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Rabaconda Tire Changer with DS OEM Wheels?

2.3K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  BrianC_in_AZ  
#1 ·
Has anyone used the Rabaconda with the DS OEM wheels? Would I need any of the Rabaconda accessories?
thank you
 
#4 ·
The Rabaconda has better leverage and has it's own tripod stand. It is by far the easier of the two machines to use, especially for stiff walled adventure tires. Watching your video, I can say none of my beads pop that easily. I have to work my way around the rim 4 inches at a time and on the second pass the bead finally pops. That is not a complaint of the machine, but it is a fact that the tires do not come off as easily as in the video. It takes more than 5 minutes just to break the bead then I have to flip the wheel and do the other side. The duckhead is a great tool, but it requires a lot more force than in this video. Several times I could barely move it due to the lever arm being a little too short; I needed more leverage. The lever arm on the Rabaconda is about 10" longer and you can push downward using your body weight. Holding the base still is not so easy with stiff carcass tires. The unit would be sliding all across the floor changing my tires, your technique would not work with them. I clamp it to a work bench or on the back of a trailer.
The complaints from others that you mentioned in the beginning are valid issues with many tires; especially adventure tires with stiff carcasses.
I was not criticizing the unit, but the Rabaconda unit is the better unit with more leverage, ratcheting head, tripod stand.
 
#5 ·
Hi.I really appreciate your opinion.Thank you for this.I will continue to develop my tool until on one has any (even the smallest) objections.

I the mean time I am watching videos and here for example:


it doesn't look best..
On 9:26 I see that it is not so simple to break the bead too.The construction parts above are bending under the hight force (tool is expensive,so this shouldn't take palce)
On 9:38 the guy tries to berak the bead again..but he needs to adjust the bead breaker once again as it has slipt...(I had the same issue years ago,as I had same adjustment with a knob that sliped and scratched the bar too..exactlly like here.Some customers were complaining,so I introduced the threaded rod adjustment)
12:15 .. well ..Tool doesn't lie flat,so you can't push the tyre down opposite the mounting head with your foot... you need to mount this black drop center tool..and this requires additional time.
(This spoon sliding the rim doesn't look good)
On 16:15 again the same problem (you can't use your foot for help)
17:11 finally the work is done ,but the second man on the right were holding the construction too,is this necessary?
Generally the construction isn't stable at all, but I suppose this is due to the innovative tripod stand and the small weight of the tool..(Tool that lies flat has his advantages )
Rabaconda is for sure a nice tool with some new gadgets that can be interessting.In my opinion it has advantages but also disadvantages. I think that,this would't be for me because I've been used to working flat for 14 years and I need to do it fast,especially on the track.

btw. Thanks for the tip about the lever arm..I wanted to shorten it, I thought it could be a little bit shorter ..hahaha
 
#6 ·
Both machines have their advantages. I just removed a 400 mile old tire to repair a slow leak. It took me 8 minutes just to break both beads (your machine) and about 4 minutes to remove the tire. Reinstalling the tire is slightly faster with your machine than it is with spoons when mounting adventure tires that aren't worn out. Kyle Bradshaw (YouTube) bought the Rabacanda and he has many videos changing tires with it. He can change a tire in less than a quarter of the time I need and he is struggling less due to the tripod stand and ratchet head.

Seeing him break beads seems to be less struggle than I experience. Seeing how easy the ratchet system works makes me jealous.

Again, there is a price difference. You sound defensive about the Rabaconda working better, but it should considering it costs $250 more than your machine. Just as an electric/air powered machine works better than the Rabaconda but costs more.

The largest 2 problems with your machine are the base slides around when struggling with adventure tires (the tires in your videos obviously are worn with stretched beads) and the lever arm is a little short (if it was 8" longer the leverage would be better). Remember, not all of us are 35 to 40 years old, some of us have been around a bit longer and thus we are not as strong as we were 25 years ago. The guy in your videos also has a 40 pound weight advantage as well.

Mounting the base to a work bench or bed of a trailer solves the first problem.