Wheel balancing troubles

[turbojimmy]

Hey,

Has anyone had trouble balancing their Weld rims w/ BFG tires? I got a new set of Draglites (new new - like from Jeg's) and had 2 new front tires and my used BFG DRs mounted on the back. I immediately had terrible, terrible vibration from 50 MPH up. Went back to the bozo that balanced them. Said he didn't have the right adapter for his balancing machine so the center sections of the Draglites were bouncing around while he tried to balance them. So what did I pay him for? Not sure.

Took it to another place that has a Hunter machine with the right adapter. Said the LH rear rim was out of round, couldn't balance it. It was visibly wobbling on the machine. I sent it back to Jeg's, they sent me a new one. The very same day I had the tires rebalanced, I poked a hole in the RH DRs (now I have a bad rim on the left, bad tire on the right). I went back to the tire shop today with one new rim, one new tire, one old rim, one old tire. Follow? The new rim (LH) with the old LH tire balanced fine. The old RH rim with the new RH tire needed 8.5 oz. of weight to balance. He said you can see it wobble on the machine. Why he didn't notice it last time I was there is a mystery.

So is it the rims or the tires? What are the chances of getting two "out of round" Weld rims out of 5 new ones? Are the DRs tough to balance?

Just curious (and frustrated, and broke).

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

In usual fashion, I'm answering my own thread.

Turns out it's one of the DRs that's out of whack. Made the old rim look bad, now making the other old rim look bad. The tire guy, despite my instructions, put the new tire on the new rim. That means that the old tire, the one on the "bad" rim, went on the other old rim. Now that rim "wobbles". He shoulda been able to figger that out.

At least I feel better now.....sorry for the consumption of BW.

As you were.

Jim

 

[Russ Merritt]

I feel your pain!

 

[TurboJim]

Originally posted by turbojimmy
In usual fashion, I'm answering my own thread.

Turns out it's one of the DRs that's out of whack. Made the old rim look bad, now making the other old rim look bad. The tire guy, despite my instructions, put the new tire on the new rim. That means that the old tire, the one on the "bad" rim, went on the other old rim. Now that rim "wobbles". He shoulda been able to figger that out.

At least I feel better now.....sorry for the consumption of BW.

As you were.

Jim

Why did you call me or stop down. Any bozo can tell if its the rim or the tire by looking at WHAT is out of round.

I have had my car to 128 (perscanmaster) and not a wobble

 

[U1ARUNIT]

What's the best method of mounting these wheels on the balancing machine.? I have seen guys use a centering cone on the inside and also seen it done on the outside. I am pretty sure that you need to use it on the inside but I never get a good balance that way and have used the outside with most luck.

I think that someone with an adapter that can use the lug nut holes to center will be the best method. What do you guys think? Jim..??

 

[turbojimmy]

Jim,

I e-mailed you on it, but never got around to calling you. This guy (in Basking Ridge) is a total thief - not going back there anymore. The first guy - who balanced them but didn't - is at Hackettstown Tire. Not going there anymore either.

I guess the good news is that the rims are okay. The DRs will be worn out in a couple of months anyway.

FWIW, the guy with the Hunter machine had an adapter so he could use the lug holes. Alternatively, when you buy the rims new they have plastic plugs that keep the center from moving around. If you leave those in I would think you could balance it okay on a machine without the adapter.

I'm sure the other Jim knows more.....

Jim

 

[TurboJim]

Originally posted by U1ARUNIT
What's the best method of mounting these wheels on the balancing machine.? I have seen guys use a centering cone on the inside and also seen it done on the outside. I am pretty sure that you need to use it on the inside but I never get a good balance that way and have used the outside with most luck.

I think that someone with an adapter that can use the lug nut holes to center will be the best method. What do you guys think? Jim..??

Putting weights only on the inside isnt a good dynamic balance.

I did mine maybe a little butchered. I used the cone, stuck my finger in to center the spacer, then cranked down the clamp till it squoze (is that a word?) the rim tight. Balanced with coated weights on the inside AND outside. Like I said, well over 100mph and no wobbles at all. Next time gimme a buzz and we'll set something up after work or something.