I've changed a lot of car/truck tires with the HF changer. It takes a bit of practice but once you're used to it you can change them pretty quick.
I don't have the Nomar but did make my own low $$$ tire changing fixture and having the wheel firmly secured and at waist level makes all the difference, tire changes are much easier. A bead breaker like their attachment is a great help too, especially on big stiff tubeless radials, also made my own from scrap. Those tools along with real tire mounting lube (Ruglyde) and some zip ties (learned to use them in another thread here) have made the whole process relatively easy and eliminated pinched tubes completely. Anyway, IMHO if you change tires fairly often it is well worth buying or building some tools for the job (and much easier on your back too ;-)
I've mounted nine car tires with mine. Mounting is the cheap part at the tire shop, though--balancing is the expensive part that I can't do at home.
I'm thinking along the same lines as you, making my own. I'm curious how you secure the rim to keep it from moving? The idea I have is similar to yours but I was gong to put slots in the base board and run two tie down straps around the spokes through the slots in the base to keep the wheel from twisting on me. As far as breaking the bead I've found that leaving the wheel on the bike and breaking the bead with a c-clamp has worked pretty good. Your fab jobs look great I also use a mixture or liquid body soap and mineral oil for a tire lube.
While searching for alternatives, I found this thread. Has anyone tried this tire changer? At a quick glance it seems like it has everything you need. I wonder if anyone on here has tried it, I hate to be the first guinea pig. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tire-Change..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item2a2e2be125&vxp=mtr
Tire changes are easy. <IFRAME height=315 src="//www.youtube.com/embed/D06s1MIUnYo" frameBorder=0 width=420 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>
I thought that at first too, but I think that is the rim width limitations. I could be wrong as the ad isn't clear. Message the seller. Since it advertises for motorcycles, and almost no motorcycles have under a 17" wheel, I am hopefull. Otherwise it looks like an OK unit for the price. Jim
I arrived at the same conclusion - judging by the measurements on the pictures, 16.5 looks to ne realistic.
the sliding arms don't look like they move all the way out. In fact, the pin needs to be on the outside of the arm to prevent it from moving outwards. Estimating length of the square tube on the base of the arm, effective max distance from the center would be about 8'', not 11'', making diameter around 16.
I had a No Mar, but changing the rear tire became too difficult, sold it and bought this, very heavy duty and works like a charm. same as the Greg Smith but a different color. .
Just ended up building my own tire changer using the instructions for the no-skuff tool. http://no-scufftiretool.com/Tiresetup.html Works pretty good. Changed the BMW tires over the weekend, and everything went very well. Kinda bumbed that the front tire of my WR250R will not fit over the 3/4" threaded rod, but that tire was never much of an issue and rear still works. Yeah, i know, I should have pictures, but I don't. Mine looks like his in the link above.
+1 on the No-scuff. I use mine with a Moose tire stand which I've got bolted to a 2 ft square piece of plywood, which in turn gets bolted to the floor with anchor bolts when I need to use it. I still need to build a bead breaker, but the No-scuff is the real deal.
Nooooo! As a fellow Newnan-ite, I've been looking for one for far longer. Did you list it on AccessCoweta instead of Craigslist or something? Tell me who you sold it to so I can track them down and-er... make them sell it to me!
SOLD SOLD SOLD If anyone is looking for a Harbor Freight tire changing machine, I've got one with several useful modifications for sale right now. I'm in Lenexa, KS and local pick up would be best. I do have plans to head south to Texas probably in the next couple of weeks, so I could deliver it somewhere along I-35. PM me if interested. http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22498266&postcount=3317