| Author | Message | ||
     Kyrocket |
I remember reading something on here who knows when and I can't find it now. Just wondering if anyone does it themselves and how hard the process is to mount and balance. Just got my new Metzlers today from the Feds. | ||
| Aaomy |
yeah do it all the time.. didnt do a right up on changing them but, i did do one on static balancing your own tires.. hope this helps.. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/185332.html | ||
| Tombo |
I have manual tire changer from harbor freight that I use (Nomar makes one as well). There are few tricks to making it easy, but I think it is faster to change them yourself than it is to bring it to the dealer and the changer quickly pays for itself. there is a sport touring site that documents using an HB changer and gives great tips (Google Harbor freight motorcycle tire change and some combination to find it). I have also had very good luck with static balancing. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Great info on the static balancing Aaomy. Looks like a tire changer at HF is $30 and the motorcycle tire changer attachment is $50 for a grand total of $80. If you figure in the drive time and the time for the shop to scratch it and finally get it on rim, not to mention what they would charge to do it then $80 don't sound too bad. I  Badweb! | ||
| Aldaytona |
I use the Harbor Freight changer and balance beads through the valve stems. 1oz front and a 2oz bag for the rear. Perfect balance every time and no unsightly weights. Dyna beads at www.innovativebalancing.com | ||
| Kyrocket |
Is this the article you saw Tombo? http://www.advrider.com/Wisdom/TireChangerMods1.0. pdf | ||
| Chasespeed |
I use the HF changer soler for breaking the bead... I do it the old fashioned way otherwise.... SPOONS and patience.. though, its getting old fighting those damn rim savers... Chase | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I have the HF changer but use the NoMar bar. I scratched my rims a few too many times. A static balancer is simple to use and works great. I got mine on Ebay for around $50. | ||
| Bobo |
I do it all the time on harleys. Just got my first Buell so I have not done it yet. Make sure you have the proper tools (2 bars) and the rim protectors - ebay or pitposse.com. I use pledge as the lubricant. Have done mag and spoked wheels with tubes. Tubes more effort than tubeless. My opinion, save your cash and do it yourself. I have made static balancers out of wood and used the axle and it works just fine. I know have a trueing stand that I use for the static balancer and it is better but not needed. You can also just use your axle and some saw horse. Let me/us know if you need any help. There are plenty of write ups out there and even some how to video. | ||
| Chasespeed |
BTW, I havent balanced a street tire in 2 years... and some may remember the rate I chew up tires... No need, I get WAY more vibs from the bike, than the tires... dont even notice... Maybe its the Pirelli's? Chase | ||
| Oldog |
I have a no mar, after messing up the PM wheels and powdercoating them mo more polishing [ i hope ] the bar and the rim clamp blocks are the shiznet. its all about finnesse It takes longer to get the wheels off than to change the tires. | ||
| Numb_nutz |
I break the bead in a bench vise. Then just spoon them off. Sport bike tires go on and off like butter. Now harley dunlap's are another story. | ||
| Bobo |
Great point about the bead. Forgot about that. I use an 8 foot 2x4 and a about a 2 foot 2x4 and use the bottom of the truck as a lever point. Pops right off. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Well, I've decided to take the wheels off and take them to a local guy with a changing station in his garage. He's very, very knowledgeable about Harleys. We have a local bike night that has been featured on ESPN, he's usually there on his '38. I've learned from his son that he has the oldest known knuckle in the United States. I plan to find out when I go over with my tires. The story is it has been restored to pristine factory condition and is worth a mint. My grandparents live close by and he usually has eight to ten in the garage for personal use. | ||
| Kyrocket |
BTW anyone else use the ceramic balancing beads? I'd like to know any pros and cons. | ||
| Oldog |
the ceramic balancing beads? Huh after putting sticky weights} on my powdercoated PM's! | ||
| 1313 |
A static balancer is simple to use and works great. Lake_bueller, What's your experience with static balancing the tuber 3 spoke wheels? A fellow  member has the no-mar changing equipment and their static balancer. I think he's changed enough tires just for me to pay off his investment, but that's another story. Anyways, the last time was for new rubber on my S2. When we did the static balancing, it was damn difficult to figure out where weight was needed. Looking at how the static balancing works I thought to myself, I wonder if this method would say that there are 3 heavy spots for each wheel - where the spokes are. Rotating the wheel to 3 different spots with a spoke close to the down position proved my theory to be true - the balancer said that there was a heavy spot at each location where there was a spoke. For this reason I am a bit timid to use static balancing on the tuber 3 spoke cast aluminum wheels (Marchesini in my case), but would assume the same thing for the PM tuber wheels. I would think this would be less significant for the XB style wheels as they are significantly lighter, the spokes are more evenly spaced and themselves are significantly lighter. As a side note- using the static balancer on my V-Rod's wheels has never been a problem, but with a spun wheel with no openings in the wheel (even distribution of weight/mass) it's easy to see why. If I hadn't done the V-Rod wheels previously I probably wouldn't have noticed or questioned the static balancers behavior with the tuber 3 spoke cast wheels. Am I paranoid, or has anybody else noticed this? 1313 (Message edited by 1313 on February 02, 2008) | ||
| Jjjoutside |
>BTW anyone else use the ceramic balancing beads? Have used them on everything I've owned since '87 (been through a couple of different companies too). Love them... no weights on the wheel and no re-balancing. Chase may have a point though... I forgot to put the beads in a new Dunlop a couple of years ago (on a Honda) and only discovered it when I saw the new bag of beads laying in my bench 275 miles later. I went ahead and threw them in the tire, but noticed no vibes in the 275 miles before and no change after the beads. JJJ} | ||
| Kyrocket |
Jjj, was it as easy as unscrewing the valve, inserting beads and re-inflating? I'm taking my rear wheel to have it changed today, hopefully have it back on by tonight. I much prefer the look and feel of the 190 over the 180. I wouldn't even have this 180 if the service desk had listened.  | ||
| Aaomy |
1313,, just because im paranoid, dosen't mean that people arn't following me!!!!!! i have never seen that??? but would have to say that if that did occur then you were really splitting hairs,, and would have a really good balance on that wheel.. other wise the heaver spot would descend to the bottom and weight would have to be added to the top..,, but that just me,,, dammit,, now you got me paranoid!!!!! | ||
| Loki |
On my stock wheels.... The heavy spot falls within an inch of the valve. I mark that spot with the rubber off. The install the tire mark in that position. | ||
| Jjjoutside |
>Jjj, was it as easy as unscrewing the valve, inserting beads and re-inflating? Yep... that easy. They sell special valve stems that are supposed to not allow the beads to escape if you need to let some air pressure out, but I've never used them. Standard ones work fine. I imagine if you were running them in an off road truck where you were constantly airing down and then re-inflating, perhaps they would have an advantage, but I've never had any issue with beads escaping or clogging the valve. Putting them in can be a little challenging... have to go slow or they just back up in the valve stem. No big deal though. JJJ | ||
| Mbsween |
1313, Interesting, I've done 6 sets (tires) on the X1 (I have 2 sets of rims) and use a static balancer. I've never noticed that. Usually we end up doing a couple bikes in one shot so there are at least a couple different rims to work with. It seems that the Dual sports types were always the hardest to balance. I had the X1 out at Pocono and didn't notice anything there. Also I have a spot on the way to work where I can catch upper 120s if I'm in the mood to try. never felt anything from the tires. I'll check that out when I put new tires for the spring. Interesting....... | ||
| Kyrocket |
That's good to hear Jjj. I don't believe I'll need the special valves as I rarely mess with the pressure, just top off as need be. Can't recall ever letting any out so sounds like it's good to go. I'll get some ordered and try 'em out on this set of tires and see if I notice anything. The bike has never been on a track and probably never will as long as I have it so that's not really a deciding factor. Thanks for your help guys. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Got it back already, He said it balanced fine, checked my bearings and aired it up of course, all for $20. Didn't think that was too bad and he only lives about three miles from the house. I checked out his '36 knuckle, it was number 60 made and has lots of first year stuff on it. Back then they even had stuff on the first half of the run that wasn't on the second. He said he's owned many 36's and the guys in his group call him the 1% because he's owned about 1% of the '36's produced. He sold one not quite as nice as the one he's got now for 75k on the bay, not too shabby. He's also got a '65, a '66 and a 1986 FXR T which was a grand touring bike only made that year which he rides cross country. Talked to him for about an hour, very interesting guy. | ||
| Lhark |
Static balancing is done on all roadracers, all makes of bikes, tires, etc. If you "know" your balancer, it's a cinch. I've worked with many different ones, and they all work, if you know what you're doing. I built my first one over 20 years ago....used on bikes capable of 180+mph.. Sticky weights? All the roadracers use them, with great results. Notice the cupped fronts on a lot of bikes? Every one I've ever changed was out of balance. I used to check them, before they got yanked off the rim. If you want to cruise around all day at 50 mph, I suppose you don't need to be too particular. |
