Mechanical Tyre Changer

[LaKraven]

Okay, so I'm looking to get myself a tyre bead breaker (tyre changer) because I love doing the work myself and hate paying others to do for me what I can do for myself!

Seeing a few on eBay, mostly Harbour Freight (otherwise known as "The Rim Rapist" because it chews through rims like a hot knife through butter). Anyway, in a list of crappy devices, I've seen this weird looking thing and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with them, and if they're safe/good to use on my beloved VStrom's precious alloys!

[ricky]

that's a lot if money just to break a bead when u have cheaper options

[LaKraven]

that's a lot if money just to break a bead when u have cheaper options

Yes... it's true there are vastly cheaper options (hell, I could do it with the back of a spoon if I had to) but the point is I want to do it without risking damage to the rim. For that you need repeatable devices, ergo a bead breaking machine ;)

[2112]

Or a G clamp.

[hookie]

Abba do a good one. They're not the cheapest but it works very well.
                              http://www.abbastands.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=11

[mr_diver]

I use a flat spade. stand on the bloody thing, job done, then you can dig the garden...

[Andy M]

Abba do a good one. They're not the cheapest but it works very well.
                              http://www.abbastands.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=11

I have one and would agree on large section tubed tyres. I did all my own changes on the Bonneville and will continue to do so on my MZ's.

I do not however believe there is any substitute for the tyre places machine with a tubeless tyre. Breaking the bead is not the issue. The problem is getting the close fitting tyre wall over the rim without trashing the wheel. Support the rim on another wheel and use the ABBA clamp to drive it off and you might just do it, but to then give it fifteen turns off and fifteen back on having turned the wheel 10 degrees, while your mate has to hold the section that's now off will make heavy work of it.

The long lever and frame type has more potential to both drive the tyre off the rim, but also trash rims in the process.

Andy

[hookie]

I've used the Abba on front and rear Vee, Ducati 996 rear plus a few others and my car which has 195 section tyres. It did all these with ease. I do agree that having a "proper" bead breaker and changing rig would be great, but I can't justify the expense.

[Juvecu]

www.no-scufftiretool.com

I think No-Mar and Mojo also make similar tyre bars and probably a few others too.

[LaKraven]

http://www.no-scufftiretool.com

I think No-Mar and Mojo also make similar tyre bars and probably a few others too.

Yup... I'm getting one of those! The No-Mar version is hideously expensive for what it is (I'm fairly certain I could build my own copy of the No-Mar tool for less than 10% of their listed price) but $115 USD for a ready-to-rock scuff-free tyre changer is worth the money to me!
Think about that for a moment: change two sets of tyres, it's paid for itself!

[Jacko]

I use the abba bead breaker in the link above, and good quality tyre levers once the bead has broken.. I bought the abba bead breaker as part of the full Abba kit which included the wheel balancer, tyre levers, rim protectors and some fitting gel.. Total cost was £185, sounds a lot (and is) but at £12.50 per tyre change at my local place it's already paid for itself in 3 years..

Sometimes the tyres come off easily and sometimes they can be stubborn, tyre construction plays a part here, most tyres have a hard carcas and they can be troublesome but Pirelli and Metzellers (owned by Pirelli) are softer and easier to work with.. It usually takes a couple of hours to change a tyre, including removing from and replacing back in the bike (fronts are easier here).. I'm careful and take my time.. If friends bring me loose wheels I can usually complete the change, and balance, in an hour..

[putbinoot]

If you like doing it yourself you can build one yourself as well. And if you don't use those balance beeds then you can build your own balancer.
http://www.no-scufftiretool.com/Build%20tire%20balancer.pdf

[mr_diver]

last time I changed a tyre I used a spade to break the bead and a bolt cutter to cut through the tyre from side to side, didn't even use a single tyre lever!  

to put on, I put washing up liquid on rim and tyre bead, then stood on the F@@ker. inflate and bob's your mother's brother.
 a balancer I need before messing with the stroms' tyres.