If you've curious if the Harbor Freight manual tire changer works...

[Missourian]

It does. For mounting and dismounting tires? A+

Had a tire dismounted and remounted literally in minutes.

I seriously doubt a commercial machine could do it faster.

Soap everything up and it works like a charm.

For breaking beads? B-

The arms of the bead breaker need beefed up. It will bend to the side if it is not absolutely square with the tire. Not a huge issue that can be easily rectified by anyone who would buy a manual tire dismounter.

I bought this about a year ago for 60% off. The bar was missing. Worked fine with harbor freight $4 bar on a cheater pipe... but you'll need two for the remount. After using it, I'd pay full price on a coupon day, no doubt about it.

I built a base for it out of oak 3x4 dunnage I had left over, so I can move it around to where I need it... But it is intended to be mounted to the floor of your shop.

Apparently it only comes in black now.

Hazard Fraught has the lowest price recently at $43.

It's the Pittsburgh, third one down.

All Tools | Hazard Fraught Price Tracker

Browse through all tools to find the right price for you.

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Definitely worth it at $43.

 

[1srelluc]

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

Wow only $59 for the meglinating variable intensity multifunction power tool....
what is that?
Is that Bono with the red glasses?
wow only $14.99 for the laser guided paint brush
How much is the lefthanded tape?

 

[1srelluc]

Wow only $59 for the meglinating variable intensity multifunction power tool....
what is that?
Is that Bono with the red glasses?
wow only $14.99 for the laser guided paint brush
How much is the lefthanded tape?

The neighbors really liked the 4500 w Noise and Smoke Generator.

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

The neighbors really liked the 4500 w Noise and Smoke Generator.

I have a 67 mustang that does that

 

[1srelluc]

I don't know OP....I had a tire going down (roofing nail in it) so I put some air in it at home and drove it down to the tire place and he had it fixed (properly) in about 15 minutes....$10.00.

For a $10.00 charge I can't see dismounting, grunting over a manual tire changer, fixing the flat properly, and remounting.

 

[okfine]

The guys in the video are old and slow, but there was a young guy that worked at a tire store in Camarillo that used a tire hammer to break the bead. He was as fast as using a Coats 20/20 machine.

 

[Missourian]

I don't know OP....I had a tire going down (roofing nail in it) so I put some air in it at home and drove it down to the tire place and he had it fixed (properly) in about 15 minutes....$10.00.

For a $10.00 charge I can't see dismounting, grunting over a manual tire changer, fixing the flat properly, and remounting.

I had already put a plug in it.

It was leaking from the bead. Had to get in there with an angle grinder and wire cup and clean it all up.

I figure for the one tire, mount/dismount and bead clean and reseal, you're looking at the price of the tool... about $40.

And dam was it easy.

Since my old Ford is a heavy half ton, I can't go down to the tire shop and have $99 Wrangler LT light truck tires put on, due to insurance. Since they charge for installation anyway, I just started buying the tires and installing them myself...the old fashion way, like I do the semi tires.

It works, but it is labor intensive.

This is easy.

 

[Missourian]

The guys in the video are old and slow, but there was a young guy that worked at a tire store in Camarillo that used a tire hammer to break the bead. He was as fast as using a Coats 20/20 machine.

That's exactly how I've been doing it. I even have that bead breaker.

It is far superior to the one built into this tire changer. I'll be using it for breaking beads instead of the one built into this tire changer, since I already own it.

The price for it really jumped. I think I gave $32 dollars for it...it's now 80 bucks and HF.

I started out breaking bead with a 4x4x8 beam sat leaning on the tire right at the rim, and I'd drive up it with another vehicle.

 

[Missourian]

Thread 'How to break a tire bead and then reset it...'

Oct 8, 2020

...at home without special tools...

(Assuming you have an air compressor...but I doubt you'd try anything tire related without one)


The back tire on the pickup had a slow leak so I pulled it off and sprayed it with soapy water to find the leak...and...unfortunately it was leaking from the inside bead.

The bead needs broken and the inside of the rim requires cleaning and then reset the bead.

No sweat.

I don't have a bead breaker...but I do have a landscape timber and another vehicle...the wife's buick.

You can use a 4x4 ... And I have many times...but the landscape timber has rounded...

• Missourian
• Replies: 40
• Forum: The Garage

• 
• 

 

[toobfreak]

It was leaking from the bead. Had to get in there with an angle grinder and wire cup and clean it all up.

A leak at the bead is usually caused by rust/corrosion of the steel wheel where the seal is made.

It isn't that Harbor Freight tools don't work, they do--- it is just that they don't hold up to long term professional use.

 

[Missourian]

A leak at the bead is usually caused by rust/corrosion of the steel wheel where the seal is made.

That's exactly what it was.

It isn't that Harbor Freight tools don't work, they do--- it is just that they don't hold up to long term professional use.

I agree.

 

[1srelluc]

I had already put a plug in it.

It was leaking from the bead. Had to get in there with an angle grinder and wire cup and clean it all up.

I figure for the one tire, mount/dismount and bead clean and reseal, you're looking at the price of the tool... about $40.

And dam was it easy.

Since my old Ford is a heavy half ton, I can't go down to the tire shop and have $99 Wrangler LT light truck tires put on, due to insurance. Since they charge for installation anyway, I just started buying the tires and installing them myself...the old fashion way, like I do the semi tires.

It works, but it is labor intensive.

This is easy.

I had a right nice steel utility trailer with wood deck that was given to me when a hunting buddy moved away but the tire kept leaking around the bead due to steel wheel corrosion.

I took one look at the wheel when the tire was off, said **** that, and put aluminum wheels and new tires on it. At the time it cost me $125.00.

That old trailer lasted me 30+ years till I bought me a new aluminum one late last Fall instead of rebuilding the old one.

I still got $400.00 for the old trailer so I used it 30+ years for the cost of the wheels/tires and whatever the trailer tag cost me back then and still "made" money on it.

 

[Dekster]

I find that there are certain jobs I am willing to pay to have someone do. Tire changing is right up there on the list. I'll do it on the lawnmower if I must simply because it is hard to find someone to do little tires, but otherwise....

 

[Missourian]

I had a right nice steel utility trailer with wood deck that was given to me when a hunting buddy moved away but the tire kept leaking around the bead due to steel wheel corrosion.

I took one look at the wheel when the tire was off, said **** that, and put aluminum wheels and new tires on it. At the time it cost me $125.00.

That old trailer lasted me 30+ years till I bought me a new aluminum one late last Fall instead of rebuilding the old one.

I still got $400.00 for the old trailer so I used it 30+ years for the cost of the wheels/tires and whatever the trailer tag cost me back then and still "made" money on it.

If I can fix it, I'll fix it. If I **** it up, it needed replaced anyway.

 

[Missourian]

I find that there are certain jobs I am willing to pay to have someone do. Tire changing is right up there on the list. I'll do it on the lawnmower if I must simply because it is hard to find someone to do little tires, but otherwise....

That's understandable. Most people don't. If it didn't save me money buying tires, I probably wouldn't do it either.

 

[1srelluc]

If I can fix it, I'll fix it. If I **** it up, it needed replaced anyway.

Oh, I used to be like that for the most part....Had to be. Then I gained currency and (hopefully) some wisdom.

 

[progressive hunter]

The guys in the video are old and slow, but there was a young guy that worked at a tire store in Camarillo that used a tire hammer to break the bead. He was as fast as using a Coats 20/20 machine.

a 20/20??

man youre old,,