Need lesson on Tire Machines

[theoldwizard1]

One last question: Can you use the old tire machines to mount Aluminum rims/tires?

Can you ? YES, but you have to be VERY CAREFUL ! One wrong move and you will bend the **** out of the wheel !

• The rim rests on a steel base. You want something like a piece of carpet/heavy rubber there so you don't scratch it even it it is the back side.
• The center hold down is also steel. A rubber/plastic coated steel bar between the center hold down "nut" and the rim will take care of that.
• The top bead breaker is also steel. Again, rubber/plastic coating on the clamp part will prevent scratches.
• Careful placement of the top bead breaker pressure arm will keep it off of the rim.
• Most of those style tire machines break the bottom bead at the same time and you CAN NOT SEE what they are doing, so hidden damage CAN occur !
• The tire mount/demount tool is also steel and rides ON THE RIM ! As silly as the sounds, you can get a manual mount/demount bar that has plastic ends and that will solve this problem !

Last, those style of machines might not work for rims bigger than 18"

 

[bandit067]

I got my changer/balancer quite a while back because I hated sitting and waiting for my tires to be changed or rebalanced. the shops were good.....just very busy most all days...and I work a lot of hours some weeks. I have the older Coats 4010 and it has served me well for my old steel rims but I now seek the arm /clamp type as I have more motorcycle tires now as well. I have always changed my bike tires but the last aluminum rim I scratched up real good...plus, a lotta work for an old man..doing it manually...ha ha.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I use a very old manual machine, It has a pneumatic bead breaker and you basically walk around it to change the tires. I use it on most of my vehicles, but not the ones with nice rims as it can scratch if I get in a hurry. As far as balance I almost totally use Counter Act balance beads from my local NAPA. At $8 to $10 per wheel and you just drop a bag of them in and no more problem, I feel I can't go wrong.

ps. If you decide to try the balance beads when you drive the first mile you will think you have ruined your car as it will shake like a Frisco quake until the bags open up. Usually last about a mile or so then totally smooth.

 

[crabjoe]

I've got a Ceegos mounting and balancer at home. I bought it off of ebay, brand new... Love having the machine there.... I have it wired for 110v, but it can be wired for 220V. Although there's a minimum spec for the air compressor needed, mine works with even a pancake compressor (Porter cable). Yes it takes a bit of time between tires, but at least I don't have to pull my later compressor out...

Lots of my friends said I was crazy to buy one because of the cost.. For me, it's paid off.. I no longer need to drive to a tire shop and wait 2 hours for them to do it, then to find out they can't balance a tire. The only draw back I have is those friends that said I was crazy all want me to mount and balance their tires...

BTW, I use stick-ons for aluminum wheels, but for steel wheels, I use the old hammer the boogers on weights... Oh.. all my friends and family say that their car rides like new after I balance their tires... None of them want to go back to a tire shop...

 

[Johnny A]

Crabjoe,
what was the cost for the Ebay units?
Were they delivered?
Are they over 300 pounds?

 

[crabjoe]

Crabjoe,
what was the cost for the Ebay units?
Were they delivered?
Are they over 300 pounds?

I think I paid $2100 for it with lift gate service to my home. It's been about 5 years now. They had lower cost setups, but I got one with the assist arm and what not and mine does wheels from 10 to 22 inches. As for weight, I'm not sure, but I'd say they are easily over 300lbs (I'm thinking closer to 500lbs without the assist arm for the tire changer). I have a small tractor that's rated to lift 1100 lbs and it struggled. But you have to remember that the tractor's rating is at the pivot, plus the weight of the fork lift attachment, and the assist arm. I think the wheel balancer is just under 300lbs..

I've been planning on mounting them on wheels so I can more easily store them when not it use, but I've been a bit lazy about it...

 

[ovilla]

Crabjoe - You don't need fancy wheels. I've got both of my machines sitting on HF furniture dollies. Yes they are hard to move around but that's what you want anyway, at least for the wheel balancer - the steadier the better.

GJ brethren, I'm actually surprised at how many people have tire changers and wheel balancers in their home garage. Anybody else think we might need a poll here? At least to further convince others that might still be on the fence about making a purchase?

By the way, I want to personally thank OldCarGuy for encouraging me (with his numerous machine acquisition posts) to get my shop set up with what I have today. I'm not sure if he's still on this forum anymore, but talk about someone who's got a lot of kick-*** machines (and about 10 lifts too). Truly inspirational! Like many posts here, just seeing someone else doing things, is what you need to get started.