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Alot of great info here, does anyone know why Indys dont want to do it?
Their business, their choice. I'm guessing they want to penalize the DIY home mechanic. Most home motorcycle mechanics don't change their own tires so this is a way for a shop to get those dollars. Unfortunately for these shops, people are now purchasing the tools to change tires at home, providing they have the space for the machine or just using tire spoons. Plus, I bet I get a newer tire when I order one via mail-order than the tire sitting at the shop waiting to be sold.
I see what you are saying but it still comes down to greed and controlling people's behavior, the jobber is saying " bought tires on line eh? good luck withthat" I am a retired auto mechanic, mounted many tires and balanced them also. Back say 35 years ago it was fairly common to mount and balance customer supplied tires for a fee. Now the shop reserved the right to say no if something was unsafe, like mounting a junk rotted d tire, but being a greedy ******* is bullshit. I suspect it's a combination of greedy ******* shop managers along with ******* customers who might file a law suitif there is any type of accident revolving around the tire and wheel assembly. I would think that, a simple signed disclaimer that the jobber isn't responsible should suffice, but I am no lawyer.
Even if the customer doesn't sue you he may have a guest passenger on the back that will in the event of a tire failure. There goes your signed disclaimer right there. Lots of folks in search of the deep pocket these days....
I use simple tire spoons for removing.
3-4" Pieces of old garden hose, or other reinforced hose, split longways on one side, make decent rim protectors.
A couple 2x4's attached to the support pole in my barn form a simple lever and work well as a bead breaker.
To put them back, on a coating of Vaseline on the bead and they slip right on with minimal effort.
Balancing I do with a simple HF tire balancer, which has been fantastic for the dozens of tires I've done.
I probably have less than $50 in the whole setup.
Now, the older I get the less appealing working on the floor gets so some kind of, properly anchored, stand would be worth every dime spent. Also, I'd love to find a good way to deal with tubes as they're still a PITA!
I had an HF changer - originally bought to change trailer tires - and added the motorcycle changer to the top. Used it a few times, but storage was an issue and unless you make some mods, it really ain't that great. Sold it, made my own bead breaker out of a couple of two-by-fours and a small bottle jack I had, and bought a set of smooth chromed steel spoons and rim savers off Amazon. At least as easy as the tire changer, as long as you don't mind gettin' on your knees to hold it. Bead breaker in the photo . . .
I bought the NO Mar classic since I don't have room for a tiremachine in my garage. It stays dissembled until I need to use it. (have a concrete base in the back yard for it to mount on. Yesterday I assembled it in order to dismount a tire on my G8GT enough to replace the Tire pressure sensor. Easy day no drama. In my honest opinion low profile wide performance automobile tires are harder to mess with than a motorcycle touring tire. To end a long post I would like a pnuematic tire machine but I don't have the room. The no mar works on my motorcycle tires and all of my automobile tires. I was going to buy the harbor freight changer and do the recommended mods and buy the recommended accessories however, it seemed to be about the same price to buy the no mar with the recommended accessories...
As for Dealer prices I have installed two rears and a front on my FLHTCU for less than the quote I received for a rear tire. Time for a third rear (riding the FLHTCU everyday was burning through tires & oil changes, something that COVID has slowed that down for me due to telework.
Anyway along with the 10 or so automobile tires I have worked on and the two tires on my 1948 I believe I'm past the break even point on the NO MAR.
Last edited by aboatguy; May 18, 2020 at 04:21 PM.
Well I've found an indy to do it next week, not in my local area,but in the area that i work as I do the commute thing. So, yeah Ill leave work drop them off at 0900.and pick them up later. Hopefully it works out for the best.
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