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Harbor Freight MC tire changer + mods = awesome !

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    Harbor Freight MC tire changer + mods = awesome !

    So like anything out of the box Harbor Freight it's "good enough" to get the job done but expect some F bombs . Bought the HF tire changer and I bought the Ebay "Stark" motorcycle tire changer. Now pay CLOSE ATTENTION to my next comments so if you choose to buy these you don't go through the same BS that I had to endure. Here's the link for the HF tire changer :

    Manual Tire Changer (harborfreight.com)

    And the HF motorcycle attatchment (which is discontinued)

    Motorcycle Tire Changer Attachment (harborfreight.com)

    Here's the "Stark" Ebay motorcycle tire changer :

    Portable Wheel Tire Changer Unit Mount Demount Motorcycle Attachment Bead ATV | eBay

    Notice the seller has a pic of the Stark MC changer mounted to a HF tire changer, I can tell you this is BS, they are NOT COMPATIBLE. The MC tire changer is supposed to simply attach to the HF base by screwing the MC unit on to the base easy peasy. Well long story short here's a pic of the issue there's totally different threads between the two units.




    The screw on the left is the hold down for the HF tire changer , and the thread on the right was the internal thread for the Stark MC tire changer base. Obviously they are supposed to be identical threads to work with each other. So OK, i'm past the F-bombs now it's time to mod and make this work. Watched a ton of vids and guys figured out a "Duck Mod" and after watching several vids I took a bunch of ideas and made my own mix of fabrications . After about 6 trips to Home Depot and spending about another $120 from Speedy Metals I got this thing working really sweet. With some slippery as snot "Ru-Glyde" it's pretty effortless to remove beads. I bolted the base to my basement concrete floor using threaded SNUG fasteners. So now I can change tires during the winter and I can easily unbolt the changer and have my floor space open.




    '06 HD Fatboy
    '84 GPz1100

    #2
    Good story, thanks! Will HAVE to buy one for myself.
    "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
    1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
    1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
    1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

    Comment


      #3
      It's good to hear something positive about that harbor freight setup. I bought one a while back with the motorcycle attachment and added mojoblocks to the base. My realization was that the tire changer was simply an elevated work platform. The real work was trying to hold the wheel from spinning. I eventually stuck it on the top shelf and forgot about it. The last two changes were on a five gallon bucket holding the wheel with my knees. The mojolever is good though.

      Anyway, glad you were determined and made it into something useful. Thanks for sharing.
      Roger

      Current rides
      1983 GS 850G
      2003 FJR 1300A
      Gone but not forgotten 1985 Rebel 250, 1991 XT225, 2004 KLR650, 1981 GS850G, 1982 GS1100GL, 2002 DL1000, 2005 KLR650, 2003 KLX400

      Comment


        #4
        I have one with the Motoz blocks. It’s ok. Much better with tubeless than tubes.
        1980 GS1000G - Sold
        1978 GS1000E - Finished!
        1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
        1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
        2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
        1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
        2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar.....

        www.parasiticsanalytics.com

        TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

        Comment


          #5
          Can you provide a bit more info on the specific SNUG fasteners you are using in the floor.
          Really like the idea that you can get it out of the way when not in use.
          2@ \'78 GS1000

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by steve murdoch View Post
            Can you provide a bit more info on the specific SNUG fasteners you are using in the floor.
            Really like the idea that you can get it out of the way when not in use.
            '06 HD Fatboy
            '84 GPz1100

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Burque73 View Post
              It's good to hear something positive about that harbor freight setup. I bought one a while back with the motorcycle attachment and added mojoblocks to the base. My realization was that the tire changer was simply an elevated work platform. The real work was trying to hold the wheel from spinning. I eventually stuck it on the top shelf and forgot about it. The last two changes were on a five gallon bucket holding the wheel with my knees. The mojolever is good though.

              Anyway, glad you were determined and made it into something useful. Thanks for sharing.
              The best mod you can do is ditch the useless center tube (too large to fit through any wheel with bearings installed) and convert to accept a 3/4-10 stud. Many MC bearing id's are 19mm which will will slip over a 3/4" rod. I welded a 3/4-10 nut to the base and all my attatchments work around a .750" dia center stud.
              '06 HD Fatboy
              '84 GPz1100

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Road_Clam View Post
                The best mod you can do is ditch the useless center tube (too large to fit through any wheel with bearings installed) and convert to accept a 3/4-10 stud. Many MC bearing id's are 19mm which will will slip over a 3/4" rod. I welded a 3/4-10 nut to the base and all my attatchments work around a .750" dia center stud.

                Noted. Thank you.

                If you're interested, here's a thread that we talked about this and other setups. In post #25 I mentioned my work around for the center tube. Not nearly as well thought out as yours though.

                It's always great to hear fresh new ideas. How did you keep the wheel from spinning? I can see someting opposite the duck bill in your photo.
                Roger

                Current rides
                1983 GS 850G
                2003 FJR 1300A
                Gone but not forgotten 1985 Rebel 250, 1991 XT225, 2004 KLR650, 1981 GS850G, 1982 GS1100GL, 2002 DL1000, 2005 KLR650, 2003 KLX400

                Comment


                  #9
                  I am missing something here. The last pic links to something else....
                  NO PIC THANKS TO FOTO BUCKET FOR BEING RIDICULOUS

                  Current Rides: 1980 Suzuki GS1000ET, 2009 Yamaha FZ1, 1983 Honda CB1100F, 2006 H-D Fatboy
                  Previous Rides: 1972 Yamaha DS7, 1977 Yamaha RD400D, '79 RD400F Daytona Special, '82 RD350LC, 1980 Suzuki GS1000E (sold that one), 1982 Honda CB900F, 1984 Kawasaki GPZ900R

                  Comment

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