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DIY Tire Changing

FZ1inTX

FZ1inTX

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I've been scouring the web and looking at options because I want to build the actual changer. I have a bead breaker. I have a balancer. I have a few ideas of my own but thought I would share some cool links of what others have done. Some of this looks very simple to cut and make and done cheap!

Homemade Tire Changing Stand - Custom Fighters - Custom Streetfighter Motorcycle Forum This guy made his own fashioned after the (now extinct) Harbor Freight changer.

This guy just slightly modified his HF changer and got a better bar. tirechange Photo Gallery by fred harmon at pbase.com

This company makes what I'd call the single best one but they are no longer making them now and this is a shame. Tire Stripper and watch the video of it here: Tire Stripper

These give me some ideas. I like the first link approach and can be done cheaply. I'm still a n00b with the welder but I think I can make the parts stick even if it isn't pretty. I had an idea of using some other materials.

For the arms, lay out three of these with the open channel facing up. Make each long enough to support a 17" wheel. Weld these to a center plate.
C+channel,+U+channel,+stamping+part%3B+(vividping@hotmail.com)_0_detail.jpg


At the center rod to slide the rim on to, make three tabs. Removing the stationary end of these clamps leaves a hole which I can then bolt to the tabs then lay into the C channel. Fashion some no mar delrin material into blocks that will both shelve the wheel and grip it at the same time.
35129-1004-3ww-l.jpg

Then build a bar similar to the one that is no longer made from tirestripper to take off and put on the tires with one hand. Should work? If I make a pedestal and mount it to the garage floor...
 
This is a quick and dirty design of the "no-scratch" blocks for each of the three arms. IF I cannot find Delrin blocks at a reasonable price, I'll use cutting boards like these: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Housewares-PCB1610-Cutting-Boards/dp/B0030LUZC4]Amazon.com: Progressive Housewares PCB1610 Cutting Boards: Home Improvement[/ame] I can cut and sandwich pieces together and then use my bandsaw to shape the rim channel. Crude but I think you see what I'm trying to do?

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SCUDMAN on Youtube

I have been thinking the same thing I watched this guy for an hour the other night....

SCUDMAN on Youtube

Removal
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pfp2Z9k0n0]SCUDMAN How to remove a motorcycle tire - YouTube[/ame]

Install
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AerHAYs435s]SCUDMAN How to install a motorcycle tire - YouTube[/ame]

Balancing
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WHkSPZJ3fI]SCUDMAN Balancing - YouTube[/ame]
 
I was thinking the same thing until I found a used HF changer and decided to just get that and make the mods. I've used it without the mods and scratched the crap outta my rim and still ended up on the ground with the spoons.

Maybe would have been the same thing with a fully homemade setup since it's the first tire I've ever changed. I was looking at this:
No-scufftiretool

and will likely get his tire tool:
tiretools.JPG


i got the cutting boards on sale at walmart when they were 2 for $4 or something like that and just need to make the mods to my HF changer.
 
Tire changer

My setup is a no mar bar for starters- I then acquired a 14 inch used deep dished car rim . Other pieces apiece of two foot ready rod and some nuts and washers. Basically I used the ready rod as a centre pivot point for the no mar tool. using some garden or old air hose zipped to the tire rim for protection.A small piece of rod needs to the welded vertically to engage the rim to stop rotation. Add a piece of plastic tubing for protection
This is all assembled to a piece of 2x10 lumber. this makes it portable and can be camped to a work bench temporally.
My only problem is a balancer. what are thoughts to use beads . My only reservation is in an emergency you can't patch your tire.
I would post a photo , but I haven't had any success.
 
Some progress...

I finally got a day of work in the Busted Knuckle Garage today. I got the pieces cut, ground and welded together. I'll admit my welding sucks but my grinder made up for it! ;)

The last pics with the clamps? Those are just laying in there for mock-up. I will be removing the stationary ends and drilling these and the arms for a bolt. This will hold them in place at the arm where they will lay in the C channel steel. I'll be getting some cutting boards and making the slides that will shelve and grip the wheel then get those together and in place. I'm not going for pretty, just functional. I still have to brace the feet. There will be four holes drilled in the garage floor to accept bolts to bolt this in place when in use only.

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Great job Eric! That's pretty darn ingenious if you ask me. I can't wait to see the finished product. Make sure to tally everything up so when it's done we know how much it costs. I bet your saving a bundle!
 
Sure will Billy and thanks!! Thus far, it's about $62 and change. 3' of pipe, 10' of C, three clamps and I have a pipe for the center to fit the wheel over. I need to weld that in place. I might try my hand at a lever of sorts but may end up spending the $100 and getting the Mojo lever that Patrice was kind enough to link to. That is a bit pricey. If I had a lathe to turn a piece of delrin.... hmmmm.... The end to put the tire on isn't that complicated. One piece of angle and a curve in the end of the bar. ;)
 
Nice job Eric! My only concern is that the bottom support legs don't seem that long so it may be a bit unstable when you mount the wheel on there and start messing with dismounting/mounting the tire. In any case I guess it will be easier enough to extend them...
 
NJFZ1 said:
Nice job Eric! My only concern is that the bottom support legs don't seem that long so it may be a bit unstable when you mount the wheel on there and start messing with dismounting/mounting the tire. In any case I guess it will be easier enough to extend them...
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing...like you said it wouldn't be hard to extend them...and you could actually make them removable if it needs to me moved and stored

That's looking great...and pretty fairly priced at that so far!!!

Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk
 
Thanks Tony and D! Yes, I had concerns too, but I intend to brace them the same way I did with the upper arms. Then once bolted to the floor, I think it will be almost unmoveable. It will not take a lot of force to remove or put on a tire. But, I'll be sure to report any modifications I make and this is one of the areas of concern. ;)

I still need to shim the clamps in the C channel. I'm thinking of just using some copper pipe that I have left over here. Also concerned about the clamps lifting so I may also weld a small flat bar at the end of each arm to slide the clamp under and pin at the other end.

My original plan was to be able to remove and use these clamps for various projects but after looking at my clamp rack? Well, not so necessary.... My clamp rack is quite full so I'm dedicating these three solely to tire changes.

Question for all of you? Without removing my front axle, does anyone know the exact diameter of the front Gen II axle? I have a 1/2" pipe but can easily exchange this if needed.

Thanks!!
 
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