Looking into buying a No-Mar tire changer to install in my shop. Will need a tire balancing stand, but really rather not pay $200+ for the No-Mar brand, as it would seem that a lesser quality balancing stand could still get the job done. I recently mounted some tires at a buddy's house that has a No-Mar setup with I believe their balancing stand as well. When we were balancing it, seemed the wheel was turning on it's own bearings more than the actual rod turning on the stand's bearings. This leads me to believe having the super most bestest stand bearings really isn't necessary to balance a tire well. It balanced with zero vibrations. Bikemaster makes one for $116 with the adjustable arm that allows you to check "trueness" of rim/rotor/etc for $116. Harbor Freight has the Pittsburgh branded one for $41. I've bought several Pittsburgh branded tools from there and always been fairly decent quality for the money. Anyone have any experience with these brands or can recommend other brands?
I second the HF Pittsburgh brand but I have been using tire irons and rim guards. Rigged a c-channel on the wall with a lever arm to brake the bead. Been doing that since my Z-1
When I spin balance on my no name brand the wheel spins maybe 50/50 on the wheel bearings and then the balance rod bearings. I have the No Mar changer and if I had it to do again, I'd buy a fully automatic changer...my two cents.
Me too. I had a No Mar - was great - but eventually went to something like this: http://www.tuxedodistributors.com/wheelservice/tirechangers/tc-400m-b/tc-400m-b_quick.pdf#view=FitV Not that much more but I find it much easier to use, especially if the tires are colder. Wish I had just started with it.
Ha... that’s my father in laws company... Anyone want anything off that site PM me.. I can get it at cost... As far as the balances are concerned I use a MarcParnes with 2 Jackstands...
I ended up ordering the economy No Mar model CH100HD. Labor Day sale, got it with upgrades, bead keeper tool, some valve stems, valve stem multi tool, anchor bolts, Long Acre pressure guage, for $522 shipped with discount. Ordered cheap balancing stand on ebay for $35. Got the No mar in, waiting on the stand to come in. Gotta assemble and mount the No mar in the floor of my shop now.
Love my no mar, works great for my purposes. I have the bikemaster balancer which seems to get the job done and I’ve also used the indicator it comes with to true some dirtbike wheels.
I've been doing my own tires for a couple of years now. I use the HF balancer and it has always balanced true. Think I paid $40. Between me and friends I've done like 15 sets.
I used my No Mar changer a couple weeks ago before going down to Tally, flipped my rear tire. Was super easy and the cheap $35 ebay balancing stand allowed me to balance it perfectly. Gotta flip it back around forwards now to finish wearing it out. So glad to have those pieces of equipment in my shop now. Extremely handy and will save me a ton of money.