Harbor Freight Mini-Tire Changer (How to Change A Tractor Tire)
In this video I'm using the Pittsburgh Mini Tire Changer 61179 from Harbor Freight to show you how it works to change tractor tires. I was able to remove and install my rear tractor tires with relative ease. If you own a garden tractor, lawnmower, zero turn, golf cart, go cart, atv 4 wheeler, handtruck, rototiller, snowblower, atv, scooter, anything with small tubeless tires; the mini tire changer is a useful tool that pays for itself in saved time and effort on the first use.
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I like your video because it's not a manufacturer or a seller "propaganda" video, with professional tire mechanics. It's good to see an everyday "real" person doing the work and having problems, just like the rest of us.
One of the most satisfying things about changing a small tire is that split second when you see the tire is filling up with air.
Yeah I’ve been working to get a tire without a tire changer, the satisfaction I get when I’m finally done 👌🏼
Thank you so much for your video! I've had one of these for a while but didn't have to use it until just recently to replace the tire on the front of my riding lawn mower and didn't have the instructions anymore so I wasn't sure how to use what parts. Thank you for the video!
yx1lm - great comment
Very helpful. Just bought the mini-tire changer today and have to change a tire on my Gravely Zero Turn. Thanks for all the tips.
Well Done Sir. Very informative. I just had 3 hr and failed attempt at replacing a rear tire on my SCAG zero turn. I conceded to exhaustion and took the tire to a local tire shop…. 5 minutes- DONE. I’m too hardheaded so I’m purchasing a Harbor Freight tire changer to be as self sufficient as I can. Thank You for your video.
Great video very welled explained without the music and all the crap that you have to see before the video Great Job Keep it up
Thank you for this video! I’ve never mounted a tire before, and needed to replace the tires on my 36-in walk behind. I picked up the mini tire changer, new tires, and with the help of your video was done in 20 minutes!
I have fixed a lot of stuff after watching youtube videos.
Nice concise, easy to follow instructions. 56 year old lady here going to attempt this on my riding mower tires. Just ordered the tire changer from HF and a couple of rear tires from WalMart... Wish me luck! 😮
Best of Luck!
You posted this 3 months ago... How did it go?
RIP
@@rso1411 LOL... not so good. That harbor freight tool is pretty cheap and bent so I ended up taking the mower tires to WalMart and they changed them for me. I jacked the mower up, got the tires off and greased everything real good and reinstalled the tires when I got home .... so I'm still pretty proud of myself. I mean at least I tried 😁
@@wickedwinnie I had the same problem. It worked great on a used tire that I remounted, but when I tried to mount a new tire it broke the tool.
Thank you! Your video was the easiest to understand the process on a tire just like mine!!
I've had this tire changer for a couple of years and it works great. I got one after a guy charged me $20 a piece to change 2 rototiller tires
Wow, the tire changer is a great investment then! Mine has paid for itself a few times over
@JD Spears This tool might be small for atv tires, you might want the car tire changer from harbor freight for the atv tires. I use the car tire changer for my tractor's rear tires, which are comparable in size to a typical atv tire
@JD Spears HF has three sizes to choose from. I have the mini changer. Love it.
Bravo Sir!! I also own one of these tire changers. I have seen a number of videos here and your video is the only one I've seen who knows how to use this machine correctly!
I agree!
Thanks for taking the time to make this. I have 1 of these contraptions & it is worth it's weight in Gold to me. I have started workin on Minibikes again because the nieces n nephews need cool stuff to play with when they come over. I've acquired a few bikes all in various states of disrepair so we are starting from the ground up I have 8 tires to dismount (11 really, if we count the Super Tryke) but everybody is getting new tires as most of these are very dry rotted & old. That, & going to sandblast the rims nice & clean., then preserve them with POR15 so the rust will take A lot longer to show up again.... then mount tires with new stems & move forward .... 1 bike at a time .... I had forgotten how to do this so I watched your video & it was quite helpful thanks again for taking the time to make it. The little ones are gonna have a blast this spring n summer.... can't wait to see the looks on their faces when we unveil the new toys 😎😇🙏
GOD BLESS YOU DIY CAR GUY... THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS, MADE MY LIFE EASIER!
Man, I could’ve use that tool a week ago changing house zero turn tire. I’m gonna definitely go look at to getting one.
Not sure if you realized it or not but when you mentioned that the one rim has a large bead for the tire to sit on, on that type of rim you Must take the tire off and on on the smaller side. If you don't it will fight you both ways.
Thanks for a great video. I'm considering buying one of these since our riding mower frequently has tire issues. The Harbor Freight owner's manual was very poor as they frequently are. Your video answered all my questions, and now I feel confident that I can make this equipment work.
I have tried to convince Harbor Freight to hire someone (like me) who can actually read and write English to re-do their instruction manuals. No dice.
The item used to level the spacers you see in different usage on other videos. Your the first guy who seems know what he is doing with HFT tire changer. Great tip you cannot set bead without air compressor, was just about to buy a foot pump !! lol.... thanks alot !
also use a ratcheting strap wrapped around the center of the tire to set the bead (squish tire).
I own one of these mini tire changers. Cuts the tire changing time drastically. The main secret is using a slippery solution for lube on the dry rubber rim area.
Thank you for sharing your video, helps my a lot to change my own small tires!
Thanks for the editorial, lots of good info. That little dove wanting to be a part of the video too. 🕊 lol
real world use of this tire machine - excellent vid - - thanks
I just bought this mini tire changer. Same tire on my mower needs replaced. Last time took me 3 days w hand tools and destroyed 2 inner tubes with crowbar. Your video = great info. I will fasten mine to a 2x2 tube and slide into my pickup receiver tube. Very rigid that way.
Make a video
Want to thank you for this video. I've been trying to seat the beat all day. Looked at many videos and came across your. With in 10 min the beat was seated and ready to do. Great info.
It's called "bead".
Especially considering the instructions it comes with are horrible
@@xaviermccloud4586 It's that autocorrection thing. The phone puts random more common words in sometimes. Sometimes I feel like turning it off.
Really good video! Not a second of wasted time. Thanks.
Yeah, that tool looks mighty handy. I never knew why this one's more expensive than the car version at Harbor Freight. I made a homemade stand on a mini telephone pole about 3 foot out the ground. I was pinching inner tubes doing them on the ground. The rim off the ground keeps the inner tube from walking up the rim near your top bead. For breaking beads, I've always used a 2×2 stick and a dead blow hammer.
This one has some aluminum pieces and is probably more tedious to manufacture. The car one is just some pipes and basic lightweight steel welded up. I have that one too...it's good for bigger tractor tires, atv tires, trailer tires, smaller car tires on steel rims
Thanks for the video. I was unaware of the Harbor Freight tool. Looks like it works better than screwdrivers.
Tks for the demo. I'll be getting one.
Great job, just what I needed to see. Thanks..👍👍👍👍
I made a mount for this that its into my receiver hitch. It sticks out far enough that the tailgate will open and the main leg is adjustable up and down. I use mine a lot and I made another cup with a rubber gasket from an irrigation pipe that drops over the main 5/8" shaft so when I tighten the top nut it clamps the wheel from both sides with rubber. Wheels do not spin in it now. I also made me a T handled wrench that fits over the top nut so i can spin it down real quick and really tighten it. It works really good now.
First use of my new unit today. Older riding mower, small front tire. Couldn't get the bead to break on the back side. Bent the threaded bar and I wasn't really pushing that hard. Had to work all the way around the rim and finally found a spot that would come loose. This action either threads the top knob much tighter, or loosens it, as you go around the rim. But I got the tire off in the end. HF discontinued this unit, so I had to go 200 miles to "the big city" to find one of the last few in stock, since HF wasn't doing online ordering for it, nor do they transfer items between stores.
Great video! Thanks for posting.
Good video. I learned the hard way about tension on the tie down strap, busted a knuckle, LOL not first time or last I'm sure...
Buying one Today. Thanks for the video.
Thank you. This really helped me out!
I’ve had one of these for 3 years now and they work fine. The big threaded rod is weak and it bent after a few uses. I bought a stronger rod and it’s good now. Dawn dish detergent in water makes a good lubricant
Well done and explained, thanks!
Looks pretty straight forward. I can remember getting 2 dollars to break down and patch a tire with a similar machine back in the seventy's
Well done.
Thanks for posting. My rider has two leaky tires which will need replaced this spring
You made that look easy .ill get one in a few weeks
Very practical 👍
Very well done video!
Nice job bro very impressed
I also have this tire changer and it works very good except that some tires can be too stiff to get on the rim with it. I changed the rear tires on my lawn tractor to some Carlisle Super Lug tires and i had to use the old method to get them on the rims. But this tire changer works good on 2 ply tires.
Nice and handy for sure !!!
Yepper ... good video. I got one, has saved from a lot of down time.
If you leave the core out of the valve stem to re-seat the bead, you can get more air into the tire faster. Then reinstall the core and set your tire pressure. Nice job on the video; I've been eyeing one of those, but I think I can probably build one from what I've got laying around that will work.
hard if it needs a schrader to fill
I grew up changing tires in a family full service gas station. We always aired up the tires and set the bead before replacing the valve core in the valve stem and setting final pressure. A larger flow of air always helped set the bead first.
Well did you build one? That would be an interesting video
@@elmo123smiley lucky guy
@@Justinlifts365 That is only to seat the bead faster... then you put the valve in to actually fill it.
Perfect.. Thank you
Great video. Thanks
I appreciate your video. I used, or rather tried to use, my HF Mini Tire changer today. I spent almost 2 hours trying to get a new front mower tire mounted; got the first bead seated, but I just could not get the other side over the rim. I don't see how the mounting tool is able to pull the bead down below the wheel rim. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the video
Thanks! Big help!
You need to get a commission from Harbor Freight. You sold me on buying one. Thanks!
I’m getting one ☝️ great video thanks. Harbor freight has it on clearance
nice work, lets see you do a 410/350/4
Helpful post.
Yep, thank you nice video
I mounted mine on the bench but it was to high. So I had to stand on a stool to get down word pressure on the tool. Also I almost ruined the inner bead because my lawnmower rim had sharp edges. So I filed a radius and emery clothed it.
You made the getting on look easy. The old scag wheel i did today was a B!!!! 3hrs fighting it
It will vary depending on the tire and rim
I have the full size tire machine from HF. The bar size does not work to remount ATV rear wheels with more square profile. I wonder if could buy or make that bar?
Awesome, thanks :)
Nice video. I use blow gun with valve out , more volume helps bead faster. Thanks
i bought one of these ans i mounted on a 12" atv rim, i have a air driven tire machine but i can only do down to a 12 in rim im curious how well this will work on smaller tires like this
Thank you.
I have one of these. I just changed zero turn tires on 5" dia rims. Breaking the beads down bent the threaded rod. Other than that it worked good. They had tubes.
I was just thinking that it might bend the rod. Was looking to see if there could be an "easier" way to break the bead instead of this way.
wow....i just spent $60 to put new tires on in a shop. Thanks for video.
If only I had one I wouldnt have spent 1 1/2 changing my tire. Definitely going to get one.
did you take the air valve out of the second tire seems to be a struggle
Sweet!
What is the diameter of the bar that is used to remove/install the tire. I want to buy a metal pipe to use as a longer type pry bar.
I bought the big one because they were out of the mini. Worked on my ATV tire fine. THEN i took my mower tire off and realized the dang centerpiece on the mower rim was too small for the big one. So i bought the mini. I have been struggling on how to mount it and never thought of using C clamps.
I also thought the c clamps were a fantastic idea. I put mine on a piece of 2x2 hitch tube and I can put it in my trailer hitch for mobile work.
You can bury a treated 8×8 in the ground end up. Use lag bolts to fasten it down. Of course, you can't change it on the road.
Thank You
Genius!
Thanks
Can you try to get off a regular size tires with the small tool?
To lube the tire bead and rim, use liquid dishwashing soap without adding water. Makes the tire bead slide over the rim like butter
Tractor/mower tires like this are notorious for leaking, even before you remove and reinstall them. The rims just do not work well for tubeless installations. I always add an innertube to prevent leaking in the future. Before installing the innertube, make sure there are no rough spots, like welding spatter, on the metal wheel hub.
Green slime added in the tubeless works better than an inner tube, which also prevents the dry rot in the tyre.
They do on my lawn tractor, i have never had tubes in my tires
HF should offer protective cap on that treaded spindle, I was worried you were going to skewer yourself on it! ;)
Dude 🤯 why didn’t I see this sooner
God damn it , you make it look so easy , I really struggle and I still have not either get one tire off or on .
You can seat a beed just using a pancake compressor and ratchet strap. I use a big strap used on large flatbed trucks to hold down big loads, just crank it down done it on the tractor so many times. Had to to mow the grass and your tractor tirs flat.
Starting fluid and a match seats that tire bead in a jiffy.
Tks
def buying this it’s a hassle to change these things
Would this work on a 6in go kart wheel
Not easy with smaller, new, stiff tires. It needs a large washer to keep the install tool from popping up. And I got a suggestion from another video that suggested using hose washers to help keep the rim from spinning, which worked beautifully! I installed new valve stems, too. If the tires are old, maybe dry rotted, most likely the valve stems are as well.
where do you put the hose washer?
Man that harbor freight tire machine look like it's going to bend if I got one I'm going to modify it thank you for the video
The "bending" appears to be the flexing form the 2 "c" clamps mounted on the same side.
Some folks will say that tool is Harbor Freight junk, I say, if it works it ain't junk.
Any tips on mounting a tire on a 4” rim? Tire size is 4.10 x 3.5 x 4. I cannot figure out how to get the 1st bead on with this tool or otherwise. I took it to a tire shop and they worked on it a while with no luck. Any help is appreciated.
I just replaced 4 tires of this exact same size for my mower. Put a little lube(I used Pam cooking oil) around the bead for the first side. You won't need any tools. Just press it onto the rim tilted and spin tire until it falls right on to rim.
In my case im attempting to change an 11” escooter tire. Im most likely only going to be able to utilize the bead break feature. The size of the mounting bar will most likely be too much for small tires where ill end up using traditional tire levers. Regardless im hoping this device proves useful or else harbor freight is giving me my $70 back.
Where can I get these tire changers?
I would like to see it used on front tires, that are about half that size
I see people struggling with the valve stem tool, use an old valve stem in the tool for a longer reach. like a screwdriver handle, just shorter.
inch worm @ :20 seconds, great vid
Zi should have watched this video today when changing my scooter tire 🤔
Nice video--very helpfull
Cool machine. As a 30 year motorcycle tech. Use Windex, not WD-40. Cheaper, zero residue. Zero rust activation. Exactly same results.
I don't think harbor freight sells this anymore, they don't sell half the good stuff they used to sell. Great video by the way.
seems like it's on sale right now, which makes things disappear from their shelves.....I had to visit 8 harbor freights across my entire state (during my travels) in order to find a specific fan that I wanted
They still sell it. Currently they are clearing out the red model and are selling a new black version. I've owned one for years, although I modified mine to work with go cart and mini bike tires. I also use tire spoons instead of the tool that came with it. I mostly use it for the bead breaking
Does the metal on the tire changer scratch the wheels? I have nice wheels on my UTV and don’t want to scratch them
Nathan Mills Do all the removal and replacement from the back side of the wheel and you will be fine.
I used it on my atv and yes it scratched the surface of the aluminum rim. Dam! I also had to use a weight because the inside of the rim was bending. My atv doesn't have a sold rim like the one on the video. Has a wider hole in the middle of the rim. Honda 250 ex. Would be nice if they had an adapter for those rims.
Does this also work on the front tire of a zero turn mower. The smaller 11x4.10?
It should
Nice Porsche 944 Turbo in background
after you seat the bead, let the air back out and remove straps then air back up
why didn't i think of that 🤯