tire levers/spoons

Paul Modern

New User
Hey, Anyone do their own mounting/dismounting of tires using handtools? I've done plenty of bicycle tires but no vehicle/tractior/implements. Any suggestions?

I know they come in different configurations snd lengths. When does one use one or the other?
thanks,
paul
 
We just had a big discussion on them a few weeks ago . Search the site for Ken Tool that should bring it up ..
 
Keep the bead at the lowesr point in the rim to get the most slack. When I put them on I don't use the irons I use tire mounting lube [ a little slipperier under pressure than dish soap - but dish soap is fine]. I lay the tire on a 2x4 frame and walk it on with sneakers hammering with large Ken -Tools hammer made for such use [ the hard rubber side]. I have never pinched a tube except back whe I used Irons to remount. J C Whitney sells bead breakers at reasonable cost. Bead must be at lowest point which is in the center of rim or you are fighting yourself. Once in awhile one will pop on with no hammering if you watch the bead location to be in center. Bicycles I can do by hand without tools. { althopugh I just blew one out because I forgot the rim strip on a 144 spoke lowrider bike wheel that must have hit a sharp spoke nipple]. Not bragging just did alot of tires . Started in motorcycle shop with no tire machine and learned it there. Different size irons for different size tires.
 
I change all of my own tires myself, including tractor rears.

I use two tire irons (spoons) one straight and one curved. I prefer the straight one.

If you plan to dismount any tires that have been mounted for years you will also need a slide hammer. I find mine to be my most useful tire tool.

I use rim grease on the beads to facilitate mounting and, more importantly, to retard rim rust at the rim/tire interface making future dismounting much easier.

Dean
 
Thanks Dean- I guess longer levers for bigger tires? Any recs for use on my 8N with 10X28 rears? and 3.5X8 on my tedder?
Thanks
 
I change the 28" tractor rears on all of my vintage Fords using the tools that I have.

In general, excepting heavy industrial tires, larger tires are easier to change than smaller ones. I still take small lawn mower tires to the tire shop.

Dean
 
Unless you're getting into forestry or other heavy ply industrial tires.... a couple of 36" double ended tubeless tire bars and a duck bill hammer are sufficient.

Rod
 
<a href="http://rodnh.byethost12.com/oliver/rear%20tire.htm">Here's</a> how I used manual tire irons to change a rear tire on my Oliver 77. The tire is 6 ply, 16.9x26. The irons (spoons) I used are one 30" curved and one 24" straight. They're from the 1940's that Dad had and used. I've used the same irons on the 10x24 rears on my AC-B, as well as the fronts and a numbers of other tires. It really isn't that hard to do with typical antique farm tractor tires. The hardest part can be breaking down the beads that may not have been broken in many years.
 
Hello Paul Modern,

I'll take a look in the garage in the morning a post back. I mounted 20 and 22 in tires with a couple of spoons and a duck bill hammer. Some lubrication on the bead sure helped a lot.

Guido.
 
I change all my own tires. I just use a tire wedge and a big hammer to break the beads. I use one 24 in spoon iron and one 14in flat iron.

I just changed the tires on my jeep today, winter tires to summer tires. Took me 1 hour to change all 4 tires and computer balance them.

The money I saved by buying my tires and doing the mounting paid for the computer balancer.
 
If your tight on money two or three big screwdrivers will work. Still works for me at 75 anyways. I do have a coupla tire irons but seldom use more than one just to get the bead over the rim to start with. To thick and hard to get between the tire bead and rim for me. I walk the bead off both ways from the long tire iron or the third screwdriver with the other two screwdrivers in small bites. I don't do my own truck and car tires anymore though. For me one is enough for a month or two. Then the weather has to be just right. :)^D
 
Hello Paul Modern

Here is my collection. Second one from the left is a Kent More, two of them and a straight spoon would be all you need.
Nubs on the spoon side work great for flipping the second bead out of the rim.

Guido.
a113194.jpg
 
Guido, thanks for the pic. How long is that short one? (for some scale reference.) Everyone else thanks for all the replies. New ones are pricey. I'll be looking around for used ones.
Paul
 

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