The Ford Barn

pgerhardt · 08-29-2015, 06:02 PM

I was using original tire "spoons" with duct tape to change tires without damaging the wheels. They worked, but without much leverage they required a lot of effort!

While at Harbor Freight I noticed they had these great big tire irons! On the way out I picked up a can of "Plastic Dip" used to apply soft handles to tools. Now I have all kinds of leverage and don't have to use duct tape!

Jwilli · 08-29-2015, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

I was using original tire "spoons" with duct tape to change tires without damaging the wheels. They worked, but without much leverage they required a lot of effort!

While at Harbor Freight I noticed they had these great big tire irons! On the way out I picked up a can of "Plastic Dip" used to apply soft handles to tools. Now I have all kinds of leverage and don't have to use duct tape!

Wish I had thought of that. Good idea.

Sparky · 08-29-2015, 06:27 PM

Great tip, thanks!

JAKEFORD · 08-29-2015, 07:00 PM

I used mine on a truck tire and noticed they bent. I don't know if I got a defective one or they are all made of soft steel?

Does anyone know?

ronn · 08-29-2015, 07:26 PM

I have the "old" style from HF and absolutely love them!

SeaSlugs · 08-29-2015, 11:33 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JAKEFORD

I used mine on a truck tire and noticed they bent. I don't know if I got a defective one or they are all made of soft steel?

Does anyone know?

i bowed one of mine but was using it in a way it wasnt designed... that and the tire i was playing with was particularly old and not as flexable.

but for the price they work well enough.

Flathead · 08-29-2015, 11:53 PM

I bought a pair of them and they worked slick on my tire mounting.

KenCoupe · 08-30-2015, 12:01 AM

I bought the Harbor Freight ones and they worked better than the spoon type I had. As mentioned, much better leverage. The plastic dip is a great idea. I was using duct tape, but it would have to be changed often.

WestCoast · 08-30-2015, 12:01 AM

I bought 3 of them, I do a lot of tire changing in the shop, mine will flex but I have never had one bend

Mike V. Florida · 08-30-2015, 12:48 AM

Yes, great tip!

http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch...ron-93230.html

BILL WILLIAMSON · 08-30-2015, 10:07 AM

ALWAYS buy the BIG ONES, they're mostly used for WEAPONS!!!! Chief called them, "EQUALIZERS"---Us OOOOOLD men are DANGEROUS!!
Bill Weapon

Chuck Sea/Tac · 08-30-2015, 06:29 PM

I use motor cycle irons

bobpo1 · 08-30-2015, 06:35 PM

I replaced all 6 of my tires and used a plastic garbage for lubricant along with an old tire iron. Only way to go. I laid the garbage bag over the rim and then placed the tire on top of the rim and worked the tire onto the rim then removed the bag....

C26Pinelake · 08-30-2015, 06:45 PM

Who said everything from HF is junk ? Obviously they didn't see these! Great find. Wayne

Chuck Sea/Tac · 08-30-2015, 07:48 PM

That's a slick way

aermotor · 08-31-2015, 06:33 AM

With bobpol1's method and a little baby powder or talc a tire iron isn't even necessary.

Fullraceflathead · 08-31-2015, 10:41 AM

Baby Powder or Talc is used to help keep the inner tube from sticking to the tire insides.

Rich in Tucson · 08-31-2015, 07:49 PM

They can be useful for cylinder head removal also.

hardtimes · 09-01-2015, 02:51 PM

Great idea, that liquid rubber spray and/or dip product. And, it comes in differing colors !
I've use that for years, for all types of jobs and tool coverings...great stuff, indeed !!
It also does a great job of sealing around the inside spoke ends of wheels. I put layers on and let each dry for thickness. I put it on the ends of various sizes of flat screw drivers for removing hub caps , etc...without scratching expensive paint/chrome,etc .

katy · 09-01-2015, 09:30 PM

I was taught "way back when" to use old spring leaves for tire irons. Still do.

08-29-2015, 06:27 PM	#3
Sparky Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 649	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons Great tip, thanks!

08-29-2015, 07:00 PM	#4
JAKEFORD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 154	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I used mine on a truck tire and noticed they bent. I don't know if I got a defective one or they are all made of soft steel? Does anyone know?

08-29-2015, 07:26 PM	#5
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,784	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I have the "old" style from HF and absolutely love them!

08-29-2015, 11:53 PM	#7
Flathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 1,497	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I bought a pair of them and they worked slick on my tire mounting.

08-30-2015, 12:01 AM	#8
KenCoupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 239	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I bought the Harbor Freight ones and they worked better than the spoon type I had. As mentioned, much better leverage. The plastic dip is a great idea. I was using duct tape, but it would have to be changed often.

08-30-2015, 12:01 AM	#9
WestCoast Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: oroville calif Posts: 893	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I bought 3 of them, I do a lot of tire changing in the shop, mine will flex but I have never had one bend

08-30-2015, 12:48 AM	#10
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons Yes, great tip! http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch...ron-93230.html __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-30-2015, 10:07 AM	#11
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons ALWAYS buy the BIG ONES, they're mostly used for WEAPONS!!!! Chief called them, "EQUALIZERS"---Us OOOOOLD men are DANGEROUS!! Bill Weapon __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

08-30-2015, 06:29 PM	#12
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I use motor cycle irons

08-30-2015, 06:35 PM	#13
bobpo1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 301	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I replaced all 6 of my tires and used a plastic garbage for lubricant along with an old tire iron. Only way to go. I laid the garbage bag over the rim and then placed the tire on top of the rim and worked the tire onto the rim then removed the bag....

08-30-2015, 06:45 PM	#14
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons Who said everything from HF is junk ? Obviously they didn't see these! Great find. Wayne

08-30-2015, 07:48 PM	#15
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons That's a slick way

08-31-2015, 06:33 AM	#16
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons With bobpol1's method and a little baby powder or talc a tire iron isn't even necessary.

08-31-2015, 10:41 AM	#17
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons Baby Powder or Talc is used to help keep the inner tube from sticking to the tire insides. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

08-31-2015, 07:49 PM	#18
Rich in Tucson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 374	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons They can be useful for cylinder head removal also.

09-01-2015, 02:51 PM	#19
hardtimes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South California Posts: 6,188	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons Great idea, that liquid rubber spray and/or dip product. And, it comes in differing colors ! I've use that for years, for all types of jobs and tool coverings...great stuff, indeed !! It also does a great job of sealing around the inside spoke ends of wheels. I put layers on and let each dry for thickness. I put it on the ends of various sizes of flat screw drivers for removing hub caps , etc...without scratching expensive paint/chrome,etc . Last edited by hardtimes; 09-01-2015 at 02:52 PM. Reason: .......

09-01-2015, 09:30 PM	#20
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: Harbor Freight tire irons I was taught "way back when" to use old spring leaves for tire irons. Still do. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!