| Author | Message | ||
     Bomber |
After yet another silly-session attempting to get a tire mounted in what I thought was a reasonable amount of time (wrong again, billet-haired old guy! mounting a tire is a very technical and time-consuming exercise, which you, as a member of the great unwashed, cannot possibly understand -- come back maybe next week), I've ordered a tire changing setup -- I figure if Mennis can make his march, I should be able to soldier on (thanks for the tip, Mennis) so, on to the next acquisition -- a balancer -- I ain't runnin bonnie (yet), and, being of Scandanavian descent (who do you think taught Celts about squeezin a nickel?), I'd like some recommendations as to good-enough quality balancers . . . . the throbbing mind of Badweb surely has a suggestion or six, yes? | ||
| Bigblock |
I've always been able to static balance them to within about as accurate as any typical machine balancer. Using a couple horses and the axle, just make sure the wheel is sitting pretty level, and for best accuracy, just jiggle the bearing a little with the axle to keep the bearing in motion, it overcomes the breakaway friction of the bearing and makes the static balance noticeably more precise. Just be careful and check it thoroughly several times to make sure you don't have a heavy spot.I've done this many times and have alwways had great success with this method. Being of Swedish descent myself, I could never buy a balancer! Just my suggestion. If you would like more detailed instructions, e-mail me, I,ll give you my number. Ray | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
At a recent visit to Willow Springs, I had the opportunity to watch the guys at Dunlop Racing change tires and balance them. I really had to laugh at myself, because while I think of a tire change and balance as major surgery, requiring a couple of days, not to mention the planning, to them it is about a five minute deal. Needless to say, they only do static balancing, and one of their experienced hands does it in about a minute. No complaints from the riders either. | ||
| Whodom |
Bomber, Motorcycle Consumer News had a good article on a home built balancing stand sometime in the past year or so. Basically, they built a frame out of small PVC pipe and fittings. The axle is inserted in the wheel, and it rests on two pieces of steel flat bar (set on edge) mounted in the frame. The frame has to be set level. This allows the axle to roll on the steel flat bar which takes wheel bearing friction out of the picture, allowing you to very accurately balance the wheel. IIRC, total cost was about $15 for material. | ||
| Henrik |
I've seen the "balancing on milk crates" done on track days. Apparently works fine. I picked up a balancer from Handy after some looking around. With a bit of tweaking (it arrived with one of the cones machined off center) it's working very well. Of course it takes me a loooong time to balance 'cause I want it perfect  Besides, with your own balancer, you can check the tire-free wheel for the exact location of the heaviest spot. http://www.handyindustries.com/shop/product_view.asp?idProduct=158&D=0&S= The Handy is nice, but realistically, the milk crate or horse will do just as well. Henrik | ||
| Gjmcmanus |
If all else fails, you could always get one of these...  It would be nice, we have two of these at my work. Currently there are no adapters for motorcycle wheels... | ||
| Johnc |
If you are interested in building your own balancer have a look at this thread from a couple of years ago. I still use this balancer and it works great.http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/20411.html#POST160073 | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Get a Metzler static balancer. Great build quality and only about $160... Make sure you tell them you're doing a Buell wheel so they'll give you the right cones... | ||
| Moxnix |
www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/balancer/ | ||
| Bomber |
All -- thanks a million for the data -- as always, Badweb comes through -- I LOVE the idea bout not spending dough -- the steel stock mounted vertically on some sort of a frame is very cool -- I'll admit, though, that ANY process that utilizes that most noble of tools (the milk crate) draws me like a moth to a flame ;-} I'll very likely figure a way to attach a steel "blade" to a couple a milk crates (my collection of metal crates should be worth some big dough on ebay sometime soon, yes? the platic ones just don't seem like they'd hold up as well) thanks again -- one more taks I can master and become more self-sufficient ;-} | ||
| Slaughter |
What Charlieboy said - Metzeler also makes one wide enough for the XB rear - just a tad wider than typical UJM. | ||
| Al_lighton |
I built one of the balancers that JohnC mentioned from the drawings he posted. I used angle instead of blocks for supporting the bearings, and welded on the feet, otherwise it was just as JohnC posted. It works well, was cheap to build, and was fun to build too. It was my first project with my home welder. It has balanced a lot of wheels since. |
