Re: Breaking down tires.

[Thomas Kiene <thomasrb@domain.elided>]

Hello,

I do most of my own tire mounting and dismounting. The tools and methods
I use is as folllows:

I have a chain link fence around the backyard and I use it! The walk
gate post is heavy (schedule 40?) pipe and I use a similiar pipe as a
lever. The end of this pipe is held with a loop strap (used to hold the
chain link fencing to a end post) under the walkgate lower mounting
strap. I lay the tire on the walk, and using the lever  pipe and a
homemade tool, press the tire bead down off the rim edge. Frequently I
have to rotate the tire a time or two to get the bead loosened up all
the way around before it will pop loose. On really rusty wheels I may
also use a little soap/water mix to make things go easier.

The tool mentioned above is made by bending a curve (to match the wheel)
in a piece of 3/8" x 2" x 7" long steel bar stock. This is welded to a
piece of 10" long by 3/4" round rod. A 2" or 3" piece of angle iron is
welded to the other end of the 3/4" rod to form a V to hold the lever
pipe in.

With the tire beads broken loose front and back, then you can use tire
tools, crowbars, BIG screwdrivers, modified leaf spring leaves, or
whatever to pull the front tire bead over the rim. Then I use a favorite
crowbar to start the back bead over the front rim. Then I use a big
rubber hammer to drive the rest of the back tire bead over the front
rim.

Remounting is generally easier than the dismounting. I use a little
soap/water to lubricate the tire bead and then use the tire tool and
crowbar to pry it over the rim. Poping the bead back on the outer edge
of the rim can take a lot of air depending upon the tire/wheel combo.
Don't reinstall the valve in the valve stem until you have the tire
popped back on.

I always remove and install the tire over the front of the wheel. The
wheel is built so that tire bead can come off easiest on this side. The
tire bead should be pressed down so that it will fit it the smaller
diameter protion of the wheel at the point opposite that you try to
start the bead over the rim.

There is a lot of technique involved in this that can vary depending
upon the tools you have to use. Email me if you want more detail.

Thomas Kiene

79 Scout II 345, 727, 4" springs, many mods in mind.
75 Scout II 304, T18, rust bucket
88 J*** XJ 4", EZ Locker, 31" BFG MTs
87 4WD Suburban (wife's car)
Other GM toys