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The 2-Stroke Garage => Show Off => Topic started by: 85RZwade on June 05, 2026, 10:06:59 PM

Title: HF tire changer
Post by: 85RZwade on June 05, 2026, 10:06:59 PM
Some years ago, Harbor Freight put their tire changer on sale for some ridiculous price, and when I saw they had a motorcycle attachment...well, I bit. Couldn't commit to sinking redheads in the floor of the barn I had at the time (which is a good thing, since the barn and I have since parted ways) and packed it around with me through two moves. The acquisition of the 200MXC prompted some tire changes and I dug out the HF artifact, still needing to mount it to something stable. In a rare moment of clarity, I had a garage epiphany:

(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9RwfWGx/IMG-2617.jpg)

The lift is heavy AF, and it's always taking up space center stage anyway. I made it (relatively) easy to install and remove and it's plenty solid. It's not fantastic; there are flaws, which I discovered relatively quickly.

(https://i.postimg.cc/BbvfhnHR/IMG-2622.jpg)

This is the one of the clamps that's supposed to hold the rim, but it's vertical "clamping" surface is totally ineffective the moment one pries upward on a tire. I modified them:

(https://i.postimg.cc/rsQB6hGX/IMG-2656.jpg)

I am accepting job offers as a journeyman welder, and don't lowball me; I know the value of my skills.
Anyway, it holds a wheel just fine now, and I'll start swapping knobbies.  :burnout:
Title: Re: HF tire changer
Post by: rodneya on June 05, 2026, 11:09:47 PM
I had a similar one from the Canadian version of HF, but it had different tire clamps. As you said it is heavy and always in the way, so I sold it a few months ago and will probably get the lighter version that has a duck head attachment available.

The bead breaker does make tire changes soo much easier though51i5m21T9ML._AC_SL1500_.jpg51lfFaHhh9L._AC_SL1000_.jpg