Harbor Freight tire changer

Okiedokie · January 19, 2009, 12:35:46 PM

Any one used one of their $40 [at times] portable tire changer? I seem to be taking wheels and tires to be mounted/dismounted on a pretty regular basis. I have a roller now that needs to be remounted and a riding mower that needs two new tires. Any input? Joe

enjenjo · January 19, 2009, 01:52:51 PM

If you are talking about their 39.99 bead breaker, I have used one of that type, but not the one they sell. It works good on bias ply tires, not so well on radials. I can not vouch for the quality of the one they sell, never used that brand.

Carnut · January 19, 2009, 04:32:06 PM

Reminds me of how glad I am that I bought a used Coats Manual Tire changer back in the early 70's when all the local gas stations were converting over to pneumatic changers.

It's paid for itself 100's of times over.

I've always found bead breaking as the hardest part of manual tire changing.

Removal of the tire from the rim on my changer takes a bit of effort and lately I've been able to install new tires right onto the rims without any mechanical assistance, just my soaping the beads and pushing down with my hands gets the tires on. Course on wide wheels and mailorder tires there is the difficulty of expanding the tread to get them to 'take' on the rim for airing up. That's a head ache that lately I've had done at the tire shop when getting the tires balanced now a days.

Then comes the balancing, I did fail to pickup on a used electrical powered on the car tire spin balancer when I had the chance about the same time as I got the tire changer and have regretted it ever since.

I did get a fairly good bubble balancer at the time and have used it a lot over the years, I've also tried the wheel on a bar deal looking for the heavy side to drop, but neither bubble or bar have done very good for me. I'm just not craftsman enough to get it right I guess.

I sure am thankful for the new electronic balancers, all that I have had done have been done right plus I get my tires 'blown' onto the rim for me.

enjenjo · January 19, 2009, 09:17:55 PM

I have a Coats manual changer stuck back in the corner. I have not used it since I made a deal on a Coats 1019 pneumatic

wayne petty · January 19, 2009, 09:33:27 PM

here is the manual normal car size tire changer..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542
they list the atv size bead breaker in the right frame

this is the mini tire changer they list for 39.99... for small tires..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34552

i find their 6 buck tire irons worth every penny... i got two... great for tweaking in motor mounts and other heavy items... works so much better than a prybar or big screw driver as it has smooth rounded corners that don't tear the tire beads... use with a big rubber or dead blow mallet..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93230

this is their full sized bead breaker... you still need the tire irons and hammers with it...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92961

this is the ATV sized bead breaker...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98875

i wish HF would get their act together and put the items in the proper areas... they have them spread out all over the place... and not cross referenced... as some go in more than one area...

hope this helps...

oh... and everybody who does tires need at least one of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42443 a clip on tire chuck... so you can stand back when filling.. the tires... i use it on my air tank... with QD's at on both ends of the hose... i fill my tank with shop air by unhooking the hose.. plugging on the shop air hose .. opening the valve... takes about 10 seconds for the pressure to equalize ... close the valve .. disconnect the shop air and i am ready to inflate tires instead of standing there filling the tank through the tire chuck...

i even hooked up that kind of valve on tow truck tanks at one shop i worked at... with a globe valve to shut it off... no leaks... tank would stay full for weeks...

TagMan · January 20, 2009, 02:41:09 PM

I've had one of the HF tire changer / bead breaker stands for a couple of years and have changed dozens of tires on it. I had to "beef up" up the supprt arms for the bead breaker, but other than that, it's worked great.

I have it anchored to my shop floor when in use, and can remove the bolts to store it out of the way. Well worth the $$ for $39.99, IMO.

Okiedokie · January 20, 2009, 04:09:06 PM

Thanks for the input, believe I will try one. Joe

Danimal · January 20, 2009, 06:13:46 PM

Quote from: "enjenjo"I have a Coats manual changer stuck back in the corner. I have not used it since I made a deal on a Coats 1019 pneumatic

You want to sell it?!

Mac · January 20, 2009, 10:12:13 PM

I have had one of these HF changers for a few years.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542

It works OK, though I usually have to reposition a couple of times to get the bead to break. The center hold down clamp will scar the rim badly but I use an 18" length of rubber fuel line coiled around under the clamp to protect it. Then it's off to my antique "Micro" brand bubble balancer.

It's a bunch of work and half way thru a set of 4 I'm wondering why I just didn't buy at the local tire shop.