Tire change...do-it-yourself ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,200
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
RE: Tire change...do-it-yourself ?
I've changed my own tires out of necessity (broke at the time) without a tire changer, just with tire tools, sometimes homemade. \\; I'll do a 16 rear/front, but not a 18 front like on a Sportster. \\; Today, I pull the wheel off myself and take it to an indy. \\; Also get your bearings/seals serviced while you have it off.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 4
From: Oklahoma
RE: Tire change...do-it-yourself ?
Problem with taking wheel to dealer or indy to install tire is you may be expected to buy the tire from them. \\; Another thread on this topic running on this forum now. \\;
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 640
Likes: 13
From: Hickory, NC area
RE: Tire change...do-it-yourself ?
I'm with most others here. \\; it is a whole lot of effort to make that rubber stretch over the rim just to save a few bucks. \\; Pull the wheels and take them to an indy. \\; I even managed to get one for a Honda done at a regular tire store. \\; The machine just made it around.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Tire change...do-it-yourself ?
You can do it with little more than two tire tools, but three friends and I invested in the following items:
1. Harbor Freight tire changer and MC adapter
2. Balancer (www.marcparnes.com)
3. Nylon-tipped rod (http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/mojoweb.htm)
You'll also need some lubricant like RuGlide, 3-4 tire tools, some plastic (from milk cartons, old auto floor mats, etc.) to protect wheel from tools, and stick-on weights (HD has a variety including black, and Napa also has them). Here's a tutorial on tire changing:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html
After doing this for two years I wouldn't go back to the old system, which for me was removing the wheel and taking it to a local Honda dealership for mount/balance. HD wouldn't touch it since I always buy tires by mail-order. We now have four investors and if you buy new you'd be out maybe $65 each, which would pay for itself after one tire purchased and mounted at your local HD shop.
1. Harbor Freight tire changer and MC adapter
2. Balancer (www.marcparnes.com)
3. Nylon-tipped rod (http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/mojoweb.htm)
You'll also need some lubricant like RuGlide, 3-4 tire tools, some plastic (from milk cartons, old auto floor mats, etc.) to protect wheel from tools, and stick-on weights (HD has a variety including black, and Napa also has them). Here's a tutorial on tire changing:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html
After doing this for two years I wouldn't go back to the old system, which for me was removing the wheel and taking it to a local Honda dealership for mount/balance. HD wouldn't touch it since I always buy tires by mail-order. We now have four investors and if you buy new you'd be out maybe $65 each, which would pay for itself after one tire purchased and mounted at your local HD shop.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
k&j eglide
General Harley Davidson Chat
19
Apr 30, 2010 02:05 AM
