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I want to fix the cavities in my teeth myself. Do you know if harbor freight still sells their dental drill set?🤐 Update: I found the Novocain/needle set in hand tools section, but looks like they discontinued the dental drill set, had some really bad reviews hahahaha
Scotty I changed my oil and had a heart attack at 60, luckily I realized what was happening and got help in time my friend mowed his lawn and wasn’t so lucky. I don’t want to see you do this kind of thing for us although we appreciate your help and wisdom don’t go too far. Thank you 🙏
You are an amazing man, Scotty Kilmer. I love your attitude and fortitude. I am 73 years old and do almost all of my car repairs and help close friends. If the world had more people like you, it would be a much better place to live.
As an off roader, this tool has proved invaluable. Tire damage off road is common and taking a tire to a tire shop to get a simple repair gets expensive. There are many videos on modifying this tool that will make the job much easier. Mounting one tire as Scotty did pretty much pays for the tool. With an entire set of tires it pays for itself in one use. I've modified mine to use the duck bill, like the tire shops use, to avoid damaging aluminum rims. Best of all it unbolts from the floor and I can store it in the corner of the garage. Unlike the giant machines they have at the tire shop this takes up very little precious garage space. This is a tool that only gets occassional use but when you need it, you need it, and I can set it up in less than 5 minutes.
Terriable review ive had one for years i replace my 10 ply tires with my son an 17 year grandson use it. I seeit changed your tire. You have to be better than the tool you use.
I seen someone make 1 using a hitch ball neck and a bolt/screw car jack welded to it and a curved angle iron for big tires as he cranked it it would break the bead and off came the tire. May be redneck style but the tool did the job. The jack would be upright when not in use then pull it off flip it pointing down then reattach.
the trick is to find an old school shop pass them a 20$ bill and they will dismount the tire buff the inside and apply a patch. though I know a cheat code for breaking the beads if you have a second vehicle just drive it up onto the tire laying on the ground and work the wheel back and forth it will pop right off. you can also use the vehicle itself using the lower ball joint as the pressing point just let the jack down its way slower but it works
I have changed a lot of tires with my harbor freight machine,I'm 64 and in pretty good shape, scotty you are a mechanic,not a tire jocky. Watching you doing 4 tires with you is making me tired out, take it back to harbor freight and ca) this another lesson in life,live long and prosper.
I bought this tire changer in 1993 when Harbor Freight was catalog only in NY. No stores. It was $30 (red) and the bead- break arm is thicker steel and the mounting end of the bar never worked.. It held up and works fine otherwise, bolted to the cement floor.
I have this with the motorcycle tire attachment. I love it. Probably changed at least 50 motorcycle tires with it over 15 years . I can't find the high performance tires I like locally unless I drive 30-60 minutes away. And private shops wanted to charge the shop hourly rate to change them at the time. As in over $100 to just change tires when I brought in just the rims off the bike! I can go through 2-3 sets a year so this thing has been a god send. Plus my kids now get to watch the process and learn something. This makes it very easy to get the job done. Although if you're determined you can do it with a couple screwdrivers too lol.
I agree, in it's factory state it's pretty much crap. I immediately welded a brace between the arms on the bead breaker to keep them square and I welded the base to the legs and I've never had a problem with it since. Later I used some scrap 2" pipe to make a swivel arm and added a shoe to it. I'm about $150 into it and it's rock solid.
If you work your way around the bead, the breaker doesn’t require bracing and the beads are much easier to break. I just threw the legs in the scrap pile and bolted the base directly to the concrete. The duck head modification is definitely the way to go if you don’t want to scratch aluminum wheels.
I have one I have never took it out of the box figured if I could use it to repair a tire one time it would pay for it self jihad flat I pat 40 dollars just to get it patched in the long run didn't expect much for 40 dollars is what I pad for mine
Sorry you had such a bad experience. I've got the same tool and love it. It paid for itself after the first use and I've changed many car tires, ATV, UTV, and trailer tires with it and had no problems. I bolted mine to a four foot length of 2x2 square tube steel and now it is portable and I can simply insert it into any receiver hitch on one of my vehicles when I need to use it.
I've changed many tires on mine, ,I love it. I mean if it's bending sideways, it's because you need to reposition it correctly. And for God's sake , put your foot on the tire when breaking the bead, and stand in front of it , not to the side .lol If I lived closer, I'd come by ,and show him how to use it.
I love mine also. And I love my bubble balancer. When I was growing up bubble balancing was the norm. Worked fine then and still does today. Also by doing my tires, I took time to clean off 25 years of gunk buildup on my mag rims that I've no doubt caused slow leaks because now my tires hold air twice as long. I use it for my 97 CR-V. I think I read somewhere that they are not practical on anything over 14 or 15 inches. I also hate it when a tool sticks bad welding splinters in my 👐 ✋️ hand!! 😆 🤣
I have one like that I bought at a yard sale about 20 years ago. Yah, I had to weld some small angle iron on the foot arms of the bead breaker, but it works great now . Has saved me hundreds of dollars... and time not sitting at a tire store waiting. I have one of those bubble balancers too. I love doing my own tires. (I'm 65.... not much younger than Scotty)
I agree. You couldn't find anything cheaper to do what it does. Try to find a place on a Sat/Sun evening to change a tire when you really need it and you won't find one.
I am 70 plus and use this tire changer. Did the same mods with the angle iron and use a 4 foot pipe with a hard plastic ball end to remove the bead from the rim. 2 things I noticed was not keeping more of the tire in the drop center and leaving the tire in the sun before trying to remove it will absolutely make a world of difference in removing an old tire.
A bubble balancer is no comparison for spin balancing. Geez what are you going to do with all of your money when your dead? You really think your family will appreciate you or expect it from you. Go live a little.
@@DanHolmes-o9bFor some people, including me, it’s about being able to do it yourself. Also, spin balancing isn’t necessary in a lot of cases, especially if you’re rarely on the highway.
@@greenman7612You can get a decent analog balancer without spending a lot. If you’re interested look up static tire balancing. It’s not about the money, it’s about being able to fix anything you want on your own.
Thanks for the heads up Scotty. I've worked for tire shops 3 different times, and service stations when I was growing up, and I know exactly what you're talking about. I like the old quality machines that don't break.
Good on you Scotty for still having the strength and energy to do that at your age lol most guys at 70 would probably have a heart attack after 5 minutes of that lol
@@jeffshaw4039 Where I used to work, the guys would do the tires right on the cars...with hammers and these yuge tanks of compressed air. Four tires in 10 minutes. Total maniacs. I don't know why I put this in here. It's not helping anybody.
I'm certain Scotty is very strong..I used to work with cable splicers they were used to lifting heavy stuff. One old guy was about Scotty's size he was very strong tuff as nails.
Scotty, have one of them, and have had it for the past 20 years. I am also 70, but am in good physical condition for the model year. It isn't easy on some tires, but on others, it is child's play. Yes, it needed some strengthing, but the welder cart sets about 10' away, and with a couple of feet of flat strap and a few feet of Mig wire it has worked for 20 years. Yes, I could have spent $450 for a manual machine but for $50 bucks and maybe $10 bucks of metal and Mig wire, it works fine. Never had the problem you showed with the tire install, but I cheat, and use a cheap clamp on the rim to keep from chasing the bead. Have the cheap tire balance tool, and so far in 20 years, every tire balanced fine. Would have liked to get a heavy-duty unit when I bought it, simply am not rich. But with some self-determination and a grasp of engineering, it was simple to fix the issues. To me Scotty it sounds like, leave the engineering improvements to experts, when you are a amature.
when I was a teenager back in the late 60s early 70s I worked at my father service station and he had one of the kind of machines that Scotty is talking about. those things were built like tanks. I guarantee you if you could find one of those used even if it were that old and still work just fine seeing Scotty do that brought back some memories.
I bought mine 4 or 5 yrs ago for the same price Scotty did. The older one is beefier. I haven't bent mine yet. You will get better at it after you've done a few. I use 2 vice grips to hold the lip of the bead on each side so the tire doesn't slip back off while I'm taking them on and off. I would rather put my own tires on than sit for 2 hours waiting for the tire store to get around to it while I'm stuck watching Judge Judy. Lol
I’ve had mine for a couple of years. I did the duck head modification and could easily finish anentire set of wheels and tires before Scotty finished one. This machine is one of the best Harbor Freight purchases I’ve made and easily paid for itself the first day I used it, even after the extra expense of the modifications.
A BIG BLACK EYE FOR HARBOR FREIGHT I have a Harbor freight TITANIUM FLUX 125 WELDER purchased from Harbor Freight a couple years ago. I am a retired plumbing contractor and backyard hobbyist. I love to build things in my spare time and help friends and neighbors that need something repaired. When I retired and closed my business, I had a stick welding machine but had no convenient place to connect it at my home! It would require an upgrade to my electrical service not worth the trouble and expense! When I saw a couple reviews on RUclips for this Titanium 125 welder, I thought that would be the way to go. I already had a 110 Volt 30 Amp circuit to my workshop! It took me a while to get adjusted to the flux wire welding. I built a minibike from scrap pipe I had left over from the plumbing shop. The welder allowed me to make other things and make repairs for others I wouldn’t be able to do without it. In the middle of my last project, I cut a couple pieces of metal and got ready to weld them and when I pushed the button on the welder, nothing happened! It was dead! The fan did not come on but the light on the ON/OFF indicated there was power to the welder. I checked the manual for a reset button or a fuse and found no mention of either. So, I called the Harbor Freight 800 number and was told there was no repair for this welder. Harbor Freight has no repair facility, and no support is available. I was told by two different tech reps there is no schematics or parts list available from the factory where this is manufactured. “It is not worth getting it repaired and cheaper to go purchase a new one!” If you purchase this welder or many other things from Harbor Freight You only have 3 Months Warranty. It is considered disposable after that! All the reviews and discussion I have read about HARBOR FREIGHT I have never seen anything about their total lack of support for their products! I didn’t even get an “I’m sorry” or any offer for a discount on a new welding machine! I am retired, was an electronics technician in the Navy, active Ham Radio operator and electronics hobbyist. I feel like the electronics in this welding machine is straight forward non computer controlled and any decent electronics tech should be able to repair this given reasonable support. I removed the circuit board from the welder and found where a small component burned of course not knowing the component value or purpose will make it difficult to replace. Providing a schematic and parts list is a very inexpensive form of support that should be a minimum requirement. Their claim to revenue of 7 Billion Dollars tells me they could afford it! Leland Cox
Bought the HB model 20+ years ago -- never bolted it to the concrete. Also bought 2 tire spoons from HB. Can of 'slippery' necessary in hot weather otherwise dish soap mixed with diesel fuel works fine. Changed hundreds of tires with it. Still works great. Also bought a heavier duty model (Granger or Northern Tool) for tractor tires with thicker ply. In either case, if you can break the bead, you don't even need either machine, however, the tire spoons sure make the job a ton easier. Hint: don't change more than one a day. It don't take much to self balance them either. ...still don't like giving away money when I can do the work myself (and I've never been afraid of work). 🙂
I've only seen a couple of comments that agree with me that this tire changer works pretty good when used correctly. I've had one for over 14 years and other than not being able to do 45 series tires, I love it. One of the better tools I've bought from HF
i've had mine for 5 or 6 years now and use it for atv and sxs tires. I've done dozens of sets over the years and never had a single issue out of it. Great tool when you use it as intended and within its limitations.
Scotty used it correctly, but the bead breaker you gotta have it lined up perfect and push straight down. If it’s angled a little it will bend. I did 18” truck tires. Took all 4 off rims and put new ones on. It took a few hours tho, but it’s worth it. Just pay Att when breaking the bead. You can easily tell if your not straight up and down. I paid $28 for mine and it’s red
@@bobbybrooks5846 he almost used it correctly. When putting the tire on the bubble hub and aids in rolling the tire onto the rim. And, likewise, mine was bought red as well. From years of being in the sun, it's now pink.
@@kirkedwards365 Right. Did you modify the bead breaker? I just straightened mine back out and never had a issue again. I put concrete anchors in my garage floor, so I can remove it when I’m done. I’ve had it for 5 years and it still looks new
I bought mine over 15 years ago, for my Lawn service business.. to work on my trailers and mower tires and it works great after you get the hang of it. Dont service lawns anymore but still use it he and there. 😊
I have been a DIY guy all my life, but there are some jobs - like mounting/balancing tires - that I'd rather leave to the pros. That said, another great informative and entertaining video. Thx.
Just due to the size of car tires alone i wont generally mount and or balance them on my own. However its a breeze on motorcycles, atvs, mowers, to mount and balance em. After the first tire helps you work out the process you can swap each one out and balance it about ten minutes a pop.
Never thought to replace tires on my own, still won't think of it in the future....Just locally bought 4 tires for my Pilot for $600.00 cash at a tire place, they installed them while I did some errands in an hour and I am on my way. I am the age of of Scotty and I would probably accomplish a tire change a day that way. God Bless him for his public awareness for us commonfolk. Btw, have you seen the price of tires these days?
HF has a smaller changer for lawn tractor tires and whatnot. I got one about 5 years ago. The center stem was just a long threaded bolt that bent almost immediately. I can make it work for my applications, though.
even so - its nice to have good equipment (rim clamp machine?) to do that kind of work. i use my propeller-blade (aircraft) balancer for stuff when i can and when the fixtures needed aren't too hard or pricey to fabricate.
I went to work with my dad when I was 10 and the shop had the same tire breaker tool as your dad. I even watched them use a bubble balance tool. In my 20s, I would remove tires with a hi lift jack and tire spoons. Even did a few split rims. Not anymore since watching youtube! Now, I pay the man and get my truck tires changed by a tire shop. I use this tool for riding mower tires. The prybar tool is next to my garage door. I use it for security. It will work just fine beating an intruder.
Thank you Scotty for showing us what's going on with these cheap "equipment." Almost bought one of these cheap ones at a sale, but thankfully checked this. This video saved me from a bad purchase. Much appreciation Scotty. You're doing a service to mankind with these videos.
I've got one and have done countless number of tires. Have even used it to break the bead off on big rear tractor tires. I love it. Saved me tons of money.
Scotty at 70 years old to do this? You the man! I did purchase a Harbor Freight small tire changer for lawn and garden equipment and it works great. Appreciate the excellent video!
Have same tool from Northern Tool was 150$. ?? After fixing all the problems pointed out here it works good. And paid for itself 10 times over. Nothing larger than pickup tires.
I’m by no means a “handyman”… first one to admit that. Gotta say Scotty, I’ve leaned SOOO much from you man! Bought a low profile jack from Harbor Freight like you have. I now change my own oil, I’ve changed spark plugs, little things like that. Appreciate ya more than you know!! Big thanks from Kentucky!
I've had one of those for about 8 years. Probably change about 8 to 10 tires a year. Never had much of a problem with it. It is getting wore out, and I'm about to replace it with another one. It's saved me lot's of money. It's probably not for everyone, but I'll never go to a tire shop again. I hope it's the same quality.
I used to work for a fleet and I changed hundreds of tires using the customary electro-pneumatic contraption everybody uses i.e. a "proper" tire machine. And if you haven't had the pleasure, I can tell you that although anybody can learn to install tires in an hour or less, it is by no means an easy task. And if you do 4 tires all in one go, you are really going feel it that you've done hella work by the time you are done! I'm 64 now so at this point I'd think twice before changing a tire even on a pro tire machine, I can't even imagine changing a tire manually. Doing it this way is at least 10 times more difficult. For a man of 70 Scotty Kilmer is in incredible shape - even so IDK how he can wrestle even one tire on with that thing!
I actually have this Harbor Freight tire changer. I have only done eight tires and it was not the easiest thing that I have done, but it does work. For DIY people that are not used to professional quality tire changers and who don't mind putting in some elbow grease, it does work.
I have one. It's worked very well over the past 20 years.. I only use it on trailer tires. I reinforced the top cap and the bead breaker with thicker steel and pin. It works great for $40
My 1965 Chrysler Owner's Manual shows how to remove the tire from the wheel on the roadside. You use the bumper jack between bumper and tire to break the bead. Never tried it, but did swap a 13" tire for a camping trailer by hand, using pry bars. Not easy. The trick in working the bead over the rim is to push the far side bead into the valley, which gives a little more room.
Ive used them and it takes muscle when installing. It works better on a sunny warm summer day. Let the tires sit in the sun to make the rubber stretch more and less stiff to use less force to get the tire bead on the rim. Also put dish soap on bead so its slides on rim. The nice thing with harbor frieght is that its so cheap that it pays for itself after 2 tires. Im not suggesting anyone use this tool im just expressing my personal experience
Actually it works just fine with a couple modifications. One being tos stiffen up the bead breaker, the other is the duck bill addon. There's tons of videos out there on that modification and it works really well. A cheap tool can be turned into a decent tool with some work!
i hate watching this guy. hes quick to call something junk when it doesnt work the first time. not user error. always the tool/car thats junk. just because its not 40 years old its junk.
@@EviLWeazLIf Scotty bent those bars with his skinny 70 year old arms it is made of pot metal, not steel. You shouldn't have to fix or redesign a tool to make it work.
I have one of these, and I agree the duck head is awful. I haven't had any trouble with the bead breaker, in fact I think it works quite well. What this does do really well at a decent price is hold on to the wheel nicely at the right height while you change the tire with tire spoons. I'm going to go look for those videos about changing the duck.
My almost first job in 1963 was a gas jockey in a Shell station in Boca Raton Florida. We had a tire changer, that I later trained on. It looked like it weighed 5-600 pounds, cast iron. The data plate said 1941.
i have one and used it for years now, first thing i did was weld steel plates along the factory metal on the bead breaker because it was to thin, other than that it works 100% every time and has not failed yet.
Hi Scotty, No doubt it’s cheap, but I actually removed and mounted 4 tires on the stock rims of an old Cummins RAM pickup with this same tool bought at Harbor Freight last year. I did buy two extra tire irons though, and it wasn’t bad.
I've been using one for over 10 years to change motorcycle tires. I also bought two of their tire spoons and they work well enough. It is definitely cheap but has lasted over 10 years and still going strong. Not to mention it has paid for itself AT LEAST 30 times over by now.
Ive been using the red version for over 8 yrs , even chaged 35 inch tires on a jeep , it was a workout but it did it , normally dont have to much of a problem breaking the beads but do have a semi truck style slide hammer bead breaker for tough stuff , or just use a high lift style jack to break the bead , use lots of lube also .
I bought one from harbor freight about 8 years ago and it worked pretty well shows how everyone is making things cheaper and charging more it seems like we're going down hill
I never actually watched someone change a tire before. I have a whole new appreciation for the work involved and no matter what they charge to change the tire, it’s worth the money!
I worked in a tire store like Scotty did when I was a teenager. All shops that sell tires daily have machines that make it a lot faster than this. A tire shop can change one in 5 minutes. But they had to buy the machine. I was going to buy the HF stand in this video just to change my own but not now.
the trick with getting bead off or on is to make sure the bead on the opposite side of the tire is in the middle of the rim allowing the tire to move as far as it can
Yes, the top bead comes off with little effort if one places the top bead 180° into the drop center. Often this technique with appropriate lube can take the 2nd side off with no tool. Then the reverse is true, I almost never need a tool to put the first bead over the rim.
Scotty, I got one of the older Harbor Freight tire changing tools and it worked . That was years ago and it is red. Harbor Freight is trying to cheapen a lot of there products because of changes in the upper level people.
I just use up to three of those tools like Scotty,s motorcycle spoons. Maybe 7 bucks apiece at Harbor Freight. I bought some good takeoff tires with 90 percent tread for 120 dollars at a wrecking yard. The truck hauled a ton of wood pellets with no issues . I'm the guy who pinches pennies until Lincoln screams
You have to put a duck bill tire change mod to make it easier and to not ruin nice rims. Center cone, and use carpet under rim to bead break helps also to protect nice rims. Changed all my tires easy with it.
Thing I have really noticed at Harbor freight tools is they have display tools but can't sell the display and don't have any in stock and then you have to go store to store looking for the tools.
scotty just gives me hope. never seen him fix anything with a car lift, fancy garage, fancy tools. although he has full rights as a professional and elder statesmen to deploy a full range of toolery and equipment he just does stuff in the manner many of us do our basic “mechanikin”, when we have to.
I purchased that tire changer a few years ago.. you are right out the box.. pretty much useless.. but after I modified a few areas on this harbor freight tire changer.. works really well now. I've changed many tires without any issues.
Unfortunately this is one of those tool categories that don't have a good solution for the DIYer. The negatives brought forth by Scotty in this video are valid but what do you expect for the price? A real DIYer would be able to take this tool and modify it to fill their needs. There are many categories of tools that are designed only for the commercial guys. That's the reality us DIYer's face. Even these "garbage" tools are a godsend as long as they can be easily modified to fix their faults.
I bought mine 10 years ago. The long mounting lever bent right off. I went and bought a 1 1/4 steel rod and welded the end tools I cut off the harbor freight rod. It's worked OK since. It's too much work for what it does. Scotty is right. Go to a tire shop.
Scotty this was hilarious!😂😂😂 I have the tool from the 90s back then you could buy it for 24.99 with a 20% off coupon.... It is still my back up for my rim clamp and my 40-40sa coats.... It takes a lot of finesse to use the cheap China made tire changer but for most cars and light trucks it will do the job...but you got to have a user that knows what he's doing and like Mr Eastwood said know his limitations😂😂.... You can see me use my China made tire changer on my tiny RUclips channel bought in the 90s $24.99 using it with relative ease changing tires....but for the non mechanically inclined it should be off limits to all of them!😂😂😂... Again thank you for all you do and all the laughs you've given me through the years.
Yes, it is a cheap china tool. I've had one for ten years and I only use it for trailer tires and small car tires, not truck tires. I also use a 4 foot heavy yellow crow bar instead of the rod that came with the tire mounter. Another tip is I use two small clamps as I mount or dismount the tires and I take small bites of the tire as I work my way around the bead. I don't mind paying $20 a tire for mounting and balancing a 10 Ply Tire for my 3/4 ton 4 X 4 Silverado but I hate paying $20 to mount a 13 inch trailer tire and that's really the only time I use the Harbor Freight tire mounter.
That will make a man out of you! That’s a real workout! I would like one of those, but I would either build one or buy a good quality one! Love your videos, bless you Scotty!❤
I've had one of those HF tire changes for many years and it has saved me many hundreds of dollars. Still works fine but my back protests now when I use it. Too bad they went with thinner steel on the new ones.
A few years ago, I built my own manual tire changer using angle iron, a 1" threaded steel bar, steel pipes, an old car hub, and a duck head mounting/removal tool. I've had to do a few modifications to it a couple times to make it sturdier, but I can change out the tires on my Harley, and all the way up to my '90 Silverado 4x4. It ain't the prettiest thing in the world but it works great. It cost me about $150 for the parts. Looking back, I probably could've bought the one from Harbor Freight and modified it for less. But hey, you live, you learn.
I picked up a pneumatic tire breakdown and mounting machine at an auction works great just like the Texaco station had that I work in as a kid. No hip work required.😁
Ive mounted dozens of tires on one of these. Yes putting them back on is a skill that has to be built, an awkward one at that. For gods gift i figured you’d have it, but you sure do disappoint.
Thank you Scotty! Yeah, it looks flimsy to start with, I've also use one of those commercial tire dismounters and they're heavy and solid to put up with the forces needed to mount and dismount thousands of tires. They can be extremely hazardous if you are not careful though. I almost broke my wrist one time that I was using it as I was distracted. I learned my lesson well, never be careless nor distracted when you are using power equipment or using a lot of leverage!
I tried using a similar tire changer. By the time you get the first tire off you'll be too tired to continue like Scotty lol. Definitely worth going to a tire shop😂
Exactly! Might as well just pay a shop to do it for you. I'm amazed that a place like Harbor Freight is a profitable business. Apparently we as Americans love to buy cheap junk masquerading as actual tools.
Try spending 20 dollars times 200 over the course of one year. Thats at least how many tires i change from buying and reselling vehicles every single year. Then times that over the course of 10 years and see what amount of money you come up with
Yeah for the bead breaker I got a 5 foot pipe. That worked ok . Also I got a NO MAR MOUNT DE-Mount Bar and that worked ok . The included bar is no good . And as a Scotty mentioned mine from Harbor Freight was orange and not black and purchased 5 years ago and that seemed better quality with thicker Steel .
I don't know if you're a male or female on the other end but if you're a man this is better than the gym. Seriously. And the women (if that's what you want) get all happy watching men work hard. But anyway. I understand your sentiment on hiring it out. Tires and wheels are hard to manage. Definitely not easy.
Scotty you need a stunt double for these videos you done scared the hell out of anybody that wanted to try to do this lmao but in the end i bow to you sir your word is your bond 🙏
I bought this same one about 6 months ago, never use that tire tool it comes with because its too thick. I have the thinner silver one you have. But ive changed 20+ trailer tires 14" and smaller, this thing works excellent for them, nothing has bent or broken.
I'm not a professional mechanic, or a harbor freight fanboy. But it is interesting, and honestly not surprising to see varying quality control on these kinds of tools. I did not experience any of these issues really (except a little loosening with the bead breaker, no issue, seems to still be fine) when using this machine myself. Of course, I do have a few months of recent experience changing tires, and I didnt use the exact methods Scotty did in the video. Glad to see you still working hard out there for us to give information. Unfortunately, I don't think Harbor Freight will improve the machining or steel strength of this type of tool, unless they decide to make an Icon manual tire changer
Scotty I did not know your butt would be the center of my screen 😂 but thank you for the video and showing us how cheap that thing was. Hope you returned it.
Enjoyed this video as a retired mechanic I can with confidence say that very seldom are cheap tools satisfactory , good tools last a lifetime cheap dont 🎩😁
I'm 80 years old and changed many a tire with the old heavy duty manual type. Worked great when I was younger. My dad showed me how to break a bead by rolling over the tire with another tire mounted on a vehicle. I don't think he actually did it and I never tried it, but it looks like it might work. You would have to roll over it just right not over the rim but close to the rim. My dad worked in a gas station in Iowa City in the 1930s. He said the station owner went broke because my dad drank all of his beer.
Harbor Flate (not a typo) has some OK stuff if you know what you are looking for. Decent impact sockets. Good dead blow hammer. Cable ties, yeah. Wrenches or power tools, only if desperate. Although the guys at the local muffler shop use their cheap recip saws all day to chop off pipes and just get another when they burn up.
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I purchased one of those a year ago just to try biggest piece of garbage I ever bought 😒🙄
I want to fix the cavities in my teeth myself. Do you know if harbor freight still sells their dental drill set?🤐 Update: I found the Novocain/needle set in hand tools section, but looks like they discontinued the dental drill set, had some really bad reviews hahahaha
125 at my tire store that includes the sensors
Scotty, what's with all the e bikes?
Harbor are a nightmare to return anything. Have fun trying to get a refund on anything
I've had one for years and I had to weld angle iron to the bead breaker arms because they bent , now it works fine
Yes if you strengthen the bead breaker part you turn junk into a usable tire changer.
Much credit to Scotty. He's a beast, 70 years old and man handled that harbor freight tire changer
No kidding, these things are very hard to work with.
Man I hope he gets stronger and stays healthy for a long time. I hope he gets younger his knowledge is wealth
Yep, that HF equipment will break before Scotty does. He's like the Toyota of humans.
He liked it doing it old school but he's right those Chinese tools are junk.
I have worked with people a quarter of his age that couldn't put out the energy that Scotty just did right there.
Scotty I changed my oil and had a heart attack at 60, luckily I realized what was happening and got help in time my friend mowed his lawn and wasn’t so lucky. I don’t want to see you do this kind of thing for us although we appreciate your help and wisdom don’t go too far.
Thank you 🙏
We all got to go sometime
@@rogerdodrill4733I mean it's best to prolong it though. Unless life is bad then I get it.
Yeah,but who wants to go before your time ,by pushing yourself too far
He's fine, he's like a cell phone.full throttle then dead.😂
You are an amazing man, Scotty Kilmer. I love your attitude and fortitude. I am 73 years old and do almost all of my car repairs and help close friends. If the world had more people like you, it would be a much better place to live.
I 2nd it!
I third it!
I 4th it. Somebody half it!😂😂😂
4½ here in OZ🇦🇺
@@Adam-7_7_7
Here in CANADA, we fifth it.
As an off roader, this tool has proved invaluable. Tire damage off road is common and taking a tire to a tire shop to get a simple repair gets expensive. There are many videos on modifying this tool that will make the job much easier. Mounting one tire as Scotty did pretty much pays for the tool. With an entire set of tires it pays for itself in one use. I've modified mine to use the duck bill, like the tire shops use, to avoid damaging aluminum rims. Best of all it unbolts from the floor and I can store it in the corner of the garage. Unlike the giant machines they have at the tire shop this takes up very little precious garage space. This is a tool that only gets occassional use but when you need it, you need it, and I can set it up in less than 5 minutes.
Nice review, to The Review.
Thanks !
Terriable review ive had one for years i replace my 10 ply tires with my son an 17 year grandson use it. I seeit changed your tire. You have to be better than the tool you use.
I seen someone make 1 using a hitch ball neck and a bolt/screw car jack welded to it and a curved angle iron for big tires as he cranked it it would break the bead and off came the tire. May be redneck style but the tool did the job. The jack would be upright when not in use then pull it off flip it pointing down then reattach.
Thank you
the trick is to find an old school shop pass them a 20$ bill and they will dismount the tire buff the inside and apply a patch. though I know a cheat code for breaking the beads if you have a second vehicle just drive it up onto the tire laying on the ground and work the wheel back and forth it will pop right off. you can also use the vehicle itself using the lower ball joint as the pressing point just let the jack down its way slower but it works
I have changed a lot of tires with my harbor freight machine,I'm 64 and in pretty good shape, scotty you are a mechanic,not a tire jocky. Watching you doing 4 tires with you is making me tired out, take it back to harbor freight and ca) this another lesson in life,live long and prosper.
I have never seen a black Harbor Freight tire changer, only red. Mine is red, Sometimes I think Scotty fell off the deep end.
I don't believe it
Mine is red and dead
I got the mini tire changer for small equipment and it works perfect.
@@billwhite5853is that to change tires
I bought this tire changer in 1993 when Harbor Freight was catalog only in NY. No stores. It was $30 (red) and the bead- break arm is thicker steel and the mounting end of the bar never worked.. It held up and works fine otherwise, bolted to the cement floor.
I have this with the motorcycle tire attachment. I love it. Probably changed at least 50 motorcycle tires with it over 15 years . I can't find the high performance tires I like locally unless I drive 30-60 minutes away. And private shops wanted to charge the shop hourly rate to change them at the time. As in over $100 to just change tires when I brought in just the rims off the bike! I can go through 2-3 sets a year so this thing has been a god send. Plus my kids now get to watch the process and learn something. This makes it very easy to get the job done. Although if you're determined you can do it with a couple screwdrivers too lol.
God* 👌✌️😎
What motorcycle adapter did you get?
@Chucka10 harbor freight used to sell an attachment for motorcycle tires that was like another 40-50 bucks
@
Thanks, I guess they don’t any more that I have seen. Some people seem to make some and sell on eBay?
@Chucka10 Yeah I have no idea why they discontinued those. I have seen others that look identical online that probably work
We need more good men like you, Scotty, sharing their knowledge for those of us who never had anyone to teach us.
I agree, in it's factory state it's pretty much crap. I immediately welded a brace between the arms on the bead breaker to keep them square and I welded the base to the legs and I've never had a problem with it since. Later I used some scrap 2" pipe to make a swivel arm and added a shoe to it. I'm about $150 into it and it's rock solid.
If you work your way around the bead, the breaker doesn’t require bracing and the beads are much easier to break. I just threw the legs in the scrap pile and bolted the base directly to the concrete. The duck head modification is definitely the way to go if you don’t want to scratch aluminum wheels.
I have one I have never took it out of the box figured if I could use it to repair a tire one time it would pay for it self jihad flat I pat 40 dollars just to get it patched in the long run didn't expect much for 40 dollars is what I pad for mine
It boils down to user error honestly
Sorry you had such a bad experience. I've got the same tool and love it. It paid for itself after the first use and I've changed many car tires, ATV, UTV, and trailer tires with it and had no problems. I bolted mine to a four foot length of 2x2 square tube steel and now it is portable and I can simply insert it into any receiver hitch on one of my vehicles when I need to use it.
I've changed many tires on mine, ,I love it. I mean if it's bending sideways, it's because you need to reposition it correctly. And for God's sake , put your foot on the tire when breaking the bead, and stand in front of it , not to the side .lol If I lived closer, I'd come by ,and show him how to use it.
love mine changed tractor, truck, car,side by side tires for a few years now.
I wish you would make a video of that setup.
I love mine also. And I love my bubble balancer. When I was growing up bubble balancing was the norm. Worked fine then and still does today. Also by doing my tires, I took time to clean off 25 years of gunk buildup on my mag rims that I've no doubt caused slow leaks because now my tires hold air twice as long. I use it for my 97 CR-V. I think I read somewhere that they are not practical on anything over 14 or 15 inches. I also hate it when a tool sticks bad welding splinters in my 👐 ✋️ hand!! 😆 🤣
@@IkeBroflovski-y4e mine works fine for everything. Cars, trucks and a kubota tractor
I have one like that I bought at a yard sale about 20 years ago. Yah, I had to weld some small angle iron on the foot arms of the bead breaker, but it works great now . Has saved me hundreds of dollars... and time not sitting at a tire store waiting. I have one of those bubble balancers too. I love doing my own tires. (I'm 65.... not much younger than Scotty)
I agree. You couldn't find anything cheaper to do what it does. Try to find a place on a Sat/Sun evening to change a tire when you really need it and you won't find one.
I am 70 plus and use this tire changer. Did the same mods with the angle iron and use a 4 foot pipe with a hard plastic ball end to remove the bead from the rim. 2 things I noticed was not keeping more of the tire in the drop center and leaving the tire in the sun before trying to remove it will absolutely make a world of difference in removing an old tire.
A bubble balancer is no comparison for spin balancing. Geez what are you going to do with all of your money when your dead? You really think your family will appreciate you or expect it from you.
Go live a little.
@@DanHolmes-o9b I'm not wealthy and never have been. Money has never come easy for me. I've never been rich enough to be so judgmental and critical.
@@DanHolmes-o9bFor some people, including me, it’s about being able to do it yourself. Also, spin balancing isn’t necessary in a lot of cases, especially if you’re rarely on the highway.
I bought that tool! Brought it home and heavily modified it! Works wonderful now!
What did you have to do to it ?
Same here I welded flat plate steel across the breakdown bars he bent at the beginning to strengthen them it works fine now
So you still have to have the tires balanced!
@@donmyers584 im thinking of getting one but cant weld, could i bolt something to it to strengthen it instead?
@@greenman7612You can get a decent analog balancer without spending a lot. If you’re interested look up static tire balancing. It’s not about the money, it’s about being able to fix anything you want on your own.
Thanks for the heads up Scotty. I've worked for tire shops 3 different times, and service stations when I was growing up, and I know exactly what you're talking about. I like the old quality machines that don't break.
Good on you Scotty for still having the strength and energy to do that at your age lol most guys at 70 would probably have a heart attack after 5 minutes of that lol
I used to do this. You did a good job of removing and putting on a new tire.
@@jeffshaw4039 Where I used to work, the guys would do the tires right on the cars...with hammers and these yuge tanks of compressed air. Four tires in 10 minutes. Total maniacs.
I don't know why I put this in here. It's not helping anybody.
I'm certain Scotty is very strong..I used to work with cable splicers they were used to lifting heavy stuff. One old guy was about Scotty's size he was very strong tuff as nails.
Guys at 40😂
I'm 70 and I still can do what I did at 50. Age is only a number.
Scotty, have one of them, and have had it for the past 20 years. I am also 70, but am in good physical condition for the model year. It isn't easy on some tires, but on others, it is child's play. Yes, it needed some strengthing, but the welder cart sets about 10' away, and with a couple of feet of flat strap and a few feet of Mig wire it has worked for 20 years. Yes, I could have spent $450 for a manual machine but for $50 bucks and maybe $10 bucks of metal and Mig wire, it works fine. Never had the problem you showed with the tire install, but I cheat, and use a cheap clamp on the rim to keep from chasing the bead. Have the cheap tire balance tool, and so far in 20 years, every tire balanced fine. Would have liked to get a heavy-duty unit when I bought it, simply am not rich. But with some self-determination and a grasp of engineering, it was simple to fix the issues. To me Scotty it sounds like, leave the engineering improvements to experts, when you are a amature.
He said the older ones were probably better.
I'll let Costco do this. I don't trust Harbor Freight except for hand tools.
@@gregorybova5413this is a hand tool, i believe
This is great if you have a welder and know how to weld. Maybe HF should upgrade the steel and charge $20 more?
when I was a teenager back in the late 60s early 70s I worked at my father service station and he had one of the kind of machines that Scotty is talking about. those things were built like tanks. I guarantee you if you could find one of those used even if it were that old and still work just fine seeing Scotty do that brought back some memories.
Scotty risking his life with cheap tools to help us out😂
You gotta do all four. And when you're getting older and muscles start aching you end up paying somebody.
Scotty earning that paycheck today.😅
😂
And to show off his sense of humor lol😂
Yeah.. It's ironic how billions of people will work, fight, kill, pray and die for worth less fiat 💵 created out of NOTHING by BANKERS.. 💯💯😊😊
I bought mine 4 or 5 yrs ago for the same price Scotty did. The older one is beefier. I haven't bent mine yet. You will get better at it after you've done a few. I use 2 vice grips to hold the lip of the bead on each side so the tire doesn't slip back off while I'm taking them on and off. I would rather put my own tires on than sit for 2 hours waiting for the tire store to get around to it while I'm stuck watching Judge Judy. Lol
...hay that matey ,judge Judy is ace !!!
I’ve had mine for a couple of years. I did the duck head modification and could easily finish anentire set of wheels and tires before Scotty finished one. This machine is one of the best Harbor Freight purchases I’ve made and easily paid for itself the first day I used it, even after the extra expense of the modifications.
Could be worse, could be stuck watching the view!
@@athhud I will probably buy one too. Don't know if these cheaper ones are good.
@@PlanetaryThoughts9861 None of those shops have premium cable.
A BIG BLACK EYE FOR HARBOR FREIGHT
I have a Harbor freight TITANIUM FLUX 125 WELDER purchased from Harbor Freight a couple years ago. I am a retired plumbing contractor and backyard hobbyist. I love to build things in my spare time and help friends and neighbors that need something repaired. When I retired and closed my business, I had a stick welding machine but had no convenient place to connect it at my home! It would require an upgrade to my electrical service not worth the trouble and expense! When I saw a couple reviews on RUclips for this Titanium 125 welder, I thought that would be the way to go. I already had a 110 Volt 30 Amp circuit to my workshop!
It took me a while to get adjusted to the flux wire welding. I built a minibike from scrap pipe I had left over from the plumbing shop. The welder allowed me to make other things and make repairs for others I wouldn’t be able to do without it.
In the middle of my last project, I cut a couple pieces of metal and got ready to weld them and when I pushed the button on the welder, nothing happened! It was dead! The fan did not come on but the light on the ON/OFF indicated there was power to the welder. I checked the manual for a reset button or a fuse and found no mention of either.
So, I called the Harbor Freight 800 number and was told there was no repair for this welder. Harbor Freight has no repair facility, and no support is available. I was told by two different tech reps there is no schematics or parts list available from the factory where this is manufactured. “It is not worth getting it repaired and cheaper to go purchase a new one!” If you purchase this welder or many other things from Harbor Freight You only have 3 Months Warranty. It is considered disposable after that!
All the reviews and discussion I have read about HARBOR FREIGHT I have never seen anything about their total lack of support for their products! I didn’t even get an “I’m sorry” or any offer for a discount on a new welding machine!
I am retired, was an electronics technician in the Navy, active Ham Radio operator and electronics hobbyist. I feel like the electronics in this welding machine is straight forward non computer controlled and any decent electronics tech should be able to repair this given reasonable support. I removed the circuit board from the welder and found where a small component burned of course not knowing the component value or purpose will make it difficult to replace. Providing a schematic and parts list is a very inexpensive form of support that should be a minimum requirement. Their claim to revenue of 7 Billion Dollars tells me they could afford it!
Leland Cox
Bought the HB model 20+ years ago -- never bolted it to the concrete. Also bought 2 tire spoons from HB. Can of 'slippery' necessary in hot weather otherwise dish soap mixed with diesel fuel works fine. Changed hundreds of tires with it. Still works great. Also bought a heavier duty model (Granger or Northern Tool) for tractor tires with thicker ply. In either case, if you can break the bead, you don't even need either machine, however, the tire spoons sure make the job a ton easier. Hint: don't change more than one a day. It don't take much to self balance them either. ...still don't like giving away money when I can do the work myself (and I've never been afraid of work). 🙂
I've only seen a couple of comments that agree with me that this tire changer works pretty good when used correctly. I've had one for over 14 years and other than not being able to do 45 series tires, I love it. One of the better tools I've bought from HF
Loks like Scotty was using correctly. I'm assuming yours older and better built
i've had mine for 5 or 6 years now and use it for atv and sxs tires. I've done dozens of sets over the years and never had a single issue out of it. Great tool when you use it as intended and within its limitations.
Scotty used it correctly, but the bead breaker you gotta have it lined up perfect and push straight down. If it’s angled a little it will bend. I did 18” truck tires. Took all 4 off rims and put new ones on. It took a few hours tho, but it’s worth it. Just pay Att when breaking the bead. You can easily tell if your not straight up and down. I paid $28 for mine and it’s red
@@bobbybrooks5846 he almost used it correctly. When putting the tire on the bubble hub and aids in rolling the tire onto the rim. And, likewise, mine was bought red as well. From years of being in the sun, it's now pink.
@@kirkedwards365 Right. Did you modify the bead breaker? I just straightened mine back out and never had a issue again. I put concrete anchors in my garage floor, so I can remove it when I’m done. I’ve had it for 5 years and it still looks new
I bought mine over 15 years ago, for my Lawn service business.. to work on my trailers and mower tires and it works great after you get the hang of it. Dont service lawns anymore but still use it he and there. 😊
I have been a DIY guy all my life, but there are some jobs - like mounting/balancing tires - that I'd rather leave to the pros. That said, another great informative and entertaining video. Thx.
Just due to the size of car tires alone i wont generally mount and or balance them on my own. However its a breeze on motorcycles, atvs, mowers, to mount and balance em.
After the first tire helps you work out the process you can swap each one out and balance it about ten minutes a pop.
Changing tires without a tire machine is frustrating especially removing old dry rotted tires I’m with you there I’ll let the shop do it
Never thought to replace tires on my own, still won't think of it in the future....Just locally bought 4 tires for my Pilot for $600.00 cash at a tire place, they installed them while I did some errands in an hour and I am on my way. I am the age of of Scotty and I would probably accomplish a tire change a day that way. God Bless him for his public awareness for us commonfolk. Btw, have you seen the price of tires these days?
HF has a smaller changer for lawn tractor tires and whatnot. I got one about 5 years ago. The center stem was just a long threaded bolt that bent almost immediately. I can make it work for my applications, though.
even so - its nice to have good equipment (rim clamp machine?) to do that kind of work. i use my propeller-blade (aircraft) balancer for stuff when i can and when the fixtures needed aren't too hard or pricey to fabricate.
I went to work with my dad when I was 10 and the shop had the same tire breaker tool as your dad. I even watched them use a bubble balance tool. In my 20s, I would remove tires with a hi lift jack and tire spoons. Even did a few split rims. Not anymore since watching youtube!
Now, I pay the man and get my truck tires changed by a tire shop. I use this tool for riding mower tires.
The prybar tool is next to my garage door. I use it for security. It will work just fine beating an intruder.
I did some split rims back in the '70's, the guy that owned the station made it look easy, no wonder they were outlawed.
I have one. Works great! U have to weld a piece a piece of flat bar on the breaking arm. Or it bends easy. After that perfect
Scotty is 70!!!! I always thought he was like 60😅😅 amazing!!!! Love scotty I learned alot from you!!!!
He was when we started watching him if not younger haha
I love his passion trying to educate us 😊
I agree.he can pass for a 50 actually.always liked his channel,short but informative.
I always consider tools like this to be a starting point for additional mods to make it useful
Agree. Break out the Harbor Freight welder and grinder and cut new steel to replace the thin junk.
yep
@@kenimpzoomdo they actually make welding machines? If so, they probably have a 1/10 duty cycle. 😆
BiffTannon1983 How little you know 😂😂
At that point just make your own.
Thank you Scotty for showing us what's going on with these cheap "equipment." Almost bought one of these cheap ones at a sale, but thankfully checked this. This video saved me from a bad purchase. Much appreciation Scotty. You're doing a service to mankind with these videos.
I've got one and have done countless number of tires. Have even used it to break the bead off on big rear tractor tires. I love it. Saved me tons of money.
Scotty at 70 years old to do this? You the man! I did purchase a Harbor Freight small tire changer for lawn and garden equipment and it works great. Appreciate the excellent video!
Have same tool from Northern Tool was 150$. ??
After fixing all the problems pointed out here it works good. And paid for itself 10 times over. Nothing larger than pickup tires.
I’m by no means a “handyman”… first one to admit that. Gotta say Scotty, I’ve leaned SOOO much from you man! Bought a low profile jack from Harbor Freight like you have. I now change my own oil, I’ve changed spark plugs, little things like that. Appreciate ya more than you know!! Big thanks from Kentucky!
I've had one of those for about 8 years. Probably change about 8 to 10 tires a year. Never had much of a problem with it. It is getting wore out, and I'm about to replace it with another one. It's saved me lot's of money. It's probably not for everyone, but I'll never go to a tire shop again. I hope it's the same quality.
What has worn on yours? I mounted a duck head on mine and don’t foresee any part of it ever wearing out.
I used to work for a fleet and I changed hundreds of tires using the customary electro-pneumatic contraption everybody uses i.e. a "proper" tire machine. And if you haven't had the pleasure, I can tell you that although anybody can learn to install tires in an hour or less, it is by no means an easy task. And if you do 4 tires all in one go, you are really going feel it that you've done hella work by the time you are done!
I'm 64 now so at this point I'd think twice before changing a tire even on a pro tire machine, I can't even imagine changing a tire manually. Doing it this way is at least 10 times more difficult. For a man of 70 Scotty Kilmer is in incredible shape - even so IDK how he can wrestle even one tire on with that thing!
I actually have this Harbor Freight tire changer. I have only done eight tires and it was not the easiest thing that I have done, but it does work. For DIY people that are not used to professional quality tire changers and who don't mind putting in some elbow grease, it does work.
@@tooltime9260 max capacity is 16 inches
Makes the fees charged by the tire shops look worth it
A good used tire shop like a good small mechanic shop is your best friend
Indeed!
Cant do a wheel alignment tho
@@WayToManyAssassinsdon’t need to if you’re just replacing tires.
Perfect dont do it yourself tutorial
Scotty, thanks for testing out this piece of crap so folks dont end up injuring themselves. You're the man.
I aged ten years just watching Scotty struggle thru this lol.
🤣🤣😂
And it was a PAINFUL 10 years!!!😢
Bruh as I was watching poor Scotty doing this, I was like yep I will pay my mechanic lol.
@@bankait_rex1860Brother I'm with you. Hell it's not worth it. I'll pay a tire store to do it !
My back is hurting just watching him! 😆
I have one. It's worked very well over the past 20 years.. I only use it on trailer tires. I reinforced the top cap and the bead breaker with thicker steel and pin. It works great for $40
It's $60 now...
@@JDeWittDIY it's cheaper around Christmas time. Still a good deal if you beef it up a little..
My 1965 Chrysler Owner's Manual shows how to remove the tire from the wheel on the roadside. You use the bumper jack between bumper and tire to break the bead. Never tried it, but did swap a 13" tire for a camping trailer by hand, using pry bars. Not easy. The trick in working the bead over the rim is to push the far side bead into the valley, which gives a little more room.
Don’t break off your hands Scotty, we need all arm and hand movement at all times in your videos 🤣🤣💯
EXACTLY
longest vid w/him i. it w/minimal arm flailing....... wasn't sure it was really him
I bought one of these recently and it works just fine. I guess the bead breaker didn't work for scotty but it worked and did its job like a champ
Same here. I like mine
Ive used them and it takes muscle when installing. It works better on a sunny warm summer day. Let the tires sit in the sun to make the rubber stretch more and less stiff to use less force to get the tire bead on the rim. Also put dish soap on bead so its slides on rim.
The nice thing with harbor frieght is that its so cheap that it pays for itself after 2 tires. Im not suggesting anyone use this tool im just expressing my personal experience
Actually it works just fine with a couple modifications. One being tos stiffen up the bead breaker, the other is the duck bill addon. There's tons of videos out there on that modification and it works really well. A cheap tool can be turned into a decent tool with some work!
i hate watching this guy. hes quick to call something junk when it doesnt work the first time. not user error. always the tool/car thats junk. just because its not 40 years old its junk.
If you need to make modifications for it to work, then it is worthless.
@@EviLWeazLIf Scotty bent those bars with his skinny 70 year old arms it is made of pot metal, not steel. You shouldn't have to fix or redesign a tool to make it work.
I have one of these, and I agree the duck head is awful. I haven't had any trouble with the bead breaker, in fact I think it works quite well.
What this does do really well at a decent price is hold on to the wheel nicely at the right height while you change the tire with tire spoons.
I'm going to go look for those videos about changing the duck.
@@jameshightower3042 I bought one of those duck head attachments from Lucid Auto. The lead time is not great, but it's a nice piece.
My almost first job in 1963 was a gas jockey in a Shell station in Boca Raton Florida.
We had a tire changer, that I later trained on. It looked like it weighed 5-600 pounds, cast iron. The data plate said 1941.
An extra tank part…..nagh, this one is to change tires.
Some machines at John Deere for older service parts are WWII era. They actually machines tank parts on those during the war.
i have one and used it for years now, first thing i did was weld steel plates along the factory metal on the bead breaker because it was to thin, other than that it works 100% every time and has not failed yet.
Hi Scotty,
No doubt it’s cheap, but I actually removed and mounted 4 tires on the stock rims of an old Cummins RAM pickup with this same tool bought at Harbor Freight last year. I did buy two extra tire irons though, and it wasn’t bad.
I've been using one for over 10 years to change motorcycle tires. I also bought two of their tire spoons and they work well enough. It is definitely cheap but has lasted over 10 years and still going strong. Not to mention it has paid for itself AT LEAST 30 times over by now.
Exactly, my same experience even down to buying the 24" tire irons. I did have to reinforce the flimsy part that breaks the beads.
Ive been using the red version for over 8 yrs , even chaged 35 inch tires on a jeep , it was a workout but it did it , normally dont have to much of a problem breaking the beads but do have a semi truck style slide hammer bead breaker for tough stuff , or just use a high lift style jack to break the bead , use lots of lube also .
I bought one from harbor freight about 8 years ago and it worked pretty well shows how everyone is making things cheaper and charging more it seems like we're going down hill
I never actually watched someone change a tire before. I have a whole new appreciation for the work involved and no matter what they charge to change the tire, it’s worth the money!
I worked in a tire store like Scotty did when I was a teenager. All shops that sell tires daily have machines that make it a lot faster than this. A tire shop can change one in 5 minutes. But they had to buy the machine. I was going to buy the HF stand in this video just to change my own but not now.
the trick with getting bead off or on is to make sure the bead on the opposite side of the tire is in the middle of the rim allowing the tire to move as far as it can
Yes, the top bead comes off with little effort if one places the top bead 180° into the drop center. Often this technique with appropriate lube can take the 2nd side off with no tool. Then the reverse is true, I almost never need a tool to put the first bead over the rim.
@@N4HHEI've found it can depend on the tire. Some are a struggle, some I'm surprised that they just slip on.
@@chaos.corner How deep the drop center is determinative of the ease of removal
Scotty, I got one of the older Harbor Freight tire changing tools and it worked . That was years ago and it is red. Harbor Freight is trying to cheapen a lot of there products because of changes in the upper level people.
I just use up to three of those tools like Scotty,s motorcycle spoons. Maybe 7 bucks apiece at Harbor Freight. I bought some good takeoff tires with 90 percent tread for 120 dollars at a wrecking yard.
The truck hauled a ton of wood pellets with no issues .
I'm the guy who pinches pennies until Lincoln screams
He has soft hands. I've changed over 30 tires with this tire changer. Works great and has saved me lots of money.
He’s also 70 years old.
You have to put a duck bill tire change mod to make it easier and to not ruin nice rims. Center cone, and use carpet under rim to bead break helps also to protect nice rims. Changed all my tires easy with it.
Scotty ,I've been useing this same tool for five years with no issues,you have to use it as the instructions say your bead is not on the tire holder
Thing I have really noticed at Harbor freight tools is they have display tools but can't sell the display and don't have any in stock and then you have to go store to store looking for the tools.
Always keep pushing down on the opposite side of the tire when mounting a tire to the wheel using those motorcycle tire irons.
This undoubtedly the BEST product review I have ever seem. Excellent job.
scotty just gives me hope. never seen him fix anything with a car lift, fancy garage, fancy tools. although he has full rights as a professional and elder statesmen to deploy a full range of toolery and equipment
he just does stuff in the manner many of us do our basic “mechanikin”, when we have to.
Love this guy! Stays at it even though he already knows the outcome.
I purchased that tire changer a few years ago.. you are right out the box.. pretty much useless.. but after I modified a few areas on this harbor freight tire changer.. works really well now. I've changed many tires without any issues.
Unfortunately this is one of those tool categories that don't have a good solution for the DIYer. The negatives brought forth by Scotty in this video are valid but what do you expect for the price? A real DIYer would be able to take this tool and modify it to fill their needs. There are many categories of tools that are designed only for the commercial guys. That's the reality us DIYer's face. Even these "garbage" tools are a godsend as long as they can be easily modified to fix their faults.
Yeah I bought one ,fist thing I had to do was make a new bar out of solid steel not pipe. The one that came with it bent the first time.
I bought mine 10 years ago. The long mounting lever bent right off. I went and bought a 1 1/4 steel rod and welded the end tools I cut off the harbor freight rod. It's worked OK since. It's too much work for what it does. Scotty is right. Go to a tire shop.
Have the same tire changer. Worked like a charm for 4 tires. No bends no sharp edges
I have the same tire machine and I think it's great for the price breaks down my 35x17 tires. I would buy another one if I had to
Scotty this was hilarious!😂😂😂 I have the tool from the 90s back then you could buy it for 24.99 with a 20% off coupon.... It is still my back up for my rim clamp and my 40-40sa coats.... It takes a lot of finesse to use the cheap China made tire changer but for most cars and light trucks it will do the job...but you got to have a user that knows what he's doing and like Mr Eastwood said know his limitations😂😂.... You can see me use my China made tire changer on my tiny RUclips channel bought in the 90s $24.99 using it with relative ease changing tires....but for the non mechanically inclined it should be off limits to all of them!😂😂😂... Again thank you for all you do and all the laughs you've given me through the years.
Yes, it is a cheap china tool. I've had one for ten years and I only use it for trailer tires and small car tires, not truck tires. I also use a 4 foot heavy yellow crow bar instead of the rod that came with the tire mounter. Another tip is I use two small clamps as I mount or dismount the tires and I take small bites of the tire as I work my way around the bead. I don't mind paying $20 a tire for mounting and balancing a 10 Ply Tire for my 3/4 ton 4 X 4 Silverado but I hate paying $20 to mount a 13 inch trailer tire and that's really the only time I use the Harbor Freight tire mounter.
That will make a man out of you! That’s a real workout! I would like one of those, but I would either build one or buy a good quality one! Love your videos, bless you Scotty!❤
I've had one of those HF tire changes for many years and it has saved me many hundreds of dollars. Still works fine but my back protests now when I use it. Too bad they went with thinner steel on the new ones.
Gotta keep increasing the profit while the almighty fiat 💵 is worth less.. 😊😊
A few years ago, I built my own manual tire changer using angle iron, a 1" threaded steel bar, steel pipes, an old car hub, and a duck head mounting/removal tool. I've had to do a few modifications to it a couple times to make it sturdier, but I can change out the tires on my Harley, and all the way up to my '90 Silverado 4x4. It ain't the prettiest thing in the world but it works great. It cost me about $150 for the parts. Looking back, I probably could've bought the one from Harbor Freight and modified it for less. But hey, you live, you learn.
I love Scotty so damn much. He always makes me smile
I picked up a pneumatic tire breakdown and mounting machine at an auction works great just like the Texaco station had that I work in as a kid. No hip work required.😁
Ive mounted dozens of tires on one of these. Yes putting them back on is a skill that has to be built, an awkward one at that. For gods gift i figured you’d have it, but you sure do disappoint.
Thank you Scotty! Yeah, it looks flimsy to start with, I've also use one of those commercial tire dismounters and they're heavy and solid to put up with the forces needed to mount and dismount thousands of tires. They can be extremely hazardous if you are not careful though. I almost broke my wrist one time that I was using it as I was distracted. I learned my lesson well, never be careless nor distracted when you are using power equipment or using a lot of leverage!
I tried using a similar tire changer. By the time you get the first tire off you'll be too tired to continue like Scotty lol. Definitely worth going to a tire shop😂
I will just go to Scotty the next time I get tires😅
Exactly! Might as well just pay a shop to do it for you.
I'm amazed that a place like Harbor Freight is a profitable business.
Apparently we as Americans love to buy cheap junk masquerading as actual tools.
Watching you do that made me want to pay a tire shop for you lol😂 I’ve been building cars my entire life and I never went through that to save $20
Try spending 20 dollars times 200 over the course of one year. Thats at least how many tires i change from buying and reselling vehicles every single year. Then times that over the course of 10 years and see what amount of money you come up with
This tire changer almost broke Scotty's hand and I AM MAD AS HELL!!!
Yeah for the bead breaker I got a 5 foot pipe. That worked ok . Also I got a NO MAR MOUNT DE-Mount Bar and that worked ok . The included bar is no good . And as a Scotty mentioned mine from Harbor Freight was orange and not black and purchased 5 years ago and that seemed better quality with thicker Steel .
Scottie I have one mines red. Used it for many years trouble free. 😊
I never considered changing tires to be DIY and now I know why. Some things are worth “hiring it done”.
I don't know if you're a male or female on the other end but if you're a man this is better than the gym. Seriously. And the women (if that's what you want) get all happy watching men work hard. But anyway. I understand your sentiment on hiring it out. Tires and wheels are hard to manage. Definitely not easy.
Scotty you need a stunt double for these videos you done scared the hell out of anybody that wanted to try to do this lmao but in the end i bow to you sir your word is your bond 🙏
I feel bad for that rim...
Harbor Freight owes you for your time Scotty
Harbor Freight should sue Scotty for showing people how not to use their product correctly.
I bought this same one about 6 months ago, never use that tire tool it comes with because its too thick. I have the thinner silver one you have. But ive changed 20+ trailer tires 14" and smaller, this thing works excellent for them, nothing has bent or broken.
Scotty providing the muscle. 💪🏻
Thank you Scotty for amazing content.
I'm not a professional mechanic, or a harbor freight fanboy. But it is interesting, and honestly not surprising to see varying quality control on these kinds of tools. I did not experience any of these issues really (except a little loosening with the bead breaker, no issue, seems to still be fine) when using this machine myself. Of course, I do have a few months of recent experience changing tires, and I didnt use the exact methods Scotty did in the video. Glad to see you still working hard out there for us to give information. Unfortunately, I don't think Harbor Freight will improve the machining or steel strength of this type of tool, unless they decide to make an Icon manual tire changer
Scotty is risking his life so you don't have to!
Fun fact: It took Scotty three weeks to film this.
😂😂😂
That's not the sun setting. It's the seasons changing. 😂
Actually he films 2 videos each day!
I bought this tool for putting a tube in my tractor tire. It worked great!
Scotty I did not know your butt would be the center of my screen 😂 but thank you for the video and showing us how cheap that thing was. Hope you returned it.
Hi Scotty luv the vids. Hey No Mar makes a half decent manual tire machine but it sure isn’t under 50 bucks lol
Enjoyed this video as a retired mechanic I can with confidence say that very seldom are cheap tools satisfactory , good tools last a lifetime cheap dont 🎩😁
I'm 80 years old and changed many a tire with the old heavy duty manual type. Worked great when I was younger. My dad showed me how to break a bead by rolling over the tire with another tire mounted on a vehicle. I don't think he actually did it and I never tried it, but it looks like it might work. You would have to roll over it just right not over the rim but close to the rim. My dad worked in a gas station in Iowa City in the 1930s. He said the station owner went broke because my dad drank all of his beer.
What a handsome devil young Scotty was. No doubt had all the ladies running around after him back in the good old days! Always enjoy his videos.
Would they be chasing a cheap skate like Scotty?? 😊😊
Man, Scotty, you really earned your money this time!!!!
Harbor Flate (not a typo) has some OK stuff if you know what you are looking for. Decent impact sockets. Good dead blow hammer. Cable ties, yeah. Wrenches or power tools, only if desperate. Although the guys at the local muffler shop use their cheap recip saws all day to chop off pipes and just get another when they burn up.
You forgot they sell one heck of a 5 gallon bucket.