Well, just came back from getting my rear tire mounted. Thought I'd try a new shop. This one wanted $35 to mount and balance if I brought the wheel in, but of course they couldn't balance it. They scratched and dented my rims with the tire tool. I saw them struggling with their machine and thought I should check. They were sorry, blah, blah, blah..... What's done is done.
I did better with hand tools myself the one time I got the rear off, but I thought I got off lucky not butchering the rims and should take it to the "pros." I've used two other shops in the past with no significant problems, but these guys left traces of their "work" in several places (see photo of one).
This is why I work on my own bikes.
There's a thread going on now on replacing your own tires. I'm good with the front and both tires on my '98 Thunderbird Sport, but that rear is something else. I guess I'll give it another go myself next time. I'm already having to balance the tires, since no one in my area can handle that.
So, back to my issue. I'm wondering how to minimize the tire iron dents- they're small but if every time I get new tires this happens (about 2x/year, **** this bike goes through rubber) they'll be trashed in two or three years. I know I can't eliminate them, but can I sand them down to smooth out the dings?
Anyone have any experience here or sage advice they'd mind sharing? I'd appreciate it.