I also have the HF changer with motorcycle adapter and have changed around 20 or more tires with it since last August. I've even changed a few tires for friends.

I use the stock setup with three motoboss tire irons (spoons) and two rim savers. I also use electrical tape on the bar to prevent scratching it when takign the tires off. The only problem I seem to have is with the last bead. I can get it to about the last 8"-14" of bead and then I have to remove the HF bar and use the tire irons to finish mounting the second tire bead. I think most of this is due to not having the unit secured. Also, my wife helps me with stabilizing the unit and pushing the bead down for more clearance. For tire lube, I use either liquid dishwashing detergent or shampoo. If I would have know I was going to be changing this many tires and as often, I would have probably bought the No-Mar. Maybe next year I'll "upgrade".

Quote from: dlearl476 on August 04, 2008, 10:58:45 AM
Nice write-up, bigtime.  I have the same set-up as everyone else, I just added a set of Mojo blocks and a Mojo Lever to my tire change complement:


http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/Mojolever_Instructions.pdf

Scratched rims are a thing of the past.

That's the Mojo!  How durable is that thing? 

QuoteI use the stock setup with three motoboss tire irons (spoons) and two rim savers. I also use electrical tape on the bar to prevent scratching it when takign the tires off. The only problem I seem to have is with the last bead. I can get it to about the last 8"-14" of bead and then I have to remove the HF bar and use the tire irons to finish mounting the second tire bead.

Desmo Demon,
Next time you change a tire and you're working that last section on the top of the tire, take your time and work the top and botton of the tire a little more.  Everytime it starts to get tight work the tire towards the center of the rim.  Get your fingers in there and feel where the tire is sitting on the rim, wiggle, wack with a dead blow hammer.  Even back off a little and then back on, working it an inch at time. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to pull the extra slack, you just need pay attention to what the tire is doing all the way around the rim...top/bottom...   You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get that last 12" to flip right over.   

+1 on the No Mar. I've had the "classic" model for a year or so. Mounted 20 plus moto tires and done some car/truck tires. Paid for itself already plus I don't have to drive an hour to and from the shop, sit and wait etc. Changed a front on a Sportster last weekend, took less than a hour start to finish. The key to mounting like said before is to keep the bead of the tire in the relief of the wheel and to use plenty of lube. When it gets tight, back up the bar add some lube. No mar has videos on their website showing some techniques and how to use the machine. It is expensive, it does work as advertised once you get the hang off it.

Quote from: bigtime on August 05, 2008, 04:44:34 PM
Even back off a little and then back on, working it an inch at time. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to pull the extra slack, you just need pay attention to what the tire is doing all the way around the rim...top/bottom...   You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get that last 12" to flip right over.   

I always make sure that the bead on the opposite side that I'm working on is in the middle of the rim (the smallest diameter section of the rim) to get enough slack, but I think the largest issue we have is that the changer is not secured and we use it on the living room carpet. The whole unit starts to turn with two of us trying to hold it in place and me trying to use the bar. That last small section of the bead usually takes about 10-30 seconds to pop over the lip of the rim with tire irons. I have had one tire go on completely with the HF bar without any problems, but I want to say it was one that I had patched and had a very small amount of tread left, so the tire was really flexible.

Quote from: bigtime on August 05, 2008, 04:44:34 PM
That's the Mojo!  How durable is that thing? 
   

I'll let you know when I get to use it.  I have a set of Alpina Asystem wires waiting for their Michelins sitting in the garage, I'm just waiting to get the front adapted before I mount them.
I did buy them based on recommendations from friends who swear by them and do enough tires to now if they're bunk or not.

Quote
   You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get that last 12" to flip right over.

+1

My trick is to use an 11" MotionPro iron velcro-ed to the upright of the HF changer.  From there I use two Heyco irons that came in my 1972 BMW tool kit and work around the rim.  Usually the last 12" goes in one pop, once you reach critical mass.   

Quote from: Desmo Demon on August 06, 2008, 04:18:50 AM
I think the largest issue we have is that the changer is not secured and we use it on the living room carpet. The whole unit starts to turn with two of us trying to hold it in place and me trying to use the bar.

Do what did.  Cut a piece of 3/4" ply and drill holes the proper distance in it for the HF stand feet.  Put in some T-Nuts and get bolts to match.  Bolt the stand to the wood base when you're doing a tire, take it apart and it all stores flat when you're not.  You'd be surprised how much more secure the stand is if you're standing on the base.  I'm sorry it's burried in the garage and I'm a bit incapacitated right now, or I'd take a pic.  I found after a couple of tries, if I always start at a certain point, I can get max leverage on the long side of the base and tires pretty much fly on and off now, after about 10 sets.

Quote from: dlearl476 on August 06, 2008, 12:47:23 PM
Cut a piece of 3/4" ply and drill holes the proper distance in it for the HF stand feet.  Put in some T-Nuts and get bolts to match.  Bolt the stand to the wood base when you're doing a tire, take it apart and it all stores flat when you're not.  You'd be surprised how much more secure the stand is if you're standing on the base. 

My local Lowe's has 4'x4' sections of 3/4" plywood that are perfect for the base. I thought the price was a little high (something like $25-$30) and I was being cheap.  My 2"x6" planks work great, but if I didn't have the plank sitting around I'd have gone the plywood route.  It's really easy to break down and store. 

Quote from: bigtime on August 06, 2008, 01:08:17 PM
My local Lowe's has 4'x4' sections of 3/4" plywood that are perfect for the base. I thought the price was a little high (something like $25-$30) and I was being cheap. 

You're right, for that price, you could almost buy a full sheet AND a skill saw.   

Quote from: dlearl476 on August 06, 2008, 12:47:23 PM
Do what did.  Cut a piece of 3/4" ply and drill holes the proper distance in it for the HF stand feet.  Put in some T-Nuts and get bolts to match.  Bolt the stand to the wood base when you're doing a tire, take it apart and it all stores flat when you're not. 

I have thought about something like that, or just a couple of 2x4 boards to go through the legs. I just haven't done it, yet.....and it would be something else to try to keep up with. You would absolutely HATE to see the lower 1/3 of my house.....I don't have a garage, so all eight bikes and enough parts to build another are shoved into the house.

Quote from: Desmo Demon on August 07, 2008, 09:02:36 AM
I have thought about something like that, or just a couple of 2x4 boards to go through the legs. I just haven't done it, yet.....and it would be something else to try to keep up with.

One of the pluses of my set-up is that you can actually stand on the platform which, IMO, is nearly as stable as having the stand Hilti-ed to the floor.  A couple of longer planks would make it more stable, but with the platform, even putting a foot on allows for incredible working leverage.  Then agan, the more I do it, the less "incredible leverage" the job really seems to require.   

QuoteYou would absolutely HATE to see the lower 1/3 of my house.....I don't have a garage, so all eight bikes and enough parts to build another are shoved into the house.

Tell me about it, I have one of these "in process" on a coffee table in my living room.  My GF doesn't seem to understand that working on it is the same as reading a book or watching TV, so why not in the comfort of my living room?   

Quote from: dlearl476 on August 07, 2008, 02:10:36 PM
Tell me about it, I have one of these "in process" on a coffee table in my living room. 

This *used* to be my living room (you can see the stack of spare tires in the background)...


This is the room I remodeled into my "Bike Room"...