Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry
Got it.
What was your method of bead breaking?
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I fashioned a "breaker" bar 35 years ago. It is an old wrecking bar with the curved end cut off. Amounts to a piece of 3/4" hexagon steel, 24" long with a flattened end about 1" wide at a slight angle to the shaft. I rounded the flat end slightly so as not to cut the tire or damage the rim. I put the flat end on the bead and use the hammer on it.
I also have a commercial "breaker" which is a similar bar about 4' long with a "hammer" fashioned from a 30" length of heavy walled 2" steel pipe with a 3/8" steel cap (similar to a steel fence post driver). Slip the pipe hammer over the bar and pound (eliminates the chance of missing the bar as with a conventional hammer and makes it easy to direct the force). I use this bead breaker primarily for larger tires (20" and up) although it will make short work of a difficult 16". Also works well on heavier tires (we have some 12 ply wagon tires that can be a bear to break down).