n da zone
Expert Class
Posts: 215
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posted January 18, 2004 05:29 PM
 Edited By: n da zone on 18 Jan 2004 17:35
Changing Tires in your Garage!!! aarrgh!
Hey. I got tired of paying the dealer to do what looked like pretty easy work, so I found HarborFreight having a 50% off sale on tire changers and the motorcycle attachments, and thought wtf! ... I can do this .... I didn't go to college fer nuthin, did I? 
Well, the front tire, which is kinda skinny anyway, came off & on pretty easily. I mean it took a couple of us looking like monkeys f@ckin footballs until we got it on, but damn! we're bad! 
But then the REAR TIRE. What a pain in the ass! 
Finally got it off (with minimal rim damage), but NO WAY IN HELL was I getting one back on. I took it to the dealer who has the big old $1,200 mounting machine and paid my $25. 
So, now I am asking for some technique.
Do I need to get some 10" C-clamps and clamp the opposite side of the rubber together so it will drift into the center of the rim ...i.e. gives you more 'slack' on the opposite side. I think this keeps one side from 'seating ' on the rim while you are working the opposite side. The equivalent of someone squeezing it down by hand while working the other side.
I had two adults trying to squeeze the rubber together and it was tough.
Do I just stick to doing the front, and let the pro's do the back?
I mean, I can do car tires on it relatively easy, but they
...1). Dont have fragile, polished aluminum rims
...2). Have a deeper well in the center
to give more slack.
Any thoughts? Unless I get some better understanding on how this is done, I ain't doing the back again, and I got the bloody knuckles to prove it! 
  
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jonwright
Needs a job
Posts: 2416
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posted January 18, 2004 05:42 PM
Got that t-shirt, muh man.
Elk has a lot of experience doing that and taught me all that I think I know (which ain't much).
But basically you need to be sure to have the bead in the middle of the rim when you are seating it for those last few inches - you can't let it be at the edge of the rim.
Then seating the bead CAN be a pain in the ass. Be sure to roll it around to push the beads back out.
And use a bunch of fogging oil or WD-40 on the bead.
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chiapet12
Parking Attendant
Posts: 30
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posted January 18, 2004 05:43 PM
Holly shit that was funny
Just have to say that was the funniest thing ive read in a wile. P.S nice tire changer. lol
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tuusinii
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted January 18, 2004 11:37 PM
Buy rubbergrease(or use liquid soap). The grease shouldn't cost that much - ask any tire changer. And as said but the bead to the center of the rim and DON'T use exess force or too big irons - something will brake. The grease will help a lot. WD-40 isin't good for the rubber - it has oil in it. Look for the net - there are plenty of articles about changing tires on motorcycles. And I find it easier to change the front tire because it has bigger profile (70 vs 50). If non of this help get together to someone who has done it and knows how to do it. He'll teach You. Don't give up to easilly. Its not that hard - ones You find the technique.
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harryzx-12
Needs a job
Posts: 3643
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posted January 19, 2004 01:26 AM
I've got the same tire changer and don't have any problems. You will get better with practice!
____________
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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n da zone
Expert Class
Posts: 215
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posted January 19, 2004 07:01 AM
Edited By: n da zone on 19 Jan 2004 07:08
quote:
Got that t-shirt, muh man.
But basically you need to be sure to have the bead in the middle of the rim when you are seating it for those last few inches - you can't let it be at the edge of the rim.
Harry and/or Jon, how are you managing keeping the bead from seating on the side opposite where you are working? I let the tires sit in the sun to heat them, but the were still pretty stiff. The narrow sidewall on those 190x50 tires is tough to hold down by hand.
Do you clamp it down somehow?
Thanks for input, guys. Definately getting some gloves the next time. btw, I used liquid dish soap around the tire and rim edges. Made a big difference. Like a lot of other things in life, a good lube job makes insertion so much easier!!
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted January 19, 2004 07:44 AM
I have changed Front and rear tires and none of these problems? I have the Kawasaki Bead Breaker I bought in the early 80's and it just barely fits the new big rims. Thge 2 large truck size irons get the bead over the rim! To get the tire off, nothing makes it easier than Armor All. Should not be used to put the new tire on, like soapy water, but I just have never had a problem. I made a Tire changer from a cylinder with a rubber hose over the edge to lay the tire / rim on!
____________
Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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harryzx-12
Needs a job
Posts: 3643
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posted January 19, 2004 01:55 PM
quote by n da zone -Harry and/or Jon, how are you managing keeping the bead from seating on the side opposite where you are working?
I push down on the tire to get it to the approx center of the rim that way it's much easier to put on. I also have 2 motion pro tire irons I use as well.It wil get easier. The first couple I did was a bitch as I hadn't changed a tire in a long time.I bought mine because I was paying $30 each tire for mounting/balancing. I paid $34 for the tire machine plus $20 for the motorcycle attachment for it.It's not the best but it does a pretty good job for what it costs.
____________
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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n da zone
Expert Class
Posts: 215
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posted January 19, 2004 06:49 PM
That's exactly right, Harry. that's what I paid. I also bought some of the MotionPro irons, and used them along with the bar that comes with the changer.
I did a buddy's tonight and it went on using some clamps and some cussin', but dam!! we saved a few bucks and it feels good to ..do-it-yurself!! ...
Thanks for the advice ... it helped.
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ozzy
Needs a job
need guberment cheese
Posts: 3172
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posted January 20, 2004 05:54 AM
I change my own tires with these simple tools I made. They work great and were cheap!
The bead breaker takes all of 10-15 lbs force on the handle to unseat the bead.
I place the wheel assy on the barrel and use tire irons to mount and dismount the tire.
Then to balance a tire I place the axle through the wheel and set the ends of the axle onto the drill steel on each side of the stand. (after the stand is checked for level).As stated in other posts here, gravity rolls the heavy side down.
how us po folk do things.
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Scooter
Zone Head
Posts: 899
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posted January 20, 2004 05:59 PM
Edited By: Scooter on 20 Jan 2004 18:08
A bunch of the ZRX guys went out and bought the Harbor Freight tire changer w/motorcycle adapter and love it. Get a can of plasti-dip while your at it.
Check this out. Best tire changing site I've found, even a movie clip in step 6.
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html#2
Homemade bead breaker.
____________
"Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional."
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted January 20, 2004 07:03 PM
ozzy....how much money can i save by using ur tire-changin service shop in spokane??
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ozzy
Needs a job
need guberment cheese
Posts: 3172
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posted January 21, 2004 06:03 AM
quote:
ozzy....how much money can i save by using ur tire-changin service shop in spokane??
Depends on how much sweat you wanna use! Your sweat, my coaching = FREE.
Course I'll probably push you out of the way and end up doing it for you,LOL.
Just holler when you have the need for new tires.
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted January 21, 2004 06:46 AM
I can't find anyone around here to do my Dymags....nor do I trust them either...
____________
Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted January 21, 2004 08:03 AM
Ozzy, you are my Hero! I am the #1 Po person around here and do 99.9% myslef. What I like about your Barrel set up is the threaded rod in the middle to hold the assembly in place! That is Perfect!. Since my bead breaker is small and trans portable I like it best. I use and Old swingarm in the Vice for basic tire balancing, but need one with unsealed dry bearings to really have something that I would trust for very high speed.
____________
Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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k bryant
Needs a job
Sponsor
Posts: 2911
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posted January 21, 2004 09:00 AM
Hey Dave! Send your Dymags to me. I'll mount the tires on them for you. Tell ya what, I'll even break in the tires for you. Say a few thousand miles or so....
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted January 21, 2004 04:30 PM
quote:
Hey Dave! Send your Dymags to me. I'll mount the tires on them for you. Tell ya what, I'll even break in the tires for you. Say a few thousand miles or so....
Send me a check for $1700 & you can have them w/my lopsided tires too!
____________
Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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faukker
Parking Attendant
Posts: 2
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posted January 21, 2004 06:48 PM
I just use my sears workmate and those 24" curved tire irons. They are curved in such a manner that once you learn to work them, they make the job real easy. The biggest mistake folks make is not keeping the bead in the center of the wheel during the first bites with the irons. C-clamps work fine for me.
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted January 22, 2004 09:57 AM
I have a couple of those sliding clamps that you squeeze down on. 100% correct on keeping the tire in the center of the wheel where you have more room to work on moving the bead over the rim.
____________
Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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