Log Splitter/Bead Breaker

[SportFury59]

A while back I posted that using a log splitter to break tire beads might be a good idea. Well, today I finally had a chance to try it out. And it worked like a charm.
Broke beads on 4 tires. Set tire up on rail and used a rectangular piece of 1/4" diamond plate steel to push a hardwood block against tire, and the 27 ton splitter did the job.
Put the steel between the wedge and wood block so wedge wouldn't split block.

 

[tonydanzah]

that is a pretty good idea

 

[SportFury59]

Thanks Tony. I used it to break the bead on 4 Ford Explorer tires- P235R15- Using those tires to put on my Dodge Van because Explorer is totaled but has/had new GoodYear Wranglers and Van tires are bald.
Anyway today I broke beads on the Dodge tires and it was a little more difficult. Had to find different size block of wood, otherwise splitter would push tire upwards. But it worked.

 

[WinFred]

where was that log splitter when I had a power wagon w/split rims...

 

[tonydanzah]

you should try putting a wedge shape on the otherside to break both beads at once

 

[WinFred]

let the tire shop deal with them instead...

 

[SportFury59]

let the tire shop deal with them instead...

My younger son's girl friend recently bought 4 good tires on Craigs List. She had her old 4 tires removed from her rims and new tires put on same rims by area tire shop. All wheels were already off car and taken to shop and shop charged her $60.
That kinda urged me to try out my log splitter idea. But without my other son demounting and mounting my tires, I would have probably have had to take them to a shop instead of having busted knuckles and banged up knees.