Anyone use the Harbor Freight manual tire changer?

Manual Tire Changer
Manual Tire Changer

Looking at getting one.

$12 for the cheapest mounting I can find in the area. I figure spending less than that on one of these bad boys might be worth the time.

My lowest profile tires are 50 series. I don't mess with rubber bands.

 

I have one, they work decent but get a bucket of tire lube at Fleetpride, I used dish soap but it was not easy.

 

I inherited with a house I bought this manual tire changer. I have never used one before.


After a few trials, I have it down, this thing works great. Except putting the tire back on, that is a problem I haven't figured out yet. It came with a bar, and I finally figured out this end is for taking the tire off. It works beautifully once you figure it out.



This other end is for putting the tire back on the rim. This is where the problems start. My bar originally looked like the one below in the picture, with the curvature of the tool at "A".



I figured the "hook" of the tool went around the lip of the rim, and then it along with the wheel would push the tire back down over the rim. It works till the going gets tough, and then it would rather slide up off the rim rather that push the tire over the edge of the rim. I thought the hook must have been bent at one time, so I decided to bend it around to position "B". I put it in my press and bent it to the new position. It helped it, but it still wants to slide up off the rim. If I go over and hold down on it with my hand, I then can't get enough leverage on the tool to push it around the rim at the same time.

I was thinking about heating the tool and bending it at "C" but thought I had better stop before I really mess it up. Does anyone have a setup and a bar like this? It's a old Coates 3S tireman changer. If I can get this part working, it will be really slick and work on everything except aluminum rims. I got the above picture off the internet, and that is when I found that picture looks like mine before I bent it around. So I might have to bend it back out if someone helps me figure out what I am doing wrong.

 

Here's a video for the harbor freight version.

 

Too bad you are in VA....

I did not have mine anchored to the floor, but rather a couple wood beams laying on the floor. I did 11 wheels with it. OK results. I had to use some PVC pipe over the bar to keep it from scratching aluminum wheels. The bead breaker will scratch the daylights out of your wheels to, so an old carpet over the base will help.

I also got the balancer. The balance job was pretty poor.

It's $15 to mount and balance here.

 

For balancing, I use about a pound of heavyweight plastic BBs. Works great in everything over about 28" tall, shorter tires it's a bit hit or miss.

 

Browse clist. We picked up a Coates 40-40 machine for $200. (We change a lot of tires.)

 

Seen plenty of Coates 40-40s on CraigsList.

I know how to use those and they're very effective. I used to work at a tire shop... But I only used the 40-40 on steel wheels.

I don't own any steel wheels anymore. I much prefer the rim-clamp style machines on alloy wheels.

 

I keep looking for a rim-clamp machine.....handy for changing tires on my car trailer. (Mobile home, equipment style rims.)

 

i have a 40-40SA i got off craigslist about 12 years ago for $300. 99% of what i do is alloy rims.
i have replaced/ repaired well over 500 tires, and i never had any problems. it is all in the care and prep you take when mounting.
i also picked up a snap on WB-240 balancer for $200

 

I move too often to have something as heavy as a 40-40. I have used the WB240 before, I'm not a fan of the hand-spin thing, but they do work.

 

I have one of the Harbor Freight tire changers. The bead breaker is very flimsy and will bend on a tough tire. I have another dedicated bead breaker however.

I fastened my tire changer to a pallet and use it in the yard. I have a problem with the bar tending to pop out of the tire/rim combo as I walk around the tire. So I still prefer to simply use my tire spoons on a clean piece of plywood on the ground and not use the changer. Maybe I am doing something wrong however, so I will watch the video later and maybe get better results.

I find the biggest advantage of the tire changer over using tire spoons is that you are not working on the ground.

I don't like to use water based lube when mounting tires for fear they will rust or corrode the rims. I have always used grease. So far, after twenty or so years and many many tires, I haven't had one spin on the rim!