[IanS100]

I'm getting older with a bad back, and wheels are getting heavier, so I'm not looking forward to swapping the wheels over to the winter set tomorrow. I've looked around for a wheel lifter but the only ones I can find are the 'Ezy Wheel Lifter', which was an brilliant Australian invention that seems to have bitten the dust, and the Sealey 'Tyre & Wheel Handling Dolly' which looks a bit pathetic. Does anyone use or know of anything similar that doesn't cost as much as the wheels?

PS. I've got a couple of those screw in pegs that replace the wheels bolts, which are a help but not a solution.

[Tinsta]

Could this be of any use? clicky wheel dolly

[IanS100]

I'm not sure how it actually lifts the wheels but it certainly warrants further investigation, cheers

[imy]

why dont you ask your garage to do it for you? local tyre shop charges £5 a wheel, my local garage i go to would do it for free.

[John320d]

My local garage does a full re-balance and changes summers to winters for £28.

[IanS100]

imy & John 320d: Thanks for the suggestion, I may well finish up doing that, but I'd still like a wheel lifter for other jobs that I need the wheels off for.

[Jon D]

Fitted my winter wheel/tyre set today and found the job much easier by jacking each wheel until it was only just off the ground - hardly any lifting effort required.

[IanS100]

I bought a single hydraulic wheel skate in the end which did the job very well.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I'm getting older with a bad back, and wheels are getting heavier, so I'm not looking forward to swapping the wheels over to the winter set tomorrow. I've looked around for a wheel lifter but the only ones I can find are the 'Ezy Wheel Lifter', which was an brilliant Australian invention that seems to have bitten the dust, and the Sealey 'Tyre & Wheel Handling Dolly' which looks a bit pathetic. Does anyone use or know of anything similar that doesn't cost as much as the wheels?

PS. I've got a couple of those screw in pegs that replace the wheels bolts, which are a help but not a solution.

I know what you mean by the wheels getting heavier as the years go by. I'm 68 and prone to back problems if I'm not careful and I did my changeover yesterday by only lifting each corner until the wheel was barely off the ground (as per Mr Pogle's suggestion). It really does make the job a lot easier.
Having said all that, the wheel dolly you mentioned does look pretty good, please let me know how you get on with it.
I notice that you use some threaded posts and that would certainly make the alignment a lot easier - please could you let me know where you bought them?

[IanS100]

From memory I bought the threaded posts oh eBay, but to be honest I didn't bother using then this time, just dropped the new wheel onto the lifter, a short pump to lift it to the correct height, rotated it till the holes lined up, then shoved the wheel into place. There's no need to struggle getting the first bolt in place either as the wheel threatens to fall off, just let go and the wheel stays where it is while you screw a bolt in at your leisure. It really was a breeze.

[Phil325i]

I've found a wheel pin really for making the job of refitting a wheel easier:

http://www.burgertuning.com/wheel_hanger_pin_BMW.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Tool-K...IAAOSwmtJXbVm4

Although you still have to raise the wheel at first, once you've located it on the pin, you no longer have to support the weight of the wheel while securing the wheel bolts.

[Jon D]

Found these:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331579607229

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by IanS100

From memory I bought the threaded posts oh eBay, but to be honest I didn't bother using then this time, just dropped the new wheel onto the lifter, a short pump to lift it to the correct height, rotated it till the holes lined up, then shoved the wheel into place. There's no need to struggle getting the first bolt in place either as the wheel threatens to fall off, just let go and the wheel stays where it is while you screw a bolt in at your leisure. It really was a breeze.

Sounds good, which lifter did you get?

[IanS100]

This one: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/321670747147?_mwBanner=1

[Jon D]

Thanks