Rabaconda Tire Changer
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
I only put it on the bead of the tire to help the duck head slide easier.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,895
Likes: 1,908
From: East Coast, USA
I tend to follow the No-Mar recommendations. I've also found their tire lube to be very good. Placing the tire lube in the drop center helps to make setting the bead easier.
Last edited by LQQK_OUT; Jul 30, 2024 at 05:46 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,423
From: USA
Or do you actually mean in the groove of the rim that the tire bead seats in?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,895
Likes: 1,908
From: East Coast, USA
You want to avoid placing tire lube on the bead seat area, since this may cause the tire to slip around the rim on a high horsepower motorcycle. I doubt I'd have that problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,015
Likes: 6,909
From: NC
I finally got another chance to try out my Rabaconda street bike tire changer this past Wednesday. If you recall, I mentioned in post #63 that my first attempt at using this machine didn't go very well. I was working on a 2016 HD Ultra 17" front tire with dual spoke mount rotors. The included magnetic wheel supports didn't raise the wheel enough to prevent contact with the frame of the machine. I called customer support, and they sent me an adapter free of charge which raises the magnetic wheel supports. I'd rate customer support as very good!
Time to work on the rear 16" wheel off this same 2016 HD Ultra. My friend was running a Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra rear tire and the same brand/model of tire was going to be installed.
Tire removal/installation process was a piece of cake. This machine just works. Unfortunately, for comparison, I've never worked with a Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra rear tire on my No-Mar machine. But whenever I've worked on a 180/65-16 rear tire (Dunlop American Elites) on my No-Mar, I've always had difficulty. With this Rabaconda, it was a piece of cake. I was shocked at how easy it was compared to the difficulty I've had on the No-Mar. I truly believe the trick is the Rabaconda ratcheting duck head.
A couple of additional thoughts:
Bead Breaking
I've never had a problem breaking a bead with the No-Mar. I purchased an extension to use on the No-Mar bead breaker (3 feet of 1-1/4" black pipe) for more leverage. When breaking the bead using the No-Mar machine, you need to position the dog/cam block above the yellow dot on the frame arm. Then you need to pick-up the wheel and rotate it below the bead breaker arm so that you can break the bead around the wheel. Sometimes, it's possible if you don't position the wheel correctly under the bead breaker arm, the tire can jump while you press down on the bead breaker. Then after bead breaking, you need to remove the wheel, remove the dog and cam blocks and replace with the posi-clamps. Adjust the posi-clamps and then clamp down the tire.
It's much simpler with the Rabaconda. I was concerned that the bead breaking arm on the Rabaconda wasn't long enough to provide enough leverage, but that wasn't an issue.
Advantages of the Rabaconda over the No-Mar were:
1. No chance of the wheel jumping around during bead breaking
2. Very easy to turn wheel to reposition during bead breaking
3. No need to change anything when ready to remove the tire.
On this particular tire change (2016 HD Ultra rear tire 180/65B-16)
1. Wheel fit on the machine with the stock magnetic wheel supports. I did not need to use the adapters they sent me.
2. I could not fit the stopper pin in an available hole. The hole was blocked by the rotor. So I just used the supplied strap.
I was very impressed with the machine and it's portable! I would highly recommend this machine over a No-Mar and I have both.
Time to work on the rear 16" wheel off this same 2016 HD Ultra. My friend was running a Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra rear tire and the same brand/model of tire was going to be installed.
Tire removal/installation process was a piece of cake. This machine just works. Unfortunately, for comparison, I've never worked with a Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra rear tire on my No-Mar machine. But whenever I've worked on a 180/65-16 rear tire (Dunlop American Elites) on my No-Mar, I've always had difficulty. With this Rabaconda, it was a piece of cake. I was shocked at how easy it was compared to the difficulty I've had on the No-Mar. I truly believe the trick is the Rabaconda ratcheting duck head.
A couple of additional thoughts:
Bead Breaking
I've never had a problem breaking a bead with the No-Mar. I purchased an extension to use on the No-Mar bead breaker (3 feet of 1-1/4" black pipe) for more leverage. When breaking the bead using the No-Mar machine, you need to position the dog/cam block above the yellow dot on the frame arm. Then you need to pick-up the wheel and rotate it below the bead breaker arm so that you can break the bead around the wheel. Sometimes, it's possible if you don't position the wheel correctly under the bead breaker arm, the tire can jump while you press down on the bead breaker. Then after bead breaking, you need to remove the wheel, remove the dog and cam blocks and replace with the posi-clamps. Adjust the posi-clamps and then clamp down the tire.
It's much simpler with the Rabaconda. I was concerned that the bead breaking arm on the Rabaconda wasn't long enough to provide enough leverage, but that wasn't an issue.
Advantages of the Rabaconda over the No-Mar were:
1. No chance of the wheel jumping around during bead breaking
2. Very easy to turn wheel to reposition during bead breaking
3. No need to change anything when ready to remove the tire.
On this particular tire change (2016 HD Ultra rear tire 180/65B-16)
1. Wheel fit on the machine with the stock magnetic wheel supports. I did not need to use the adapters they sent me.
2. I could not fit the stopper pin in an available hole. The hole was blocked by the rotor. So I just used the supplied strap.
I was very impressed with the machine and it's portable! I would highly recommend this machine over a No-Mar and I have both.
Wondering what the tire temperatures were during the R/R. I have had issues with cold tires for mounting and seating.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,895
Likes: 1,908
From: East Coast, USA
Novice
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 16
From: Toronto, Canada
I'd echo all of this. It's spot on. The Rabaconda just plain works. If you're having issues using it, they can usually be fixed by two things:
1) Reading the booklet carefully and making sure you're following it to the letter (sometimes it wants you to start duckhead up, other times with the duckhead down, and what direction the tire should or shouldn't be over the duckhead). The small details make all the difference.
2) MORE LUBE. It's not mentioned in the booklet, but I actually use the bead grease AND a little spray of soapy water on top of that/mixed in. It gets real slip and slidy.
Full disclosure: I signed up to be a Rabaconda dealer and then never bothered trying to sell one because, well, I have a few issues with the product. My full review is here, including what I do and don't like about it:
No, I don't try to sell you one, nor do I have any links/codes whatever to make money if you do buy one from somewhere else. I'm just here to give some honest feedback.
The video is only 7 minutes. Feel free to watch me while you poop. Wipe twice
1) Reading the booklet carefully and making sure you're following it to the letter (sometimes it wants you to start duckhead up, other times with the duckhead down, and what direction the tire should or shouldn't be over the duckhead). The small details make all the difference.
2) MORE LUBE. It's not mentioned in the booklet, but I actually use the bead grease AND a little spray of soapy water on top of that/mixed in. It gets real slip and slidy.
Full disclosure: I signed up to be a Rabaconda dealer and then never bothered trying to sell one because, well, I have a few issues with the product. My full review is here, including what I do and don't like about it:
No, I don't try to sell you one, nor do I have any links/codes whatever to make money if you do buy one from somewhere else. I'm just here to give some honest feedback.
The video is only 7 minutes. Feel free to watch me while you poop. Wipe twice
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 11,255
From: San Diego, CA
Based on the above review, I will share my thoughts....
I own three motorcycles. I have a small garage/shop where I park them, along with my three tool chests and my lift table. I have owned and done maintenance (oil/filter changes, and other maintenance items) on Harley's since my new 1978 FXS. Since I built my little shop in 2014, I have done ALL my own work to include mods, repairs, and maintenance... well, except for tire changes..
I have toyed with buying a pneumatic tire changer, but even after saving enough $$$ to buy one, finding room for it will be an issue.
Based on a lot of reviews I've seen on the Rabaconda Tire Changer, and their videos, I thought it would be the ticket. I bought a Street Bike Tire Changer. I even wrote to them and got their new spacers to allow for working on Harley Tires with the pulley or brake rotor still mounted.
I changed the tires on my 2016 Ultra Classic,,, awesome. Can be a bit tricky, but lube and warmth make it an easy tire change...
The problem is, three of my four bikes have tubes and spokes.... I'm sorry, but I agree with the guy in post #107 above. The Rabaconda Street Bike Tire Changer is not, IMHO, suitable for a spoked wheel on a big street bike. I tried to change an American Elite tire on my 2003 Heritage. I DO NOT like using their strap, against a wheel spoke, to hold the wheel from spinning while removing and mounting a tire. I just don't like the pressure/stress it places on a wheel spoke to get the job done.
For that reason, and because I have three bikes with spokes and only one without... I'm going to save up, try to find a space to put it, and eventually buy a pneumatic tire changer. Until then, I have a good relationship with a local motorcycle tire shop, and I will continue to bring them my wheels and have them swap tires for me.
I will probably list my Rabaconda Street Tire Changer for sale in the near future, but I will suggest in the ad, that it only be used for non-Spoke wheels..
Again, this is my personal opinion, based on my limited anecdotal experience...
I own three motorcycles. I have a small garage/shop where I park them, along with my three tool chests and my lift table. I have owned and done maintenance (oil/filter changes, and other maintenance items) on Harley's since my new 1978 FXS. Since I built my little shop in 2014, I have done ALL my own work to include mods, repairs, and maintenance... well, except for tire changes..
I have toyed with buying a pneumatic tire changer, but even after saving enough $$$ to buy one, finding room for it will be an issue.
Based on a lot of reviews I've seen on the Rabaconda Tire Changer, and their videos, I thought it would be the ticket. I bought a Street Bike Tire Changer. I even wrote to them and got their new spacers to allow for working on Harley Tires with the pulley or brake rotor still mounted.
I changed the tires on my 2016 Ultra Classic,,, awesome. Can be a bit tricky, but lube and warmth make it an easy tire change...
The problem is, three of my four bikes have tubes and spokes.... I'm sorry, but I agree with the guy in post #107 above. The Rabaconda Street Bike Tire Changer is not, IMHO, suitable for a spoked wheel on a big street bike. I tried to change an American Elite tire on my 2003 Heritage. I DO NOT like using their strap, against a wheel spoke, to hold the wheel from spinning while removing and mounting a tire. I just don't like the pressure/stress it places on a wheel spoke to get the job done.
For that reason, and because I have three bikes with spokes and only one without... I'm going to save up, try to find a space to put it, and eventually buy a pneumatic tire changer. Until then, I have a good relationship with a local motorcycle tire shop, and I will continue to bring them my wheels and have them swap tires for me.
I will probably list my Rabaconda Street Tire Changer for sale in the near future, but I will suggest in the ad, that it only be used for non-Spoke wheels..
Again, this is my personal opinion, based on my limited anecdotal experience...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Novice
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 16
From: Toronto, Canada
@hattitude how come you purchased the street bike tire changer (tubeless model) as opposed to the dirt bike tire changer (tubed model)?
You're the second person to mention buying this model despite having a bike with tubed tires. It seems the tubed-oriented option from Rabaconda would've been a better fit?
You're the second person to mention buying this model despite having a bike with tubed tires. It seems the tubed-oriented option from Rabaconda would've been a better fit?
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
I’ve done a few laced wheels, and using the strap hasn’t been an issue. When installing, I put the tube in the tire and inflate it enough to hold it in position, then mount the tire in the same fashion as a tubeless model and it went together fine. Maybe I just got lucky?
