South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Hi, has anyone had any experience with using tyre changers. I have seen them on ebay and seen them being used on youtube, they seem easy enough to use. I go through a couple of sets of tyres a year and if theses things are ok, it should save me a few quid. I have seen wheel balancing kits and again they look straight forward to use.
Any thoughts on these gadgets would be welcome.

Ta

fatboy

hi there,

can't say i have ever used them and as we can get tires changed pretty cheap on here by local dealers i can't say i would risk it.

Adding up the time it would take, the complete conviction that i would damage the wheel and the fact the wheel would still need to be balanced afterwards. i can't see them paying for themselves.

where are you based ?

I've tried loads of times at home and usually i end up taking the wheel to the local garage. Breaking the bead is really difficult on an old tyre. If you fo manage it, balancing is a POP

Have you got a link to the tool you are looking at?

Hi, heres the link to the changer on youtube, must say the bloke makes it look easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dhapMHtVAc
There can be quite a saving getting the tyres myself, if it is viable to change them myself. You can also get a nylon protector for the changer to protect the wheels.

fatboy

Sorry billinom8s, based in Tiverton.

I use one for the trail bike, is very easy to use and saves a lot of time and hassle of taking wheel into town and either waiting for them to do it or going back later to collect it / them.
However it is quite easy to mark the wheels, plastic rim protectors are a pain to use and the odd mark of the ktm wheels isn't the end of the world when you see where it's going to end up anyway.
I wouldn't consider fitting my own sports bike tyres mainly for balancing reasons.

The Guy who fits my tyres only ever uses a ABBA Wheel Balancer and I've never had any wheel vibrations. They also do a bead breaker.
http://www.abbastands.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=38" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

scorcher wrote:The Guy who fits my tyres only ever uses a ABBA Wheel Balancer and I've never had any wheel vibrations. They also do a bead breaker.
http://www.abbastands.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=38" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

does he sing dancing queen while changing your tyres

He normally sings me a little medley like this...........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyMXOlX6Ujw

As long as your wheel is straight in the forks or rear swingarm, you have a wheel balancing set right there, unless your bearings are knackered. Fit your wheel without the brake calipers (cable tie out of the way so you don't strain the brake lines) and it should spin freely and as they are already fitted you know it be balanced correctly for your bike. Once the balance is checked and adjusted as neccesary, slip your brakes calipers back in place and tighten everything up to correct torque, job done ;) .

Oh and if you have a big solid workbench and vice.....theres your bead breaker ( you do have to use a bit of muscle too though).

Just found an ad for these?? Hmmmmmmmmm.......

http://www.dynabeads.co.uk/how.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dynabeads ? now that's different. Could use marbles, cheaper. Joking aside if the testimonials are right they work, don't really know how though. I have pressure sensors in my wheels so I don't know if they could damage the sensors. A wheel balancing kit is cheap enough it's may be a little bit more work but it is tried and tested.

fatboy

Hi Fatboy

I got static balancer and tyre machine in my van, very easy to use im quite happy to teach you the tricks of the trade.

Static balance is the best way you wont see any electronic ones in race paddock you can physically see if wheel balanced .

Cheers Col

Hi Col, thanks for the offer. I am taking the bike for a spin to Austria at the beginning of May and I guess the tyres will be slicks at the end of it so I will be changing the tyres then. Any little tricks that make the job easier will be welcome.

fatboy