Lathe and tire machine opinions

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Penstarpurist

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Buying some tools for the shop, ordered up a transmission jack today. Should be in tomorrow, OEM brand from autozone. $280 after my autozone points discount. Been scouring the list for a rim clamp tire machine and a digital style balancer. Ran across a guy that owns a tire shop a few towns over selling a mts 2010 rim clamp tire machine. Does up to 22" wheels, said its around 10 years old, only selling it to upgrade equipment. Asking $450 for it. Then he mentioned that he is also selling a brake lathe. I think it's an Aamco brand. Comes complete with all the hardware, cutters and dies. (His description of the parts). My one son is working at a tire shop, and both have experience with operating the same model brake lathe. He wants $500 for the lathe. I am not sure whaw the value of the lathe is, the tire machine I think is a good deal at $450, but more familiar with the coats brands. Does anyone know if its a good deal on the lathe? My buddy said that nowadays none of the newer rotors or drums are turntable, that their all a one and done thing. I'm not sure that's accurate. Can a guy turn flywheels on a brake lathe? If its something that I can get use out of regularly I would buy it up for sure along with the tire machine.
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The beauty of having your own brake lathe is you can turn the drums and discs just enough.
 
Many new cars don’t have enough material to turn them anymore. I teach auto tech at the local vo-tech and I teach the process and theory but most measurements reveal there is not enough to put the rotors back on after resurfacing.

To answer your other question, yes, you can turn flywheels on that lathe. Seems like a good price. I prefer Aamco lathes if I’m going to use one.
 
Looks like the brake lathes are each dedicated to drum (the Annco) and disc (whatever the red one is). Red is usually Accuturn (FMC) which is a good machine and of course Annco speaks for itself. No sense in getting one machine. Get them both.
 
before i retired from dealership, we have one of those. can turn drums and rotors at same time. 500 is pretty cheap for it, i believe. newer drums and rotors can still be turned but keep in mind the minimum specs and take very small cuts.
 
Looks like the brake lathes are each dedicated to drum (the Annco) and disc (whatever the red one is). Red is usually Accuturn (FMC) which is a good machine and of course Annco speaks for itself. No sense in getting one machine. Get them both.

I cannot tell for certain, but I believe you are right. That is not a bad price if it comes with lots of the bells and cones, but if not a disc machine, then, no. I have an Ammco disc/ drum, but the disc carriage gearbox is screwed up, and you must hold the lever in while turning. While that is a PITA, at least it's workable. I had no idea, tho, when I bought it, that NObody seems interested in turning drums/ rotors any more
 
I'm really, really interested in the lathe. That is a downer with the newer cars rotors not generally being turnable. But does make sense, as nowadays they manufacture stuff to be disposable after limited use. But with the number of A-body cars we part out, I could start stockpiling drums to turn if they have enough material left on them. The entire setup in the pic is for the $500, that would be awesome to be able to turn drums, rotors and flywheels. I think it's probably a no-brainer, I am going to have to get the lot of equipment. Better take my trailer up there and get the lathes and tire machine. I figure the lathe will get the vast majority of its use for just our projects, but that's okay with me.
 
I'm really, really interested in the lathe. That is a downer with the newer cars rotors not generally being turnable. But does make sense, as nowadays they manufacture stuff to be disposable after limited use. But with the number of A-body cars we part out, I could start stockpiling drums to turn if they have enough material left on them. The entire setup in the pic is for the $500, that would be awesome to be able to turn drums, rotors and flywheels. I think it's probably a no-brainer, I am going to have to get the lot of equipment. Better take my trailer up there and get the lathes and tire machine. I figure the lathe will get the vast majority of its use for just our projects, but that's okay with me.

They can be turned, you just have to pay close attention to how thick they are and what the minimum spec is. Generally, that spec is stamped or cast into the drum or rotor. Sometimes it's not and sometimes it's not legible. Generally though, unless a customer has been REALLY hard on brakes, they can usually be turned on the first brake job. Make sure you use a rotor micrometer like this https://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Tool...ocphy=9011223&hvtargid=pla-491357565573&psc=1 because you need to be able to put the points into the lowest areas of the rotor. A micrometer with flat anvils is not accurate at all. Here's one that actually measures both correctly.
https://www.amazon.com/Fowler-72-01...ocphy=9011223&hvtargid=pla-570995634233&psc=1
 
I'm going to order the combo set. That's a good price for sure. Thanks for the link.
 
I used a lathe exactly like that for years, very good machine, $500.00 seems like a fair price. Most of the newer stuff is disposable, replacements are often so cheap that it's not worth resurfacing. I typically buy new rotors for the newer daily drivers we have, except my old Bronco, it has lots of meat on the rotors, and they are a PITA to remove.
 
I bought a pair of rear rotors for the 2014 Mommy van and the Rockauto rotors were cheaper than the machine shop quoted for turning both of them. They were <10.50 a piece! And they were laser straight out of the box. They have +.060 built in until they are done

Discard Thickness (IN) 0.41
Nominal Thickness (in) 0.47

More Information for POWER STOP AR8380
 
I know it's definitely cheaper if not close to it to just buy new rotors or drums for the vast majority of passenger cars and trucks. And in my area they charge like $15 a piece to turn them, most less than $20 a piece to buy new. $65 for flywheels, which most you can replace new for $100. I certainly wouldn't look at it as a moneymaker, but as a sweet piece of equipment for the shop I can't go wrong. Lol. Well other than floor space, but I am going to build a loft for parts storage it could live up there.
 
Is it a rim clamp with rubber pads and a plastic remover. This is ours Hunter TC3500 . It does up to 22 inch . The rubber pad style works on any wheel and also does run flats. This thing works great and clamps up custom wheels or race wheels with no damage at all.

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He's going to send me good pics in the morning of it before I head there to get it. He said its a rimclamp, but the pic he had posted wasn't really good. But I don't remember seeing the rubber pads on it. That's a nice machine you have, I might need to do some research on the Hunter model.
 
You can find them cheap. We paid $100.00 for this one and it was new. A Mercedes dealer in Lehighton Pa. had it out side. Most dealers had to get them out of there shop. They did not meet the saftey requirements For MSHA that had a certain amount of employees with Workmans comp., No proper guarding or saftey requirements eyes for Employers Insurance policy. The Dealers were able to right them off as a total loss. This one was on a tire pile where my son would pick up scrap tires. They couldn't give it to him he had to buy it and sign a waver. Employees were also not able to own it or tell their relatives about it due to liability.

My son just fell into **** and was at the right place at the right time. But we saw a couple of them come up on the internet since we got this one. I think there is one on right now cheap. The price new was around $15000. I saw one on craigs list for $600. It was on for not even a day. Parts are readily available on Amazon. Keep doing a search on "Search Tempest" There are some still out there
 
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Even at $1500 that is a good price. Definitely the right place at the right time to get that thing for $100! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for one.
 
Even at $1500 that is a good price. Definitely the right place at the right time to get that thing for $100! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for one.
Some of them do not come with the white plastic wheel assembly shown . They are for run flat and real low profile tires they push the tire off. I only ever saw my son use them one time. Keep typing in hunter on "search tempest" this site searches the whole US Craigs List if you want one they are cheaper without this option.

The shop we just bought equipment at has several lathes cheap all under $500 with tooling. We are going back in two weeks but not for any lathes we have ours already. Hear are pictures of two one is against the wall in the back ground on one of the pictures. The race shop is located in central New Jersey

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I would for sure want to find one like yours that can do low profile tires. As my son has a little ricer that has low profile tires on it. He has said they are a nightmare to do without a machine that has the setup for it. Especially without damaging the wheel. Lol, he works for discount tire currently, so he changes alot of them nowadays.
 
Well, not to try and shock anyone. The craigslist seller of the lathe and tire machine suddenly stopped replying to me on the equipment. Which is sad, as I hadn't haggled over the price, was okay with paying the $500 for the lathe and $500 for the tire machine. His asking prices. I guess I will be continuing my search I guess. And thanks for "search tempest" reference. I'm definitely liking the link. And all the great advice on the lathe/tire machine uses and values.
 
Yeah, I just always typed in random areas to see if I could find stuff. Usually like a 500 mile range around me. But now, I can just use tempest and sit back and see what's out there.
 
Awesome

I need two of em in 275/60-15

If he can do a black friday deal on them, that would work (chances are the duster isn't going anywhere untill spring)
 
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