Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Oaktree]

For the under 12in tires I have this model, Mini-Tire Changer
works well and is nice and compact.

Doesn't seem like much of a bargain, the regular model is only a couple bucks more, and seems to be more versatile. I suppose if you had a lot of stuff with tires smaller than 8" this might work out better, but even my wheelbarrow tires are 10".

Was always a Honda engine fan until I had one toss a rod through the side of the case with less than 10 hours on it and the local Honda small engine shop told me it was my fault, no warranty, so I went and got a 99 buck Pred. That was 7 years ago and it's till running fine. Gets the oil changed every fall (it's on a tiller), starts first pull, original plug, blow out the filter and call it good. No more Honda's for me.

I have only one tool with a Honda engine (a tiller), and I'm not very impressed with it either. No "problems" per se, but it's miserable to start if it's been sitting over the winter (with carb & fuel tank drained). I replaced the B&S in my log splitter with a Predator and it starts first or second pull every time, way smoother and quieter than the B&S too (granted, the B&S was probably 35 years old).

 

[Popgadget]

Thanks everyone, I picked one up today. Looks to be reasonably well made, I drilled and tapped my welding table to mount the base. That way I can remove it if it is in the way.
I’ll report back after I’ve used it on a tire.

 

[stuckmotor]

Will the full sized tire changer work on tires under 12" ?

 

[3Ts]

Thanks everyone, I picked one up today. Looks to be reasonably well made, I drilled and tapped my welding table to mount the base. That way I can remove it if it is in the way.
I値l report back after I致e used it on a tire.

I have the mini tire changer and it works well. I don't have a place to bolt it to so I put it in a vise. That works but could be better. It really needs to be bolted to a bench. I've changed several tires with it and it makes it so much easier as in I can do it with the tire changer, but would not be able to do it without the changer. I've done tires as large as the drive wheels on medium size ZTRs.

 

[5030]

Will the full sized tire changer work on tires under 12" ?

No, I have one of those as well.

 

[Frankenkubota]

How does that compare to HD 19 gauge?

Hee hee. We used to call that specmanship. I'm sure both the 19 gauge and 47 thousand are accurate but, how do they compare? By far the most confusing, to me, is liquid volume measurement

There is a science dedicated to confusing the consumer and specmanship is a big part of it.

 

[stuckmotor]

No, I have one of those as well.

5030,
Thanks.

 

[5030]

I will add that the HF manual (full size) tire machine is a winner, so long as you use plenty of bead lube (I use Dawn dishwash liquid and water, 1 part Dawn to 4 parts water). It has to be bolted to the floor, forget mounting it on a pallet, that don't work well. I also have the motorcycle tire changer that goes with it. Bad reviews on the HF website for a reason and that reason is, the upper arm needs to be welded to the vertical arm, not bolted. Once I welded mine, all was good. Changed a ton of tires on it.

 

[psvfd]

Have mine bolted to deck of trailer, to the floor would be better.

 

[flyerdan]

I've got mine welded to a bracket that slips over one of my big forks, it holds it quite solid and can be tucked away when not in use. Last use was on a 15" full size Ford wheel, works fine for my purposes.