Wheel balancing??

[nomad]

Anyone got any tricks for balancing wire wheels?? I used to have them bubble balanced locally but the guy who did it gave away his bubble balancer. Sooooo, I moved on to the guy that I've had spin balance wheels for me for some time and he didn't get them close. Not the right mounting bits for his machine and his guess didn't work. Onward, I bought a HF bubble balancer after that and can't get that thing to work!

I'm down to trying to set up a set of knife edges to run a rear axle and hub on to see if I can make that work. Any thoughts on the subject appreciated!!

I've been threatening to buy the necessary collets for the spin balancer but haven't got a round toit!:smile-new:

Well, new tires and I need to stop the shake!!

Kurt.

 

[PAUL161]

The adapters that a club member bought are perfect for spin balancing. Their made out of some type of ceramic looking material. Using them, a tire shop in Tulsa balanced my 5 new wires and new tires to 0.0 tolerances. Smooth as silk. I think he paid around $150.00 for the set and they have inserts for two different size balancer shafts. When using them we kick in around 20 bucks to help with the initial cost. PJ

 

[nomad]

Paul, my local club is 100 miles away and I'll bet they have someone that has the correct collets. I'll have to ask around but even if they have someone or would go in on a set its a bit far for a wheel balance job. Looks like I'll try the axle on a knife edge technique next.

Kurt.

 

[SaxMan]

I don't have the wire wheels, but my understanding is they are not too different than bicycle wheels: that you can adjust the balance by increasing or decreasing tension on the "spokes". If that is correct, you may want to see if there is a bicycle wheel builder who may want to try his hand at the wire wheels.

 

[PAUL161]

My new tubeless wires are within the .020 out of true range, actually they are less, near perfect. The tires are what creates the problem, no one makes a perfectly balanced tire, regardless what you paid for it. That's why Hendrix wire wheel in N.C. is such a cool place to have the wheels and tires done. He not only trues the wheels if needed and "Tunes" the spokes, he shaves the tires to make them perfectly round. He did the 72 B when we were in S.C. what a difference! I just wish I was closer as Allen would get all my business. PJ

 

[nomad]

I have a set of Dayton's on my 65, Paul, and love them. The tubeless feature is gone however. I had to tighten all the spokes after a couple thousand miles. I didn't buy them from Hendrix though who I've always heard good things about.

Wires are a PITA and old wires doubly so but now days look very cool! In my youth I avoided them. This car is my "driver" and I may have to convert it to discs or just cull the herd!

Kurt.