Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[bmaverick]

Ive changed a few tires with mine also. Works but it is a manual tire changer. Requires some effort. [emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]
It needs to be anchored firmly and there are a few mods that you can buy that appears to make it much more user friendly.

I've watch 4 YT vids on it, even a H-F review person doing large truck tires.

I learned some tricks or home garage extra tools that make the chore less grunt work.

I do know the floor legs benefit from longer square tube extensions. I have 8FT of this already to cut to size it.

Will this tool work for many years or is this a toss away when done?

 

[bcp]

How easy is it to use? Will it work on a small front tractor tire (18x8.50-10)?

I only used it on 15 inch rims.

Bruce

 

[bmaverick]

How large is center hole on rim? It need to be about 2" minimum. If that is the case, it'll work. Takes some practice and sol8d anchoring. I've done a couple 15" trailer tires with mine.

About 2-1/4-ish for the metric Yanmar rims.

 

[psvfd]

I have used it for 15" tires and 12" trailer tires. Gotta be anchored solid!

 

[Runner]

Sixtyfiveford has a a good video on using this changer, also talks about some mods that make it work better.

 

[Topzide]

I made some pressure treated legs that I can bolt on and off. That really helps! Some have bolted to a pallet as well. If you can bolt down on concrete, works much better. Remember to use a bead lube, not just soda and water. The bead lube helps in getting the bead to seat.

 

[flyerdan]

A permanent mount where you can get all around it would eat up too much floor space, so I made a quick slide on base for one of my fork extensions. Doesn't take long to set up, is solid enough to use easily and tucks away in little space when not in use, which of course is most of the time.

 

[KubotainNH]

I've done a bunch of tires with mine, I've beefed up some areas that were starting to bend from use. I also added a duck bill to aid in removal of the tire, there's tons of YT vids on mods for these. I put threaded anchors in cement to mount but actually have it bolted to a thick 3x10 right now as I used it to replace some TPMS sensors. This is good enough to break the bead but wouldn't cut it for removing a tire from the rim. Small tires are generally tougher to get off a rim but if just adding a tube then all you need is to break the bead which is pretty simple with this machine. Soapy water helps.

 

[bcp]

A permanent mount where you can get all around it would eat up too much floor space, so I made a quick slide on base for one of my fork extensions. Doesn't take long to set up, is solid enough to use easily and tucks away in little space when not in use, which of course is most of the time.
View attachment 3839603View attachment 3839603

I did that with mine at first, then put in some concrete anchors. Just find them, blow them out when ready to use it.

Bruce

 

[bmaverick]

Sixtyfiveford has a a good video on using this changer, also talks about some mods that make it work better.

Thanks, that is a great find for the video. Even knowing there is a tool for balancing. I've learn more with this YT vid than many of the others.

His mods are very useful too.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have an amazon special version of THIS and it's way easier than the one you posted, I've used it and it works most of the time but the jack thing works every time to break a bead... the HFT tire spoons are fine though, they have some with round corners and ones with sharp corners depending on who they got them from, if you end up with the sharp corners round them off...

 

[LouNY]

I have an amazon special version of THIS and it's way easier than the one you posted, I've used it and it works most of the time but the jack thing works every time to break a bead... the HFT tire spoons are fine though, they have some with round corners and ones with sharp corners depending on who they got them from, if you end up with the sharp corners round them off...

I have one of that type that has been used on a lot of large tractor tires. I've never tried it on car/pickup tires or ATV sized tires.I often use my loader bucket edge on those. I had to replace the valve stems on my SxS tires not long ago and I used the bucket to break the beads on those tires. Then I used irons to dismount one side of the tire so I could reach inside and install the valve stems, I was using metal bolt in angled ones.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have one of that type that has been used on a lot of large tractor tires. I've never tried it on car/pickup tires or ATV sized tires.I often use my loader bucket edge on those. I had to replace the valve stems on my SxS tires not long ago and I used the bucket to break the beads on those tires. Then I used irons to dismount one side of the tire so I could reach inside and install the valve stems, I was using metal bolt in angled ones.

Apparently I bought it just over a year ago when I had a leak in my rear tractor tire, the bead was rusted like heck to the wheel and nothing was working... That said I used it last weekend on some tires for my Explorer with 15" wheels, my bead breaker slide hammer was just sliding off, it wasn't the nicest thing to the aluminum wheels but not really that bad, I could have been more careful... used it last night to dismount the rear tire for my riding mower, 12" wheel... That thing and 3 spoons and I can tackle any tire I have...

 

[bmaverick]

You can SCORE a huge deal right now, this price has not been seen since 2020 !!! Even better than the last Black Friday sale!

 

[California]

You can SCORE a huge deal right now, this price has not been seen since 2020 !!! Even better than the last Black Friday sale!

View attachment 3854185

That one is great and this is a great price. I've used one since they started selling it. Quality is the same as all the other brands. Maybe they're all made in the same factory.

But for some implements you will also need to add an offset hook, for clearance. See this recent post showing the difference.

Tractor Supply Cat 1 Quick Hitch cheap!

Anyone looking for a budget friendly quick hitch, check out this one i just bought from Tractor Supply.

www.tractorbynet.com

Here's one source for the offset hook. A Speeco hook might be cheaper, I didn't check that.

Imported Quick Hitch Accessories - BoltOnHooks LLC

Extended hook for the Harbor Freight and other imported Quick Hitch. KBOH. ChainBox. BoltOnHooks LLC / KBOH-USA

www.boltonhooks.com

Also note the slide-in pins for adjusting that hook. Recommended!

 

[bmaverick]

That one is great and this is a great price. I've used one since they started selling it. Quality is the same as all the other brands. Maybe they're all made in the same factory.

But for some implements you will also need to add an offset hook, for clearance. See this recent post showing the difference.

Tractor Supply Cat 1 Quick Hitch cheap!

Anyone looking for a budget friendly quick hitch, check out this one i just bought from Tractor Supply.

www.tractorbynet.com

Here's one source for the offset hook. A Speeco hook might be cheaper, I didn't check that.

Imported Quick Hitch Accessories - BoltOnHooks LLC

Extended hook for the Harbor Freight and other imported Quick Hitch. KBOH. ChainBox. BoltOnHooks LLC / KBOH-USA

www.boltonhooks.com

Also note the slide-in pins for adjusting that hook. Recommended!

Yes, the SpeedCo is about $15 cheaper with free shipping on Amazon. BoltOn costs more and you pay shipping.

BoltOn has a chain box for the HF QH, but the price is crazy high $65.
Then add the non-sealed lid for another $22.50.
The HF ammo can and two brackets will do the same thing for under $20 with a sealed lid.

 

[eray1066]

I bought a lumber rack for my Ford F-150. It works great and was 50% less than most other sources.

 

[jjeff]

Anyone have any experience with the harbor freight brand oil based uv leak detector fluid you use with the hf Braun brand uv light?

 

[jjeff]

I bought a lumber rack for my Ford F-150. It works great and was 50% less than most other sources.

Used an old used full-size pick up lumber rack to pretty extensively mod it to fit my old reg cab short box step side Tacoma. Only took it off cuz the upper bedsides we're getting rusty. They are so handy plus I could somewhat easily haul 16' boards with that tiny truck. Anyways sold truck long ago still have rack use it for storing stuff out side off the ground.

 

[KubotainNH]

Apparently I bought it just over a year ago when I had a leak in my rear tractor tire, the bead was rusted like heck to the wheel and nothing was working... That said I used it last weekend on some tires for my Explorer with 15" wheels, my bead breaker slide hammer was just sliding off...

It looks like these are cheaper on Amazon. Hmm....