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Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:46 pm
by John d
Put on a very warm front RS3 today with the HF and No-Mar bar. It almost fell on, so easy, no clamps and no thingies. I think I'm getting the technique down :D .

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:25 am
by bungie4
Obvious tip, that I never follow.

When spooning or levering on a tire. Start on the opposite side of the changer. The temptation is start from the side. Ya, well, by the time you get to the hard part, you'll be on opposite side of the changer. Don't do that to yourself.

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:48 am
by John d
bungie4 wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:25 am Obvious tip, that I never follow.

When spooning or levering on a tire. Start on the opposite side of the changer. The temptation is start from the side. Ya, well, by the time you get to the hard part, you'll be on opposite side of the changer. Don't do that to yourself.
If you don't use the overhead apparatus, it doesn't matter where you start. That's an option with the HF changer, other changers I don't know.

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:58 am
by wheatonFJR
John d wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:48 am
bungie4 wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:25 am Obvious tip, that I never follow.

When spooning or levering on a tire. Start on the opposite side of the changer. The temptation is start from the side. Ya, well, by the time you get to the hard part, you'll be on opposite side of the changer. Don't do that to yourself.
If you don't use the overhead apparatus, it doesn't matter where you start. That's an option with the HF changer, other changers I don't know.
With the overhead on the NoMar, you can go >360 degrees, and you usually have atleast 120 degrees or more of bead on already when you start.

It takes a little while to figure it out, but once you get it, it is doable. When I was just using tar arns, it was always a traumatic experience that always required a second pair of hands at the end.

I also like those sloppy flexible PR2 rears and T30.

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:13 pm
by raYzerman
wheatonFJR wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:58 am I also like those sloppy flexible PR2 rears and T30.
C'mon, you can't put flexible and T30 in the same sentence....

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:34 pm
by wheatonFJR
raYzerman wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:13 pm
wheatonFJR wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:58 am I also like those sloppy flexible PR2 rears and T30.
C'mon, you can't put flexible and T30 in the same sentence....
I don't find T30 FRONTS to be difficult.

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 4:26 pm
by bungie4
I'll be mounting my RS3's soon. Probably this weekend. That means the T-30s have to come off.

Now where did I put the Sawz-all.

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:51 pm
by Powerman
Sawz-all LOL.
See my post in Tire Changes DIY

Re: Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:21 pm
by bungie4
I was gonna do the tire swap this weekend. Woke up to find both days temps close to 100f. Not having a garage, or even shade to work in, i went over to my local preferred dealer to find out if i bring in the tires and rims, they'll mount them for $50.

So the $100 i saved epoxying windshield cover is gonna get spent on a tire swap. Fair trade. Makes more sense when i factor in it had to happen this week. My tire changer had long since paid for itself. I'm good with it.