How to break a tire bead?

frankenyoter

frankenyoter

No Rain, No Rainbow
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Location
DARK CITY
Now that I have reverse mount rims with rim stiffeners I am still getting crap in the bead and loosing air. Currently have 3 flats!

Is there a good way break the bead to clean out the mud and sticks at home? I have no special tire tool other than a few spoons. It would be even better to be able to do it on the vehicle, but I doubt that is possible.

I don't want to be on a weekend trip and need to clean the bead and not be able to!
 
I have broken beads using loader buckets, and driving up on the tire with another vehicle. There are attachments for hi-lift jacks to bust beads, or just put the base of the jack on the tire and jack on a vehicle, though sometimes it will lift the vehicle rather than breaking the bead.
 
+1 on a highlift and a vehicle, just did this on a buddy's 38s. Used a larger board underneath the base to keep the hard edges of the jack from digging in the tire. Did some beating with a hammer on one or two to get it to let go.

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I have the same problem with the tires/rims on my Samurai. I have to clean them out fairly often.

Mount this on the front of your trailer.

It has a bead breaker function. Mount the rim/tire on the changer after breaking the bead. Then take one of your vehicle tie downs, and run it from one side of the trailer to the other going over the tire close up to the rim. Tighten the tie down to pull the tire away from the rim. Clean rim, release tie down, reinflate, reinstall on rig. Does that make sense? It is the best and easiest way that I have found to clean the crap out.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-tire-changer-69686.html

awww.harborfreight.com_media_catalog_product_cache_1_image_9df691f995b59eb2b7755fbb1c76e475c36.jpg
 
Back in the day a bumper jack worked well so now a high lift jack. Have heard of driving over tire laying flat with another vehicle.
 
I broke down 4 beadlocks today in under an hour. Place tire and wheel face side down on the ground. Put cherry picker legs on sidewall of tire with wheel as close to legs as possible. I use a treesaver through the wheel and hook to hoist. Raise hoist until bead is broken.
 
Lay the tire flat and of course take the valve core out then lay a 4' piece of 2x6 with one end close to bead and other end on ground. Drive up on the 2x6 , sometimes it needs to sit for a minute before it breaks the seal. Get the board as close to the steel part of the rim as possible. This is my at home method usually works on most. Good Luck!
 
drkelly said:
I have the same problem with the tires/rims on my Samurai. I have to clean them out fairly often.

Mount this on the front of your trailer.

It has a bead breaker function. Mount the rim/tire on the changer after breaking the bead. Then take one of your vehicle tie downs, and run it from one side of the trailer to the other going over the tire close up to the rim. Tighten the tie down to pull the tire away from the rim. Clean rim, release tie down, reinflate, reinstall on rig. Does that make sense? It is the best and easiest way that I have found to clean the crap out.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-tire-changer-69686.html

awww.harborfreight.com_media_catalog_product_cache_1_image_9df691f995b59eb2b7755fbb1c76e475c36.jpg
Click to expand...

That's the changer, a friend gave me. He had lost the base & pipe, for the breaker. Anyway, I wondering, How do you hold the changer, & balance it? When I set mine up, I bolt it to a 4x6 sheet of plywood, topped with a 4x4 1/8" aluminum sheet. That gives me something to stand on, & keeps it from toppling over. I made a handle for the breaker, but use it on the top side. I've still bent my handle, breaking some mean ones! Old service station experience, taught me, I can pull/push, down, more than I can lift, + you still have to flip the wheel over, if your changing the tire.:smokin:
 
Take the stems seals out drive in circle until unclenched. Jack up clean. Re inflate with Starter either! Sounds like the most Redneck way I could think of. :gitrdun: Seems like I can always manage to lose the bead on my flats before they limp to the building with the compressor.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Take the stems seals out drive in circle until unclenched. Jack up clean. Re inflate with Starter either! Sounds like the most Redneck way I could think of. :gitrdun: Seems like I can always manage to lose the bead on my flats before they limp to the building with the compressor.
Click to expand...


This way always works and takes very little effort!
 
You could just invest in a good tire hammer. It's just a splitting maul with the leading edge turned sideways. Most OTR, heavy equipment, and farm/Ag tires are changed by hand anyway. Get you a hammer, a good set of spoon bars, and some soapy water and you can mount and dismount any tire you'd need to.

This is what I'm talking about:

http://www.kentool.com/index.php/pr...andled-duck-billed-bead-breaking-wedge-detail
 
rodney eppes said:
That's the changer, a friend gave me. He had lost the base & pipe, for the breaker. Anyway, I wondering, How do you hold the changer, & balance it? When I set mine up, I bolt it to a 4x6 sheet of plywood, topped with a 4x4 1/8" aluminum sheet. That gives me something to stand on, & keeps it from toppling over. I made a handle for the breaker, but use it on the top side. I've still bent my handle, breaking some mean ones! Old service station experience, taught me, I can pull/push, down, more than I can lift, + you still have to flip the wheel over, if your changing the tire.:smokin:
Click to expand...

I have the tire changer bolted to the front deck on my car trailer. It works great like that.

I've bent my handle too from bouncing on it to break some stuck beads. I'm probably going to have to make a stronger handle/bar at some point.
 
tireburner1975 said:
+1 on a highlift and a vehicle, just did this on a buddy's 38s. Used a larger board underneath the base to keep the hard edges of the jack from digging in the tire. Did some beating with a hammer on one or two to get it to let go.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...


I've heard of this, but never tried it. I am glad it works. I will probably go this route, since I already have all the tools.

drkelly said:
I have the same problem with the tires/rims on my Samurai. I have to clean them out fairly often.

Mount this on the front of your trailer.

It has a bead breaker function. Mount the rim/tire on the changer after breaking the bead. Then take one of your vehicle tie downs, and run it from one side of the trailer to the other going over the tire close up to the rim. Tighten the tie down to pull the tire away from the rim. Clean rim, release tie down, reinflate, reinstall on rig. Does that make sense? It is the best and easiest way that I have found to clean the crap out.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-tire-changer-69686.html

awww.harborfreight.com_media_catalog_product_cache_1_image_9df691f995b59eb2b7755fbb1c76e475c36.jpg
Click to expand...


Damn dude! And I thought I needed bead locks! The good thing about this set up is you can even change tires easily if you had to.


WARRIORWELDING said:
Take the stems seals out drive in circle until unclenched. Jack up clean. Re inflate with Starter either! Sounds like the most Redneck way I could think of. :gitrdun: Seems like I can always manage to lose the bead on my flats before they limp to the building with the compressor.
Click to expand...

Now that's what I am talking about. I bet this will do more harm than good with three flats however.
 
frankenyoter said:
Thanks for all of the feedback. I will be tackling this tomorrow night and Saturday am.

Now the next question. What is the best thing to seal up the bead with (rubber cement, etc)?
Click to expand...
Parts store should have a bead sealer in a can almost like pvc glue/sealer.

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Lots of good ole Permatex no 2 gasket sealer
 
Yep, way too much air on the out side of those tires.

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I've never heard of anybody, using any kind of bead sealer! Think your asking for more problems=more stuff for the grit & junk to stick to!
My opinion, a clean rim seat, & clean bead, is all you need.
I did mount some 33 s once, using mounting grease/soap. Every time I went wheeling, & aired down,the rims/tires, slipped. Drove my balance man crazy, until we figured it out,& CLEANED, it out!:shaking:
 
Bead sealer works great if you use actual bead sealer and not RTV or something like that. BTW, those tires are only flat on the bottoms :D
 
frankenyoter said:
Damn dude! And I thought I needed bead locks! The good thing about this set up is you can even change tires easily if you had to.
Click to expand...

I still want beadlocks. I have changed many tires using that HF contraption. It has saved me a lot of money.
 
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