Attaching Tire Weights

[1948man]

So I've read up all the tutorials and got one of my Shinko tourmasters mounted on the rim. I've got these http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-oz-wheel-weights-67225.html

I've determined how much weight I need opposite the heavy spot but how do I stick these flat weights on near the center line of the rim. Should they be bent/crimped over the center rib plus held on by the adhesive? There just doesn't seem to be a good area to stick these on.
Would the original style type weights be better, maybe attached with a tool like this?http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...iers-Xtra-Seal_16910015-P_N2122_T|GRP2107____
Also, what is the highest weight in grams you would expect to need before suspecting some kind of problem?

 

[Billy Ricks]

You just press them on a relatively flat part of the wheel. If you have to add much weight use half on each side of the rim.

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

If you have determined the weight required then a tape-a-weight can be affixed to each side of the rim.
I use the old style weights that snap on the center line of the rim though.

 

[Billy Ricks]

They can be bent a little to conform to the shape of the wheel.

 

[1_v8_merc]

I got lucky, I just Shifted the current weight a little bit, and it balanced out okay.

I also had the centerline crimp style weight....or whatever you call it.

My rear wheel didn't even need to be balanced!

 

[Joe Nardy]

So I've read up all the tutorials and got one of my Shinko tourmasters mounted on the rim. I've got these http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-oz-wheel-weights-67225.html

I've determined how much weight I need opposite the heavy spot but how do I stick these flat weights on near the center line of the rim. Should they be bent/crimped over the center rib plus held on by the adhesive? There just doesn't seem to be a good area to stick these on.
Would the original style type weights be better, maybe attached with a tool like this?http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Wheel-Weight-Pliers-Xtra-Seal_16910015-P_N2122_T|GRP2107____
Also, what is the highest weight in grams you would expect to need before suspecting some kind of problem?

Ahhhhh....welcome to the lead-free PC world of today. Since lead is BAD most of the weights these days are steel rather than lead. Unfortunately steel isn't as dense as lead nor does it bend as easily, causing issues with attaching the steel wheel weights to older narrower wheels. It used to be easy to find lead weights that were 1/2 inch wide and would fit our narrow wheels pretty well, at least the rears. I usually use the clip-on types for GS front wheels. The new lead-free weights all seem to be 3/4 inch wide or more which works okay for wider modern wheels but not our old GS wheels. The lead-free Harbor Freight weights you link to look like the wider type. I bought a box of 1/2 inch, 1/4 ounce per section lead weights many years ago and I am running very low. I think I found some more 1/2 inch wide lead weights and ordered them tonight. Linky. I would be glad to send you some of the clip-on weights I have accumulated over the years and would also be willing to send you some of the stick-on weights after I receive the ones I ordered tonight and verify they are the 1/2 inch wide 1/4 ounce weights. I don't want to part with my dwindling stash until I know I have some replacements.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[salty_monk]

Don't know if they still have them but I got 1/2" one from American moto tire...

 

[Steve]

Back when I used to visit the tire shop to have my new tires mounted and balanced, I would walk around, outside the door, and pick up old clip-on weights. Most are single-sided, but I have several that straddle the center ridge.

.

 

[1948man]

Thanks, yes my stickons measure 5/8" by 3/4" for a 1/4 ounce weight. I also have a couple of 30 gram and one 10 gram clip-on from other GS wheels. Are the clip-ons usually available locally and do they have to have a certain size clip radius to fit GS rims? I'm going to need about 84 grams.

 

[Steve]

If you need 84 grams, I would try turning the tire on the rim first.

It really shouldn't take more than 30 grams to balance it out.

Just out of curiosity, how do you know the amount?

.

 

[Joe Nardy]

Thanks, yes my stickons measure 5/8" by 3/4" for a 1/4 ounce weight. I also have a couple of 30 gram and one 10 gram clip-on from other GS wheels. Are the clip-ons usually available locally and do they have to have a certain size clip radius to fit GS rims? I'm going to need about 84 grams.

If you need 84 grams, I would try turning the tire on the rim first.

It really shouldn't take more than 30 grams to balance it out.

Just out of curiosity, how do you know the amount?

.

I agree. Even if you need 84 grams for both wheels that is a considerable amount of weight.

I'm not sure if your Shinkos have paint spots to indicate the light spot or, if so, where you placed them but I have a different method. Common 'wisdom' says to place the paint spot at the valve stem because this is theoretically the heavy spot of the wheel. I take the wheel with no tire mounted, remove all previous weights, then place it on the balance stand. I mark the true heavy spot and align the tire paint spot to this spot. I have mounted hundreds of tires and rarely is the true heavy spot of a wheel at the valve stem. If the tire has no paint spot you just have to try a few different mounting points to get the least amount of weight. I hate tires without paint spots. The tire manufacturers claim the tires are so consistent these days that there isn't enough variation to need a spot. I know this to be untrue because I have spun several unmarked tires and have seen significant differences in weight required to balance.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[1948man]

I checked the wheel for balance and locating the heavy spot before I mounted the tire. I did, however, leave out one step. I forgot to take off the existing 20 gram weight on the wheel before checking for the heavy spot. I then matched the spot on the tire with the heavy spot I had determined. The weird thing is the existing weight was close to the valve stem and I moved it to the spot 180 degrees opposite the heavy spot after mounting the tire. Even after moving that 20 gram weight, the same original spot was still the heavy spot. I temporarily taped on eight 1/4 ounce weights, the 20 gram clip-on and a 10 gram clip-on to get a perfect balance.
I realize I should have done the original balance with the 20 gram weight removed but it almost seems I would have still have gotten the same result because after moving it 180 degrees I still had the same heavy spot. How hard is it to rotate the tire on the rim? Can it be done with the beads still set if the tire is fully deflated? I dread having to break the beads. I was able to skip that step so far because I had a spare 17" wheel that I am going to swap in for the original 16" wheel on the GL.

 

[Joe Nardy]

I checked the wheel for balance and locating the heavy spot before I mounted the tire. I did, however, leave out one step. I forgot to take off the existing 20 gram weight on the wheel before checking for the heavy spot. I then matched the spot on the tire with the heavy spot I had determined. The weird thing is the existing weight was close to the valve stem and I moved it to the spot 180 degrees opposite the heavy spot after mounting the tire. Even after moving that 20 gram weight, the same original spot was still the heavy spot. I temporarily taped on eight 1/4 ounce weights, the 20 gram clip-on and a 10 gram clip-on to get a perfect balance.
I realize I should have done the original balance with the 20 gram weight removed but it almost seems I would have still have gotten the same result because after moving it 180 degrees I still had the same heavy spot. How hard is it to rotate the tire on the rim? Can it be done with the beads still set if the tire is fully deflated? I dread having to break the beads. I was able to skip that step so far because I had a spare 17" wheel that I am going to swap in for the original 16" wheel on the GL.

Where was the heavy spot with the 20 gram weight?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[1948man]

The heavy spot on the wheel was probably 10 degrees from the valve stem and the weight was maybe 25 degrees from the stem with the spot between them. I must be getting blind or just dull, I have since found another weight. I guess I really need to go back to square one and get a correct heavy spot but I hate to remove the tire. Does rotating the tire around the rim mean breaking the beads? I have been involved in something else for the last few hrs and have to leave for an hr but will deflate the tire when I get back. Thanks Jim M

 

[Piston720]

Balancing Beads

Balancing Beads

I have been using balancing beads for the past 2 years, very successfully.
You throw in about 2 grams and they move to where they are needed.
Check out Google.

 

[Joe Nardy]

The heavy spot on the wheel was probably 10 degrees from the valve stem and the weight was maybe 25 degrees from the stem with the spot between them. I must be getting blind or just dull, I have since found another weight. I guess I really need to go back to square one and get a correct heavy spot but I hate to remove the tire. Does rotating the tire around the rim mean breaking the beads? I have been involved in something else for the last few hrs and have to leave for an hr but will deflate the tire when I get back. Thanks Jim M

Jim,

Yes, rotating the tire means breaking the beads....sorry. Hopefully it won't be too bad since the tire was recently installed.

I'm guessing that you have actually positioned the tire in the worst possible spot, heavy tire spot to heavy wheel spot due to the weights remaining on the wheel when you checked for the heavy spot. The only way to be sure is to start over. I hope you end up needing much less weight to balance.

FYI, my 1/2 inch, 1/4 ounce lead weights arrived today. I can send you a couple strips if you PM me with an address........I can throw in a couple clip-on weights in as well.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[sharpy]

Ill be going to a breaker/wrecker and asking for the Genuine weights off some of there wheels. Wont have to worry about degreaser or anything and are reusable. How where u balancing it, how free was the "setup". At least you where doing the correct way just forgot that 20g weight.

 

[1948man]

Thanks Joe, I really appreciate your advice and will PM you. I guess I get up close and personal with bead breaking tomorrow. Yes Sharpy, my set up does seem pretty sensitive and seems to be working well. It's the way I oriented the tire on the rim that's mucking things up. Anybody ever had any experience with this?
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-bead-breaker-98875.html
I guess if I can find some big wooden clamps that would work well too.

 

[Joe Nardy]

Thanks Joe, I really appreciate your advice and will PM you. I guess I get up close and personal with bead breaking tomorrow. Yes Sharpy, my set up does seem pretty sensitive and seems to be working well. It's the way I oriented the tire on the rim that's mucking things up. Anybody ever had any experience with this?
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-bead-breaker-98875.html
I guess if I can find some big wooden clamps that would work well too.

I believe Mr. Salty Monk has experience with the Harbor Freight bead breaker. I believe whoever used it said it did a good job.

Thanks,
Joe

*****EDIT******

Yes, it was Mr. Salty Monk: Linky. Note the 'proper' spelling of 'tire'. (What a sausage jockey........)

Thanks,
Joe

 

[1948man]

One last Noobe question. I guess taking the tires totally off the rim won't damage them will it? I could just break the bead and rotate the tire and try it but the best way seems to be to get the tire off and test the rim correctly for the true heavy spot.