DIY tire mounting and balancing

[canyonman]

looking for a source for a bubble balancer and weights to do my own tire changes.

I have changed several by hand over the years but never a low profile performance doughnut. and I always had to take it to somebody to get it balanced

any advise on the procedure would also be appreciated.

tried a couple searches but didn't turn up what I was hoping for.

thanks

 

[HaulinAshe]

Balancer... Word!

Marc Parnes Universal Balancer

DIY Tire mounting...

Search, there's a million and one threads and opinions on that one too.

 

[Silent]

Balancer... Word!Marc Parnes Universal Balancer

+ a bazzillion

Check out Harbor Freight for a changer, and google Mojo Lever. The 3 are what I use.

 

[vectervp1]

Balancer... Word!Marc Parnes Universal Balancer

+ a bazzillion

Check out Harbor Freight for a changer, and google Mojo Lever. The 3 are what I use.

Exactly what I've got right now. Mojo Lever makes changing tires a whole lot easier!

 

[canyonman]

thank you very much guys

 

[JimLor]

I want to change my own tires too. I looked at Harbor Freight site -- am I correct in saying I just need the $30 portable tire changer and the motorcycle attachment ($50)? I know I need levers and weights, but I'm just asking about the basic machinery.

Thanks.

 

[Geezer]

Yes, you need the tire changer and motorcycle attachment. You'll also need some stick-on weights. You can get them from Mark Parness when you order the balancer, among other places.

Regarding levers, I use the ugly red bar that came with the Harbor Freight changer along with a bunch of scrap pieces of oak. I put tape on the bar to minimize scratching the rim. The Mojo Lever is on my wish list, but I never got around to ordering one. They always seem to be out of stock when I think about getting one.

 

[Fred W]

You can certainly get all the good stuff to make it easy to change tires. But you don't "need" them:

video

or how about this:

https://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breake...ead-breaker.htm

 

[SPORT]

Don't forget the hight pressure Compressor. Harbor Freight also sells them fairly inexpensively too.

 

[Rickster]

Here's a good pictoral with the HF (yes you need the base and the motorcycle tire adapter) with the Marc Parnes balancer (also shows the Mojo Lever!)

Clicky

 

[Checkswrecks]

All sort sof info & resources on tire changing and balancing:

WebBikeWorld tire changing page

 

[JimLor]

Thanks! Good pictures and good links and info. Thanks Chris, I should have searched; I'm a lazy, shiftless, dumb bastard unworthy of the forum - and welcome aboard!

Thanks again.

Jim

 

[Nikk]

Has anyone tried to use just the motorcycle attachment from Harbor Freight without the base?

I'm wondering if I could just put the attachment on a pole set in concrete.

-Nik

 

[Silent]

Has anyone tried to use just the motorcycle attachment from Harbor Freight without the base?
I'm wondering if I could just put the attachment on a pole set in concrete.

-Nik

There's a cross bar and the pivot bar that your lever turns on that are not part of the motorcycle atatchment. Without them you might as well try and stuff your wheel in a vice and change tires. So, you 'need' both B)

 

[Powerman]

This thread is right on time for me. Rear is flat in the center from slabbing to Daytona.

Time for new skins, local dealers suck.

JimLor, going to Harbor Freight today.

Also looks like Mojolever parts are in stock.

Maybe we can make a deal since you're one exit up?

(I like single malt scotch)

Garage is pretty full, told the wife I was going to bolt it to the floor in the spare bedroom.

 

[Grumpy]

You can certainly get all the good stuff to make it easy to change tires. But you don't "need" them:
video

or how about this:

https://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breake...ead-breaker.htm

Well, that pisses me off. I went to all the trouble of fixing up an old car rim when all I needed was 2 short pieces of 2X4 and strong knees!

jim

 

[slapnpop]

If you go the route of the harbor freight unit, you WILL need to do something about the clamping mechanism and the bar, as well as the bead breaker, for any of them to be used without damaging your wheel.

The clamp of the "motorcycle attachment" needs to have pads at the jaws. The lever is best replaced with a mojo lever, as I never found a suitable way to cover the problem areas. I tried cutting off a peice of rim protector as shown on the link above, and that was always more of a pain in the ass than any good.

I always thought that the rubberized dip coating for tool handles was along the lines of what it needed, but more durable and slippery, not sticky. Maybe some truck spray on bed liner would work? Never got that far, had to leave mine behind when I moved. I will probably make something next time rather than buy the harbor freight unit though.

I also made a balancer that works like a charm with 4 bearings. uses the axles from the bike resting on the bearings, which are sealed and lubricated ABEC 5 bearings.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Well, that pisses me off. I went to all the trouble of fixing up an old car rim when all I needed was 2 short pieces of 2X4 and strong knees!jim

Grumpy, you've been married to a good woman for many years. There's no doubt about the strength of your knees.

 

[Nikk]

You can certainly get all the good stuff to make it easy to change tires. But you don't "need" them:
video

or how about this:

https://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breake...ead-breaker.htm

That video is a joke, if the tires we put on our FJR's were only that soft we could change them with our toothbrushes.

Gotta give props for the bead breaker though that is a very nice design.

-Nik