Tire Changers

[Chuck B]

I learned using a 15" junk auto rim 25+yrs ago. A few years ago I decided it was time to 'upgrade'. Purchased the HF setup which of course is garbage but works ok with Mojolever and Mojo blocks. Did a few more upgrades to the HF changer and used it for a couple doz tire changes. Ended up going back to my basic steel rim. Last year I decided to try upgrading again and got the No-Mar setup. Its a nice changer and while the technique is a little different it worked pretty good right out of the box. A few weekends ago a buddy came over to change his tires and I needed new tires on my BMW, KLR and Tenere. He pulled up while I was swapping the BMW tires. His first question was, "don't you have the new NoMar changer?" Doh! I was using my steel rim....its just what I like using and frankly its as fast/easy as any tire changer (short of a fully mechanized changer) I've ever used. 10-15 min...done. If you are struggling changing tires you are using the wrong technique. Tire changing is 80% technique, 15% the right tools and 5% effort.

 

[Jono49]

I made my own wheel balancer but used 16mm ground bar instead of the standard 12mm which is usually fitted to the common ones you see for sale! and the old (1937 ward No7) lathe at work did not have a compound head on the crossslide and had to farm out the tapers on cones to a mate of mine, but knurled it before he got them and turned out not bad! ::008::