Tool for assembling a tire lift mechanism

A tool for facilitating the assembly of a tire lift mechanism, comprising:

• a generally cylindrical sleeve extending along a longitudinal axis, said sleeve having two ends;
• a handle disposed at one of said ends of said sleeve;
• a lock assembly disposed at the other of said ends of said sleeve, said lock assembly including a forward end having curved portions on a first cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a rearward end, and a lock portion received between said forward and said rearward end, said lock portion having a second cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second cross-section having a lesser diameter than said curved portions of said first cross-section;
• and
• a first plastic member positioned over said rearward end, a second plastic member positioned over said lock portion, and a third plastic member positioned over said forward end, said plastic members adapted to prevent damage to said tire lift mechanism.

A tool for facilitating the assembly of a tire lift mechanism, comprising:

• a generally cylindrical sleeve extending along a longitudinal axis, said sleeve having two ends;
• a handle disposed at one of said ends of said sleeve;
• a lock assembly disposed at the other of said ends of said sleeve;
• said lock assembly including a forward end having curved portions on a first cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a rearward end, and a lock portion received between said forward and said rearward end, said lock portion having a second cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second cross-section having a lesser diameter than said curved portions of said first cross-section;
• and
• said lock portion including flats extending radially inwardly along a circumferentially outer edge of said second cross-section.