unseen. The reason being that the one side has a wider diameter taper to cater for the BMW rear wheel that has the, is it 1 1/4" opening opposite the wheel hub. This taper is still adaquate for the front wheel which has the same smaller size on both side wheel bearings.

You will not be sorry. But it does take a while to get the hang of adding the right weights. Pateince is needed. The results, however, are great - if they made 1/8oz weights (smallest being 1/4oz) you could use them.

I support mine on two car jackstands.

[R4R&R]

Thanks for the tips. I thought my garage was pretty well equipped for chaning tires until I see the mojo bar. Now I *need* a mojo bar!

My new rear should be here tomorrow - can't wait!

[jamming]

FYI ALL...I know that Mitch, who does the MOjo lever, has sold 48 of the 50 he made. They are done as of yesterday(03-04-06). Get your order in if you have not done so.
I got my Harbor freight Tire machine put together yesterday. I glued on spilt vinal tubing on the rim hold downs and glued on pieces of old inner tube where the rim sits to protect my wheels.
I also sunk 4 anchors in to floor to mount the machine. I can unbolt it from the floor in 2 min. I ll change my tires in the wifes garage while I take em off the bike in my garage, that way I have plenty of room to work.
I"ll take some pics and post them.
Roger

I also just ordered the Marc Parnes balancer...175.00 bucks worth! All of you in the Phoenix area, need a tire balanced..cheap!..LOL

[jb44]

Brian..question for you, I'm ready to order the balancer, My riding buddy has a Sportster and is willing to spilt the cost. On the website it showes the universal for my ST with the BMW rear wheel adapater. Will the universal fit the sporty as well without the BMW adapter of course?
Thanks in advance...Roger
I'm not Brian...but I had the same question....emailed Marc Parnes for the definitive answer....response:

"Marc, thanks for the response,
Obviously I don't know which balancer I need. :-)
I ride a BMW r1150r. My son has a Yamaha TTR-230 and a Kawa KLR250.
I was hoping to be able to use one balancer for all.
Tell me what I need and I'll send any needed additional $.
Thanks.

Hi JB,
You would need the Universal balancer plus one CNB cone. The balancer is $105 and the extra cone is $25. You've already sent $xxx which is close enough :-) I'll send them Priority Mail tomorrow. Please print off the Setup Instructions and the Balancing Procedure.

Enjoy it!

Thanks again,
Marc"


Here's the page that shows the difference between the models...looks like you will need the extra cone, like I did.

http://www.marcparnes.com/Harley_Motorcycle_Wheel_Balancer.htm

jb

[Jomarti]

Here's a tire mounting lube we've tried with good results-

http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/product.asp?T1=12095&UID=200603231455150153329219

This stuff, Murphy's Tire Concentrate, made the job go much easier than plain old soapy water.

Next item is a tire change machine I just recently ordered but haven't received yet called a No-Mar tire machine. It "looks the berries" and I'd like to know if anyone has used one and what their experience was. Here's the link-

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/NoMarmainFrameset.html

Anyway, we should be good to go now as far as tire changes with those #%^#$* stiff-walled tires. We'll give a review as soon as it's set up and tested.

[Promethean]

Does the Harbor Freight setup have to be bolted down to the floor for use?

I'm sure the management in my apartment complex wouldn't like that if I did that to the garage floor.

[R4R&R]

Does the Harbor Freight setup have to be bolted down to the floor for use?

No, I've heard of a few people that bolted it to a piece of 3/4" plywood, I think a 4'x4' piece. As long as you, the person working on it is standing on the plywood you should be ok.

I bought the H.F. model last spring and while it makes it easier, it take a little 'tweaking'. I took the wheel clamps off and dipped them in that rubber tool handle coating stuff (also available from H.F.) and had to turn them around. After a couple tire changes you'll have a procedure down.

[Deans BMW]

Today, I changed my first tire ever, in the past I generaly remove the wheels and have some one else do the change. I used my Harbor Freight tire changing stand and M/C adaptor that have been previously mounted on a 4x4 3/4 " sheet of OSB. Also used my new "Mojo Bar". I also previously dipped the wheel clamps in the rubber stuff, found at Home Depot. Every thing went smoothly and no dings on the wheel.

My ST is now on its 5th rear and 3rd front tire in 20,000 miles, about 4,500 miles on the rears and 10,000 on the front Pilot Roads.

[Promethean]

Hey Roger.....do you have any pics of the mods you made to the Harbor Freight machine? I'm particularly interested in what you did to protect the rim and the hold-downs. I learn better visually.

Btw, I've ordered the Z6s and have the MojoBar sitting in the garage. :)


I got my Harbor freight Tire machine put together yesterday. I glued on spilt vinal tubing on the rim hold downs and glued on pieces of old inner tube where the rim sits to protect my wheels.
I also sunk 4 anchors in to floor to mount the machine. I can unbolt it from the floor in 2 min. I ll change my tires in the wifes garage while I take em off the bike in my garage, that way I have plenty of room to work.
I"ll take some pics and post them.
Roger

I also just ordered the Marc Parnes balancer...175.00 bucks worth! All of you in the Phoenix area, need a tire balanced..cheap!..LOL

[jamming]

AB. Here ya go

The whole set up, I did not bolt it to the floor
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/70991116-M.jpg

Here's what I used to pad it all..I got it at Home Depot.
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/70991215-M.jpg

I used vinyl tubing, spilt and glued on with the Plati-dip to pad the hooks, I got the red so its hard to see, but there is about 5 coats on the flat part where the rim sits, works great, no scratches
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/70991657-M.jpg

I thought thearm of the machine was sloppy so I shimed it up with a diet pepsi can( I used what I had handy)

http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/70991564-M.jpg

and last, I made this up because I DO NOT want my hand anywhere near a tire as I am setting a bead. I have had 2 tires explode on me. Failed at the sidewall. Have not had it happen in a few years, but I like my fingers.
It is a valve, a clip-on air chuck, and a connector. About 8 bucks. You don't have to do this but I did. I used to work in a shop, so I've done hundreds of tires, odds were a lot higher for me. I'd still buy a clip on air chuck however.
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/70991742-M.jpg

Hope this helps.....
Roger

BTW I'm changing out my tires in very near future, thought I'd do a pictorial for the tech section.

[Promethean]

Roger! Thanks! All I need now is the balancer and a couple of odds n ends to complete the setup.

Btw, I'm amazed at the speed with which swmototires.com shipped my Z6s......less than 5 hours...should arrive in a few days. Awesomeness!

[jamming]

Go here for the balancer.. http://www.beemerbalancers.com/aboutus.phpI sold the parnes for what I had in it and bought one of these, its 70 bucks cheaper and worked as well if not better.
Be sure and order the quick kit also, that has some magnetic weights to use while balancing.
Shoulda showed you that too, my bad.
Roger