I finally decided to get a tire changer. The posts here about the HF changer, and the fact a coworker has one, made the decision easier.
Harbour Freight has their tire changer on sale for $49.99, and the MC attachment is also $49.99. Below is a link to the changer. If you buy it in the store, I think it's cheaper.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542
The changer by itself will scratch rims up terribly. A coworker (rides a BMW) has one as well, and warned me. He came upon a link that uses cut up pieces of a poly cutting board to convert the tire changer into a "no-mar" tire changer. (Earlier I posted this link in a couple of threads on the subject.) Many thanks to the original poster of this mod. :bow1:
http://www.motorcyclistcafe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3737
Friday I stopped by the HF store, and picked the tire changer up with the MC attachment. Below are a few pics of my attempts at making it a no-mar tire changer. Now all I need is the mo-jo bar, that will be here probably by the end of the month.
Here's the modified changer. The poly pads are on the rim holders, and the 2 pieces to break the bead. The pads are cut out pieces from a poly cutting board, available at Wal-Mart, or most any smaller h/w stores.
I shaped the top bead breaker a little. The 2 pieces on the bottom overlap at the top, and the carriage bolts are counter sunk so they wouldnt come in contact with the rim.
The rim holders are made of 3 pieces bolted together. One thing I did differently here was I left the original rim lip in place. I cut a slot in the poly pieces so that the poly pieces would fit snugly in. This way if I ever need to use the orginal rim holders, I can.
To secure the changer I cut a 4'x4' piece of heavy plywood and bolted it down. This should be stable enough, with my weight on the board as well, I doubt it's gonna go anywhere.
Harbour Freight has their tire changer on sale for $49.99, and the MC attachment is also $49.99. Below is a link to the changer. If you buy it in the store, I think it's cheaper.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542
The changer by itself will scratch rims up terribly. A coworker (rides a BMW) has one as well, and warned me. He came upon a link that uses cut up pieces of a poly cutting board to convert the tire changer into a "no-mar" tire changer. (Earlier I posted this link in a couple of threads on the subject.) Many thanks to the original poster of this mod. :bow1:
http://www.motorcyclistcafe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3737
Friday I stopped by the HF store, and picked the tire changer up with the MC attachment. Below are a few pics of my attempts at making it a no-mar tire changer. Now all I need is the mo-jo bar, that will be here probably by the end of the month.
Here's the modified changer. The poly pads are on the rim holders, and the 2 pieces to break the bead. The pads are cut out pieces from a poly cutting board, available at Wal-Mart, or most any smaller h/w stores.
I shaped the top bead breaker a little. The 2 pieces on the bottom overlap at the top, and the carriage bolts are counter sunk so they wouldnt come in contact with the rim.
The rim holders are made of 3 pieces bolted together. One thing I did differently here was I left the original rim lip in place. I cut a slot in the poly pieces so that the poly pieces would fit snugly in. This way if I ever need to use the orginal rim holders, I can.
To secure the changer I cut a 4'x4' piece of heavy plywood and bolted it down. This should be stable enough, with my weight on the board as well, I doubt it's gonna go anywhere.