Hodaka Haps #1- The Tiresome Tedium of the Tired Tire

[matt glascock]

Tire mounting when it goes well can still be a tedious task. Mounting vintage, NOS tires can be downright frustrating - especially on the smaller rims. Similarly, removing an old, rock-hard tire from that sweet alloy wheel you just scored at the swap meet is just an unpleasant chore at best - especially when you gouge the rim with the tire spoon. What tricks do you have up your sleeve for removing and/or mounting the difficult tire without damaging the rim?

[thrownchain]

Rim savers.

[Dale]

I have a set of rim savers but find them difficult to use on low profile tires on small rims. I have used a double layer of duct tape successfully.

If the tire is headed to the recycle center then just grab a hack saw and tin snips and cut it off. If not, then set it out in the sun for a few hours to soften it up as much as possible.

For installation no spoons required if you use the Baja No Pinch tool.

[givergas]

what i did is home made used a piece of air hose and vise grips , just dont squeeze till your veins pop out nice and firm, and it you can put it under the spoons anywhere you need for protection...albert PS lots of soapy water

[taber hodaka]

WD40 -----------------Clarence

[socalhodaka]

One of the best tools i own, besides Hodaka tires i do all the tires on our minders bikes with the Baja No Pinch https://youtu.be/gJS0quZfrDk

[matt glascock]

Great fellas. This is just what I had hoped for. These will be great suggestions for Resonator Revisited inclusion. Thanks for your participation. More to come...

PS - Kelly, I scored one of the no-pinch tools on your recommendation. Ingenious. I will never install a tire without one. Do you have a neat-o trick for getting the tire over the rim edge but under the rim lock? That part got a bit fiddly for me. You can address that in the next Hodaka Haps if you have any suggestions.