Harbor Freight Tire changer

blitz11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
312
Location
SW Montana
I also use spoons. Simple, quick, and easy tire replacement. I have a stomach high stand I lay my wheel on when in the garage. There are thousands of different ways to change a tire. The Super Tenere is the easier than a bicycle tire.
Whoa! Easier than a bicycle tire? Tenere tires aren't too bad (my tools of choice: Mike's Racing Products stand and bead breaker, long Motion Pro steel tire irons, Motion Pro Rim protectors, a No-Mar Yellow thing), but no way as easy as a bicycle tire. I commute year-round in Bozeman on my bicycle (15 mile round trip), and i can do WAY more bike tires in the time it takes to do a tenere tire. (All i need for the bicycle is a pedro's tire lever.)

When I first worked in the M/C shop in high school, our tire "machine" was a 40-gallon steel drum. I came in one day to find a Coats 220. it changed my life. My brother found a used Coats 220 in Kansas (where he lives) for $150. THAT is a nice find.
 

Cycledude

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Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
Chris You were using way more blocks than necessary, to me looks like two would have been plenty. For awhile I used wood blocks on Goldwing tires and had the same thing happen one block fell inside tire, I then switched to longer and thicker blocks and never had that problem again .
 

holligl

Find the road less traveled...
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
2,212
Location
IL/AZ
For awhile I used wood blocks on Goldwing tires and had the same thing happen one block fell inside tire, I then switched to longer and thicker blocks and never had that problem again .
I use a few rim protectors which have cords attached, so you can retrieve them when they fall inside. One could add cords to the blocks or dowels too.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

oldbiker

New Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2018
Messages
26
Location
MARTINS FERRY OHIO
I have done a lot of Harley Dunlop touring tires, they are stiff and real close to what GoldWing tires are like. There have been times when I started to bend the tip of the de mount tip. Never broke one. Backed off and found a new strategy.... And I have several replacement tips. Still using the original. Biggest lesson learned, when things get tight and the tire won’t budge push down on the opposite side to releave pressure/ tension. The bead goes into the rim creating slack in the opposite side allowing you to ge the tire on.

I am open to better ways. Perhaps mojo bar has advantages.

I also have one of these for the road. Been on some major trips in the middle of nowhere. Best to be prepared. Patch kit and tubes should my stop and go or string plugs not be up to the job.

What I have learned, be patient and creative. A helper is invaluable, I can do it on my own it just takes longer and can be more fustrating. No matter what you have, even a pneumatic changer, problems still arise. Be patient and creative.
 

s.ga.rider

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Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
272
Location
South Georgia
I have a nomar classic changer from my streetbike days. It works great for street tires but the tires on my 690 and s10, it sucks. The offroad adapters are $169 which should be included with the price of the nomar. My last several Changes have been on the floor with tire irons and it has me considering selling then nomar.
 
R

RonH

Guest
I made my own changer and bead breaker. Works great. I've changed my Super Tenere tires, the Gl1800 tires even with the runflat car rear, my Ford F350 tires as well. Takes 5 minutes from start to finish for the most part. Harbor Freight or Nomar should both work pretty well, but you need lube (tire lube, not soap, not silicon, not WD40) and some method to hold the bead in the drop center and a good mount/dismount bar. The Mojolever works fine for me with no real effort on any tire I've worked with.
The Super Tenere tires, even the stiff ones are so rediculously easy to mount really that any changer that can hold a wheel should make mounting a breeze.
 

Kruzzin5

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2019
Messages
415
Location
Newmarket, Ontario
I made my own changer and bead breaker. Works great. I've changed my Super Tenere tires, the Gl1800 tires even with the runflat car rear, my Ford F350 tires as well. Takes 5 minutes from start to finish for the most part. Harbor Freight or Nomar should both work pretty well, but you need lube (tire lube, not soap, not silicon, not WD40) and some method to hold the bead in the drop center and a good mount/dismount bar. The Mojolever works fine for me with no real effort on any tire I've worked with.
The Super Tenere tires, even the stiff ones are so rediculously easy to mount really that any changer that can hold a wheel should make mounting a breeze.
Do you have pictures and description of your DIY tire changer and bead breaker?
 

s.ga.rider

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
272
Location
South Georgia
I made my own changer and bead breaker. Works great. I've changed my Super Tenere tires, the Gl1800 tires even with the runflat car rear, my Ford F350 tires as well. Takes 5 minutes from start to finish for the most part. Harbor Freight or Nomar should both work pretty well, but you need lube (tire lube, not soap, not silicon, not WD40) and some method to hold the bead in the drop center and a good mount/dismount bar. The Mojolever works fine for me with no real effort on any tire I've worked with.
The Super Tenere tires, even the stiff ones are so rediculously easy to mount really that any changer that can hold a wheel should make mounting a breeze.
5 mins start to finish? I would love to see that set up too. Mine usually take 20 mins with a lot of colorful words thrown in. lol
 
R

RonH

Guest
20 minutes is probably more accurate than 5 minutes after thinking about it, but the job is still easy on the Super Tenere and should be easy for any tire changer to do the job. I'm probably in the minority as I actually enjoy changing tires and using tools that work make the job that much more satisfying. I may take some pictures of my changer, but I doubt anyone cares really if they saw it. Main thing is you need a method to hold the wheel from turning and firmly in place, and a centerpost through the bearings to use with the lever of your choice. Any contraption that accomplishes this, you should have no problem with proper mount/dismount bar and lube.
 

Powershouse

New Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2017
Messages
29
Location
Minnesota
I used concrete anchors to bolt min HF tire to the garage floor for use then I three set screws into the anchors when tire changer is stored away.
Would love to have a trailer hitch attachment to mount tire changer in a 2-inch receiver.
Big fan of the mojo lever and blocks.
I need to order up some lube.
 
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