[carbonfreak]

Hi.

Has anyone used Kool Stop's Tire Bead Jack?

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=TL4022

Or the Crank Bros. Speed Lever?

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=TL1101

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I've always used Trek's generic design, but have wondered if there was an easier way (being left handed that little hook on the end is totally useless to me- maybe it's useless to everyone).

I know I'm supposed to be able to do it w/out assistance from a device, however, w/ ultralight handmade clincher's it's not always possible for me & I don't want to bust my fingers..

Thanks. -Anthony

 

[Anti-gravity]

The Koolstop tire jack is handy

Hi.

Has anyone used Kool Stop's Tire Bead Jack?

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=TL4022

Or the Crank Bros. Speed Lever?

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=TL1101

-----

I've always used Trek's generic design, but have wondered if there was an easier way (being left handed that little hook on the end is totally useless to me- maybe it's useless to everyone).

I know I'm supposed to be able to do it w/out assistance from a device, however, w/ ultralight handmade clincher's it's not always possible for me & I don't want to bust my fingers..

Thanks. -Anthony

I've used it for some really tight tires when my thumbs just can't handle the blisters. Works really well, especially if you're in a hurry. I would use it at work to make short work of customers' road tire flats. However, it's good to be able to change a tire with your hands if you want to be able to fix a flat during a race, unless you don't mind carrying the tool with you.
-Ryan

 

[Kerry Irons]

Hands off

You should be able to mount a tire without tools, though there appear to be some tire/rim combinations that will prevent even that. However, most people will require at least on tire lever to remove most tires from most rims. You're not supposed to be able to remove the tire without tools. I can't understand what being left handed has to do with not being able to use the hook in the tire lever. Place the lever near a spoke, and when you swing it down toward the hub, you hook the spoke with the lever. The location of the hook has no impact whether you're left or right handed. It may be a little more cumbersome to a lefty, but no more so than putting in your car keys (on the right side of the steering column).

 

[Rusty Coggs]

Yeah

You should be able to mount a tire without tools, though there appear to be some tire/rim combinations that will prevent even that. However, most people will require at least on tire lever to remove most tires from most rims. You're not supposed to be able to remove the tire without tools. I can't understand what being left handed has to do with not being able to use the hook in the tire lever. Place the lever near a spoke, and when you swing it down toward the hub, you hook the spoke with the lever. The location of the hook has no impact whether you're left or right handed. It may be a little more cumbersome to a lefty, but no more so than putting in your car keys (on the right side of the steering column).

I have rim/tire combinations that are impossible to mount tires even with levers.Actually I was able to but always managed to ruin a tube,so what was the point? Material for the landfill. My left hand never had a problem with the lever and the litle hook.

 

[baxter]

I've heard that the Kool stop bead jack really sucks.
the speed lever is great except for stupidly tight tires. but you could probably get these on without a tool in the first place.

for stupidly tight tires, one tool that really works, and is similar to the bead jack is the old VAR tool. plus, it's much more portable.
It's pretty hard to find since it hasn't been made in 10 years or so.
I'm sure I've seen one for sale at loosescrews.com or at rivendell.

 

[Dave_Stohler]

Yeah, I bought a speed lever, but it's really not the answer to everything. To be honest, 3 levers will do as much.

 

[carbonfreak]

Left Handed

I can't understand what being left handed has to do with not being able to use the hook in the tire lever. Place the lever near a spoke, and when you swing it down toward the hub, you hook the spoke with the lever. The location of the hook has no impact whether you're left or right handed. It may be a little more cumbersome to a lefty, but no more so than putting in your car keys (on the right side of the steering column).

Yeah, I realized that after I wrote it. I was thinking of another set of levers I had that had a curved hook that was supposed to go under the bead for pulling it loose, but it was meant to be pulled only to one side. I can't remember the brand @ the moment.

The other thing about levers that I couldn't get used to was the rounded rounded shape of some. I like the straight across lever, but that's beside the point.

-Anthony