The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Tire Bead Breaker

Don't do it often, but broke down a couple old wheels yesterday to bead blast and repaint. I usually use the front end loader bucket to break the beads. I've got a receiver hitch bolted to the bucket for moving trailers, long boom, etc. so thinking of welding a quarter circle piece of metal to a 2-3 ft. piece of 2" sq tubing to break tire beads. Before I embark wanted to test the bolt archives for similar projects. Anything out there?

I'd suggest welding a subsoiler replacement tooth to the 2" square tube to act as a wedge between the tire bead and the wheel. The shape of that item is almost identical to the duck bill hammer head we used to use to break down big rig beads. Use the front end loader bucket tilt cylinder to get the angle right before lowering the bucket to break the bead.
Jerry

I loved watching the on the link, and I love trying to make my own tools. But without a plasma cutter, and having limited welding skills, I think I'd just be ahead to buy something that's already made, if I could find it. I have wondered if somebody makes a fixture that would slip over the ram of a hydraulic press to use for bead breaking.

Good ideas fellas. Thanks

You can also buy one.
https://www.amazon.com/BeadBuster-XB-450-Motorcycle-Tire-Breaker/dp/B009XJARD4

https://www.stopngo.com/beadbuster-model-xb-455/

Edit: an Hydraulic version.


Don

Here’s one my pal made one afternoon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/h1KM1CNMM41Sj8Gv7

Works well on little tires. Not sure it’d do a tractor bead!

Youse guys and your fancy tools. Wish I had some. I remember back in the 50's dad would pull the valve core, put a 3' long 2x6 on the tire so the end just missed the bead, and slowly, carefully pull another vehicle up on the tire tool board, breaking the tire down. I've used this trick more times than I can count over the years. I did feel a bubble of pride when my mid 30s son over in Murfreesboro TN told me he used the old trick recently in fixing a car tire leak at the bead.

Many years ago a good friend and neighbor bought a Harbor Freight tire changer. The technology is a few generations old but it still works in pinch. It's saved many trips to town over the years.

Nobody uses tire hammers or slide hammers anymore? I'm starting to feel old.

Broke down many a bead back in the day with a old style ratchet bumper jack. Lay the tire down on the ground and position the foot plate next to the rim edge and jack the car/truck up. May have to spin it once but they always came loose. Can't buy those jacks as easily as you used to. I like Allen's idea now that I'm more mature and look for easier ways to do stuff. Plus, I get to play with my tractor.

That video was more about tool fabrication than at tool that works well. I've used moparguy's board trick as well as Martin's jack trick in the past. Either take less time than dinking around with that fancy bead breaker from the video. If I had a tractor, I'd probably use Allen's idea as well.

I made one,i did not use plasma cutter just bandsaw and cutoff wheel for the bottom foot. The angle I used for the foot was 1/4", It bent using the tool. Re enforcing it now with another piece of 1/4". The rest of the tool is just a reese hitch. The finger or clamp is 3 pieces of 1/4 " welded together. I have tryed the bumper jack method, and a 12k pound tractor bucket and it would not brake the bead. That tool is powerful for the really stuck one like i have. I think the guy in video said thay cost about 1000 bucks for the big one. 100 bucks for the small one.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennryan/44104149514/

this is much better than driving my jeep onto the tire to break the bead!