Harbor Freight tire changer & balancer

[John d]

Okay, it's redneck engineering. Oiled wheels bearings on 2x4 stand clamped to changer. Works great.




BTW, this was the first tire I had that needed no weights.

[bungie4]

Git'r done.

[LeeDavis]

Replace the clamp with duck tape and you're there.

[spklbuk]

BTW, this was the first tire I had that needed no weights.

Ain't that a beatch?

Nicely executed engineering.

[bungie4]

Necessity is mother.

[bigjohnsd]

My concern would only be the stiction of those bearings.

[John d]

My concern would only be the stiction of those bearings.

No stiction to speak of. You can spin that wheel on the extra set of oiled wheel bearings, come back 5 minutes later and need to stop the wheel with your hand. Those wheel bearings have the grease removed and are nicely oiled up. The wheel really doesn't really want to stop spinning, you need to use your hands to slow it down or wait forever for it to stop.

If however the extra set of wheel bearings had grease in them, there would be some minor stiction as you suggest.

[silverback]

My concern would only be the stiction of those bearings.

They usually don't have enough to cause issues. If they do, you need new bearings. Its not uncommon for my wheel to turn in the bearings as opposed to the shaft moving when balancing.

But, if you're really worried about it, take that balancing rod and chuck it up in a drill press and break out the Mother's. Give it a mirror finish. Then you'll be able to balance it down to a gnat's ass. It does make a measurable difference. Worth it? No. But still...

[philharmonic]

Hmmm I do this without the oiled bearings, just using the wheel bearing in the wheel. Haven't had a noticeably out of balance wheel, always put it on the center stand and take it up to 110 mph or so to make sure.

Still, I will see if I can find a cheap set of used bearing because this is def. a better, more accurate way.

Thanks.

[John d]

Hmmm I do this without the oiled bearings, just using the wheel bearing in the wheel. Haven't had a noticeably out of balance wheel, always put it on the center stand and take it up to 110 mph or so to make sure.

Still, I will see if I can find a cheap set of used bearing because this is def. a better, more accurate way.

Thanks.

If you buy new bearings, then you always have a spare set on hand. New bearings are relatively inexpensive when bought at any local bearing supply shop.

[Hppants]

I sure wish I would have bought one of those tire changers when H/F was selling them. Every once in a while, you find them on flea-bay, but the shipping makes it cost prohibitive.

[ionbeam]

In a parallel universe, FJReady makes a balancer someplace between John's and a Marc Parnes setup. Russ uses low friction skateboard bearings with his balancer. Give the tire a small spin and you will think that you have invented a perpetual motion machine. Russ uses cones to center the wheel on the center rod and uses a spring which rests between the centering cones and clamping collar to put pressure on the cones to keep the wheel centered. His setup comes with "V" blocks for the center rod to rest on. I'm happy with the balancer and it's nice that fellow NERD and friend FJReady is close enough to stop by and pick it up in person.

Release the wheel and it will quickly rotate the heavy spot to the bottom. Rotate the wheel 90° and release it and the wheel will return the heavy spot to the exact same bottom position showing that the results are consistent and exact.

[bigjohnsd]

In a parallel universe, FJReady makes a balancer someplace between John's and a Marc Parnes setup. Russ uses low friction skateboard bearings with his balancer. Give the tire a small spin and you will think that you have invented a perpetual motion machine. Russ uses cones to center the wheel on the center rod and uses a spring which rests between the centering cones and clamping collar to put pressure on the cones to keep the wheel centered. His setup comes with "V" blocks for the center rod to rest on. I'm happy with the balancer and it's nice that fellow NERD and friend FJReady is close enough to stop by and pick it up in person.

Release the wheel and it will quickly rotate the heavy spot to the bottom. Rotate the wheel 90° and release it and the wheel will return the heavy spot to the exact same bottom position showing that the results are consistent and exact.

I gots one of these and we balance 6 sets of tires over the BH Roundup II week. It works great. You need one. JSNS

[bigjohnsd]

I sure wish I would have bought one of those tire changers when H/F was selling them. Every once in a while, you find them on flea-bay, but the shipping makes it cost prohibitive.

https://m.harborfreight.com/motorcycle- ... 60810.html

https://m.harborfreight.com/catalogsear ... re+changer

[raYzerman]

Got me one of those FJReady things too.... best one out there IMHO. Ease of use, love that spring loaded thingy.

[bungie4]

Got me one of those FJReady things too.... best one out there IMHO. Ease of use, love that spring loaded thingy.

Yup. Works the treat.

[John d]

In a parallel universe, FJReady makes a balancer someplace between John's and a Marc Parnes setup. Russ uses low friction skateboard bearings with his balancer. Give the tire a small spin and you will think that you have invented a perpetual motion machine. Russ uses cones to center the wheel on the center rod and uses a spring which rests between the centering cones and clamping collar to put pressure on the cones to keep the wheel centered. His setup comes with "V" blocks for the center rod to rest on. I'm happy with the balancer and it's nice that fellow NERD and friend FJReady is close enough to stop by and pick it up in person.

Release the wheel and it will quickly rotate the heavy spot to the bottom. Rotate the wheel 90° and release it and the wheel will return the heavy spot to the exact same bottom position showing that the results are consistent and exact.

This is probably the cats ass if you working on different makes and models, and I know Russ made some awesome stuff like the zerk fitted rear suspension link I'm still riding on.

[HotRodZilla]

In a parallel universe, FJReady makes a balancer someplace between John's and a Marc Parnes setup. Russ uses low friction skateboard bearings with his balancer. Give the tire a small spin and you will think that you have invented a perpetual motion machine. Russ uses cones to center the wheel on the center rod and uses a spring which rests between the centering cones and clamping collar to put pressure on the cones to keep the wheel centered. His setup comes with "V" blocks for the center rod to rest on. I'm happy with the balancer and it's nice that fellow NERD and friend FJReady is close enough to stop by and pick it up in person.

Release the wheel and it will quickly rotate the heavy spot to the bottom. Rotate the wheel 90° and release it and the wheel will return the heavy spot to the exact same bottom position showing that the results are consistent and exact.

That's the one I use, and I've never had a tire out of balance. One of my favorite tools!

[Hppants]

Somehow I don't think that is the same H/F model that they used to have. A lot looks different, including the price. IIRC, the tire machine of choice used to be $200.00. I'm gonna research it.

Would need to get No-mar leverage bar too.

[wheatonFJR]

Somehow I don't think that is the same H/F model that they used to have. A lot looks different, including the price. IIRC, the tire machine of choice used to be $200.00. I'm gonna research it.

Would need to get No-mar leverage bar too.

If yer gonna invest in a tire changer anyway that you are going to use for years...why not get the lowest priced nomar?

Best tool for the job...you won't regret it. Smitty approved.