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homemade bead breaker homemade bead breaker
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 27 May 2008
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Red face homemade bead breaker
anyone made their own bead breaker?
i'm thinking of making my own bead breaker out of a g-cramp. on the fixed end i'm thinking of welding a small channel on to it (as wide as the round bit) and covering with rubber for gripping onto the rim. the other bit that screw's in- i was thinking of welding the end of an old tyre lever on to it to tuck nicely into the lip of the tyre. instead of the old t-bar end i was then thinking of welding a nut on so as to have more force when tightening.
so my theory is to pass the cramp through the spoke's and placing rim into the channel and then pushing the tyre lever bit in between the outer rim and tyre. then tighten up with spanner and hopefully break the bead!
i know there are the method's of breaking the bead with side stand and alike but i'm thinking of making my life easier and as we all know sometimes there are bead's which are a t**t to break! i've seen the tyre pliers etc but thought i'd make my own.
has anyone made their own? and would like to share design/photo of said object or any ideas of a simpler one?
sorry if my desciption of idea is'nt very clear but i'm a lover not a writer!
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  #2  
Old 27 May 2008
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I need glasses! I thought this thread was Homemade Bread Baker Ha ha.

I should have gone to Specsavers!
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  #3  
Old 27 May 2008
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I'm told just a small G clamp the width of the rim will suffice simply used on the spoke side of the wheel.
Nothing else needed but I must be honest and say I haven't tried it myself as yet.
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Old 27 May 2008
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KH750...

I had thought of doing something similar myself. Now running tubed means this is not necesary, but I think Hustler is right. They are a bastid to break partly because a flat tyre is so flexible, but I think just a simple G-clamp would work with out the welding bits. Or you could use a couple of bits of wood 10mm thick to spread the clap affect (depending how wide your tyre is.

If in doubt, get the clamp and try it on a loose wheel, then take it to a tyre shop or pertrol forecourt to re-inflate... S'wot I recons...
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Old 27 May 2008
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A standard G clamp is perfectly usable.
I've been using them for 15 years. A 6inch clamp is ok for a bmw 1150gs.

Up through the spokes ( not down over the tyre) the fixed edge against the rim ( a cloth or packing under it to stop any scratches) and the moving part against the tyre.
The benefit of carrying a G clamp rather than a special bead breaking tool is the g clamp can be used for other purposes
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Old 27 May 2008
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MMMmm
thanks for the replies.
my bike is in bits at the moment being prepared for a trip to iceland in 6 wks and i'll be fitting new tyres on the weekend so i'll first try the g-cramp in standard form and see how i get on.(thanks steptoe) if it dont work for me i'll add my invented bits and see how i go. will let you know how i get on.
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Old 28 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinhancock750 View Post
thanks for the replies.
my bike is in bits at the moment being prepared for a trip to iceland in 6 wks and i'll be fitting new tyres on the weekend so i'll first try the g-cramp in standard form and see how i get on.(thanks steptoe) if it dont work for me i'll add my invented bits and see how i go. will let you know how i get on.
Hi Kev

I made one from some square tubing. Hard to describe but very simple. I attach this pole/sq. bar to the steel vertical support in my garage.....no....this is no good!

Imagine a pump handle about a metre long, with a smaller bit attached.....;no cant do it!
Words fail me;.....

It's like what dlbiten says below.....
Last edited by Caminando; 28 May 2008 at 10:42.
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Old 28 May 2008
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On the road my side stand works. Put the bike up on the center stand or prop it up lay the flat down, drop side stand pull the bike so stand press down on the fat and pop.

At home a T made with 2x4 in. wood. One long 2x4 one short 2x4. With the short one used as the bead breaker. The long one as the lever cram one of the long sides under a car or big rock or any thing push down on the other end and pop.

But have a G (think they call it a C clamp in the USA) works well little more fiddiling with the clamp.
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Old 28 May 2008
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This video of Tyre Changing also shows in detail a simple yet effective home made bead breaker.
Tutorial on changing sportbike motorcycle tires
This is for your workshop/garden, rather than taking with you!

There was a thread here about 6 months ago discussing various 'portable' bead breakers you could carry with you on your journey.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-breaker-31377

All good stuff.
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Old 28 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor View Post
I need glasses! I thought this thread was Homemade Bread Baker Ha ha.

I should have gone to Specsavers!
Ha! me too, and I did Perhaps I am getting lysdexic ?
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  #11  
Old 8 Jun 2008
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At home:






On the trail, use the sidestand or tyre levers.

Used a mini 12v compressor last week in the Pyrenees to reseat both tubed & tubeless tyres after punctures & tyre swaps.
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Old 26 Jun 2008
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g-cramp
changed my treads and all went well. a mate of mine who works at ATS recomended spraying a lubricant around the beading before deflating the tyre and as it deflates it sucks the lubricant into the beading. i done this then walked over the tyre, after i inserted a tyre lever in with the handle of a screwdriver on the tyre wall to give more leverage. inserted a little more lubricant and off she popped after a little levering here and there but was'nt difficult.
the front tyre then i tried using the standard g-cramp and it just flew off no probs. both tyres were puncture free 4000km old karoo's.
so from now on i'll be carrying a stress free g-cramp and lubricant which i carry anyhow. thanks for your replies people..
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Old 28 Jun 2008
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Great tip DLbiten, so simple just using the side stand even if you have no centre stand this would work great. They do say you learn something every day.
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Old 28 Jun 2008
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Oops!
I must be drunk...I thought someone said " homemade bread maker" - wrong forum.....good night!
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  #15  
Old 6 Jul 2008
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Bead Breaker
Excellent tutorial video in the links above but two questions from a novice:confused1::

1) What type of lubricantr is recoomended for this job; and
2) How do you know whether your tyre is tubed or not (Honda Transalp)?

Cheers

J
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