Breaking a bead with the Hi-Lift?

[ntsqd]

I've posted this before, so I'll post it again. Simple welding project that results in a smaller package to tote around than most of the tire pliers.

What it looks like:

How it works:

If you make the Hi-Lift handle removable you can then use it for the lever bar. This one is left over from my glass buggy. For a new I would make a plate that the lug nut can capture and attach it to the end of the chain. It is much, much easier to break the bead with the rim mounted on the vehicle, and that is why the breaker bar shown is set up at such an angle - to clear fenders etc.

 

[Ronct110]

This special tool is not too expensive $59.95 - beat buster offered by Extreme Outback. The company is local to me in the SF Bay Area so I was able to met the owner and get a good price (less then retail) and pick it up in person.

Used it/came in handy during our recent Land Rover Club trip to the Dusy Ershim last month and it works w/your Hi-lift Jack: http://www.extremeoutback.com/product/16/Extreme+Outback+Beadbuster.html

]

 

[The Adam Blaster]

This is a marketable product man, take the pics down and start selling these things.

I've posted this before, so I'll post it again. Simple welding project that results in a smaller package to tote around than most of the tire pliers.

What it looks like:

How it works:

If you make the Hi-Lift handle removable you can then use it for the lever bar. This one is left over from my glass buggy. For a new I would make a plate that the lug nut can capture and attach it to the end of the chain. It is much, much easier to break the bead with the rim mounted on the vehicle, and that is why the breaker bar shown is set up at such an angle - to clear fenders etc.

 

[jesusgatos]

Simple welding project that results in a smaller package to tote around than most of the tire pliers.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

Whatever method you use to seat the bead, you should really stand at least a few feet back from the tire. Guys are hurt - seriously hurt...

I just had these new tires mounted at Les Schwab, and I've mounted a few of them myself. I didn't have a tire cage, so I wrapped a long length of chain around the tire and through the rim. Just another way to make inflating tires a little bit safer.

 

[RHINO]

This is a marketable product man, take the pics down and start selling these things.

you would be surprised, they used to be available commercially, along with other things like a jack you didnt actually jack up to lift a tire,,, but they are all gone now most likely due to low sales. as pointed out you can buy a bead breaker for your hi-lift,, i havent met anybody with one.

 

[ntsqd]

This is a marketable product man, take the pics down and start selling these things.

Not my idea, and unless I can make them from Stainless Steel investment castings there is too much time involved in making them.

The Hi-Lift foot idea works great with a second vehicle and a second jack. What if you're the only vehicle and only have one jack? Put he spar eon, but then what? The only time that I ever broke a bead loose was due to a sidewall rip. We put a tube in it. If that is going to be the case, why even take the wheel off of the vehicle?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I remember NTSQD's cool tool now. That was a while back.

But, for the number of times I have to do this (not very often), I'd prefer to try and figure out how to do it without any special tools to carry around. My tool bag already weighs 30lbs, is incomplete, and doesn't even have any special tools in it yet.

I'll try and get the foot closer to the bead.

Wow, I never even heard of a tire cage before or knew that inflating a tire could be dangerous.

 

[I Leak Oil]

Most normal tire shops don't have nor really need a cage. You typically see them in shops that do commercial tires, especially the old split rims or two piec rims. THOSE are dangerous!

 

[jesusgatos]

Yeah, tire cages are mostly for big truck tires (any/all big truck tires, not just split rims), but plenty of people have been injured/killed inflating small truck and passenger tires too.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

If I was seating a bead in my driveway or garage, I'd be standing at least 10 feet away.
But the chances of me doing that are pretty slim, I'd rather pay someone else to take the risk and have all the correct equipment etc.

 

[jesusgatos]

Yeah, exactly. Seating the bead is the most dangerous part. Rims explode (especially cast aluminum ones), sidewalls blow-out, etc. I always just put a locking chuck on them and stand waaaay back. Mounting/inflating 43" military surplus tires on 2-piece wheels for Mah Deuce was like lighting off a bomb. I didn't want to be anywhere near those things.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

How do I inflate a bead from 10 feet away?

 

[RU55ELL]

How do I inflate a bead from 10 feet away?

That was my question.

 

[jesusgatos]

With a clip-on chuck. The ones that Powertank sells are really nice, but you can buy cheap ones at any auto parts store.

 

[BigAl]

I have used starter fluid many times. Over labor day weekend, we were riding ATVs and came across a guy who rolled a 40' mud tire off the bead. He had winched himself out of a deep mud hole but did not have a spare tire??? We helped him take the tire off the jeep. We layed it flat and cleaned mud off the bead. There was propably a gallon of water in the tire that we could not get out. Nobody had any starter fluid so I got ~4 ounces of gasoline out of the ATV. I took the valve stem outof the tire, trickled all the gas around the bead and let it set long enough to light a balled up paper towel. I threw the towel at the the bead and whoomph, all done. I wasn't sure about the gas vs. starter fluid but it worked the same. Anyway, the owner was very happy and all the Budlight drinkers were duly impressed