Harbor freight mini tire changer

chuck t · Aug 17, 2019

I have seen in the past that some have used these effectively. What did you mount the changer to? Sheet of plywood? How big? Other ideas?

Bob N.Y. · Aug 17, 2019

I lagged mine to the concrete floor.

KCTractors · Aug 17, 2019

I mounted mine to the concrete floor. I use it quite often.

T.R.K. · Aug 17, 2019

I made a bracket to mount mine on the end of my workbench, so its base is about 4" lower than the top of the bench. I can't tell you how
high that makes it from the floor, but another 6" lower would not have hurt, you need pretty good leverage to pull the tire irons around the
top of the rim when dismounting. About 12" rim is the maximum, it works better on the 8" or smaller rims.

I am wondering if these other fellows are thinking about the full size tire changer that HF also sells.

Steve@Advance · Aug 17, 2019

Looking up the "mini changer", it is a table top model only good up to 12" wheels.

Is that what you are buying?

The video shows it just sitting on the work bench, which doesn't look very realistic.

I would just bolt it to the bench, or put it in a vise if you have one big enough.

Better still, get a bigger tire changer that is capable of at least passenger car or light truck tires, mount it to the floor or on a piece of steel big enough to stand on while operating it. Plywood would be too light unless it were several sheets thick and reinforced with a steel plate under the bolts.
Owners Manual

DoubleR · Aug 17, 2019

I bolted mine to a heavy duty pallet. Move it around with the forks on a tractor.

TimV · Aug 17, 2019

I built a small tire changer similar to the HF one and mounted it to a chunk of channel iron which I then clamp in my vise, which is bolted to my heavy steel welding table. You want a sturdy mount as even with small tires you'll need a fair amount of force to get the tires on and off the rim. I do bead breaking in a separate step (I already had a decent bead breaker when I built the changer so I didn't really need to incorporate a bead breaker into it) but I've found having the unit up high enough to get a "bear hug" on the tire can be helpful if it wants to spin on the rim when putting the tire back on, though it's also helpful to have it low enough to get enough force down on the tire to slip the bottom bead over the rim without having to use a tool when reinstalling it.

tractorguy2 · Aug 17, 2019

I have one I use with lawn mower tires. I have it clamped to the welding bench with c-clamps.

OldFarmTractor · Aug 17, 2019

Mine is bolted to a 3ft x 3 ft sheet of 3/4" plywood.
For smaller tires, it is one of the best investments I have ever made. Just be sure to pick up a can of ether for rim seating.

Spook · Aug 18, 2019

I bought one, then found out that Discount Tire will remove the old tire, mount a new tire for $7. Way too
much work for $7.

9001ron · Aug 18, 2019

If you are referring to the one for car tiers I welded mine to an old metal stone boat . This was
made out of an old boiler I believe. This works good as where ever you park it -- it keeps the long
grass and weeds in check and is heavy enough that unwanted movement is gone. I have a question for
those that use ether for mounting stubborn tiers. In the past it has worked very well for me
creating a really good pop . Lately I have found that the ether doesn't pop any more --- just kinda
flames with a woosh. I have tried several brands and they all seem to be useless for mounting tiers
any more. Is there still the good stuff available some where ---- like a brand name and location .
I am in canada .

Leroy · Aug 18, 2019

I don't know anything about the mini but I had one of the bigger ones and that thing put me in the operating room of the hospital. Trying to get stiff older tire off and tore shoulder rotator cuff. Never tried useng after that, health cannot afford it. Was 4 years before I could fully use that arm. For what it cost me I could have had several hundred changed at shop.

Texasmark1 · Aug 18, 2019

Portable clamped to my work bench.

Harbor freight mini tire changer

chuck t

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Bob N.Y.

Well-known Member

KCTractors

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T.R.K.

Well-known Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

DoubleR

Well-known Member

TimV

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tractorguy2

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OldFarmTractor

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Spook

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9001ron

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Leroy

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Texasmark1

Well-known Member

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