Ducati Monster Forum

I was thinking of getting the HF tire changer for $50 on sale now.   How's everyone's experience with it?   I've read some have used the No-Mar bar with it.   How does the No-Mar fit the HF tire changer?   For one set of tires dismounted and mounted will already pay for the HF tool.

Honestly, I only use the HF tool to break the beads on my tires, and then use spoons on the ground to pop the tires off the rims. This is both for my moto tires, and my car tires.

The No Mar bar is good, from what I've heard from friends who own it.
Probably would be a great combination.

BC.

A friend has a HF tire changer, along with the No Mar tools. It works fine, although it needed some modofications. For instance, the pieces that grab the rims will destroy nice rims. My buddy bought a few blocks of white plastic (teflon maybe??) and mounted them to the stand. The portion of the bead breaker that is attached to the base of the stand (not the handle part) is also a POS. It will require some foam or something to keep from messing up your rims. He may have made more mods...that's all I can remember.

For the price it worked fine...just keep in mind it will need some modifications.

After using his I bought a Cycle Hill changer instead. Made by No Mar, and in the US. Costs more than the HF one, but less than No Mar...and works very well right out of the box.  [thumbsup]

http://www.cyclehilltirechanger.com/products/home (http://www.cyclehilltirechanger.com/products/home)

Bladecutter, why not just buy a bead breaker?   What spoons do you have?   Do you also use rim protectors?    Still seems that changer would be easier with it's bigger leverage.

TripleJ, thanks for the lead.   I will look into it but the $365 is big jump from $50. I may consider mods for the HF tool. 

I built my own bead breaker. It works. I use spoons as well and have changed about 10 tires with it. the key is to warm up your tire before you change it. I either go for a ride, or take it inside and leave it ontop of the boiler.

I also purchased the Cycle Hill changer, with the No-Mar Bar.

Home made bead breaker looked pretty easy, but I chickened out.
the No Mar is a good piece.

CH is  a quality unit. I was finding it very spendy getting tires mounted locally, too expensive to buy locally.

OP, good luck.

I'm thinking now about the CH changer.  I will need tires for my Bimmer soon.   When you said you got the No-Mar bar, did you mean you got that in addition or did you mean the CH changer has the No-Mar bar?   They look the same.  Is the CH a knock off or what?

Never mind.  I see that it is made by No-Mar.

I really want to pick up the cycle hill one, but i cant justify the cost when my current setup works fine. it takes a little bit more muscle...and if i buy a memberhsip to the local trackday club, new tires get me free trackdays! they are marked up, but still cheaper.

I thought it was high too.  Then, just add up the cost to pay someone else.  $30 per mc tire and $35 per car tire, it pays back kinda quick.  $60 for the Duc and $140 for the Bimmer, now we're halfway there.  Plus, you have the peace of mind it's done right.   My Bimmer has staggered 19" rims.  So now I can rotate the tires on each side easily.   If you have the tool, then you won't hesistate to use it versus having to pay for it.   Pay for it now or pay for it later as the saying goes.  On top of that, you avoid the horror of someone messing up your rims.  I plan on getting mine painted and that pushes the business case even more so.

Yeah i got the No-Mar with with the CH changer.

BTW I can see where the 'Yellow Thing' would be handy, espcially to the noob, as I chased the top bead a bit iirc. Then again, I'm doing 2-4 tires a year, so time I have .....

Yeah I spent a fair amount of time chasing the bead as well, so I ordered the yellow thing  for my next tire change. By the way I went with the Cycle Hill tire changer and have no regrets, it is a solid and well made product and for those that care it is made in USA.

I also use the HF changer and a No Scuff (w/No-Marr tip) tool.  As mentioned, you'll have to add plastic pads to the HF changer to protect your rims.  You can make or buy them, just google HF tire changer and you'll see lots of pics and variations of this mod (I copied the pads from Cycle Hill for my changer).  Also, you mentioned the HF changer was on sale, I assume that's for the motorcycle wheel attachment, you'll still need the HF bottom half (which has the bead breaker) unless you're planning to make your own stand and bead breaker.

The HF is cheap, and there's a HF shop about 2 miles up the road from my house.

I use a set of 11" (2) and 8.5" (3) Motion-Pro spoons, and Motion Pro plastic rim protectors.
Basically, I pretty much only need the pair of 11" for removing the tires, and I add an 8.5" for mounting.

BC.