Changing my own tires
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,212
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From: Maryland
Changing my own tires
I read about a lot of you changing your own tires What equipment do you need to do this at home, and where did you get your equipment from? Yes, I have the service manual. My indy hits me for an hour labor each time he does it. With this economy, I think I am going to start doing it myself. Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 974
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From: Morrisville NC
RE: Changing my own tires
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42927 \\;or some tire iron/spoons and a bead breaker
RE: Changing my own tires
bring the \\; tire \\; with old rubber \\; to ur \\; dealer \\; let them \\; do it.. \\; way \\; easier \\; than \\; braking ur \\; ***** on \\; dismount and \\; mount..plus \\; how can u do a \\; hi speed balance?
 \\;
 \\;
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: The Frozen North - Hastings Michigan
RE: Changing my own tires
 \\;
I bought a NO-MAR tire changer off the web, It has paid for itself in the two years I've owned it. Works well, fast, and easy, also it can't mar your wheels, as no metal touches the wheels.
Look up No-MAR motorcycle tire changers on the web, you'l find it.
I might add, my whole family rides, we have a dozen bikes to keep up, it would be fooli$h to take them to the dealer evey time one needed a tire change.
 \\;
 \\;G wizz
 \\;
I bought a NO-MAR tire changer off the web, It has paid for itself in the two years I've owned it. Works well, fast, and easy, also it can't mar your wheels, as no metal touches the wheels.
Look up No-MAR motorcycle tire changers on the web, you'l find it.
I might add, my whole family rides, we have a dozen bikes to keep up, it would be fooli$h to take them to the dealer evey time one needed a tire change.
 \\;
 \\;G wizz
 \\;
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,112
Likes: 20
RE: Changing my own tires
1-2x4,8 ft long,cut 2 ft off the 2x4,put the short piece on the tire ,long piece under the bumper of \\; your truck,car whatever.Break the bead,2 extended tire spoons,pop the tire off.Coffee cup full ,half water half dishsoap.Take a rag ,dip it in the cup an wipe the bead,pop the tire back on,put the right amount of dyna beads in,air it up ,put it back on.Takes about an hour to do both,after you learn how.Generous amount of shop rags,blanket off the bed,whatever you can find to put under the rim so concrete doesnt scar up the wheel.Good to go
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Daytona, Fla.
RE: Changing my own tires
ORIGINAL: ironhead3fan
I read about a lot of you changing your own tires What equipment do you need to do this at home, and where did you get your equipment from? Yes, I have the service manual. My indy hits me for an hour labor each time he does it. With this economy, I think I am going to start doing it myself. Thanks.
I read about a lot of you changing your own tires What equipment do you need to do this at home, and where did you get your equipment from? Yes, I have the service manual. My indy hits me for an hour labor each time he does it. With this economy, I think I am going to start doing it myself. Thanks.
If you want to do it the easy way you'll spend $200 to $400 on tools to get started, but it'll pay you back quickly. \\; I use a Harbour Freight changer with the motorcycle adapter to break the bead &\\; hold the rim while I remove the old tire &\\; put the new one on. \\; I have a Marc Parnes www.marcparnes.com static balancer to balance the wheel first, &\\; the tire/wheel combination when I'm done.
Go to home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/mojoweb.htm for a mount/dismount bar that works with the Harbour Freight changer &\\; won't damage your wheels. \\; It's worth the investment, &\\; makes the job a lot easier. \\; Pick up some weights at NAPA, a large "C" clamp, a couple of large tire irons, &\\; a set of rim protectors &\\; you're good to go.
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From: Midwest
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Changing my own tires
Two years ago I went in with three others and invested in the necessary tools to change tires. \\; Here are some links:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34542
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42927
http://www.marcparnes.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/mojoweb.htm
You'll also need 3-4 tire tools, some plastic (e.g., milk cartons, old auto floor mats, etc.) to protect the rim from the tire tools and changer, RuGlide (lubricant), and some stick-on weights (Napa, HD, etc.). The Mojolever is necessary if you want to use the motorcycle adapter on the HF changer, as the standard rod is bare steel and will scratch alloy or chrome wheels. The Mojolever has nylon tips and is a big improvement for a premium price. You can do the job with two people and only the HF changer, tire tools, lubricant, plastic, etc.\\; i.e., no MC adapter or Mojolever. Doing it this way is a wrestling match, especially D402's with their difficult bead arrangement, but anyone can do it with a little practice. One you do it a few times you'll have it down and won't look back, even though there is a learning curve. None of the four in our group are sorry we made this investment.
We bought our HF changer, adapter, and Parnes balancer used for $75, a real steal. Buying new you'd be looking at about $350 or so for the caboodle, and split four ways you'd probably more than break even the first tire change.