Balancing wheels and tires

[Bob Bidonde]

Dyna Beads should work well balancing Model "A" wheels. Look here for a demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg

I find that the stock 19 inch wheels start to noticeably tamp between 50 & 55 MPH. Looking at the demo video, the initial imbalance using Dyna Beads is of no consequence because by the time the wheels reach 50 MPH, the Dyna Beads will be 100% effective.

As for quantity of Dyna Beads:
650/16, 4 ounces per wheel;
475/19, 5 ounces per wheel;
4.50/21, 6 ounces per wheel.

As for cost, I found this matrix:
DBS-1 Dyna Beads - 1 oz. - each $4.29
DBS-2 Dyna Beads - 2 oz. - each $7.52
DBS-3 Dyna Beads - 3 oz. - each $9.14
DBS-4 Dyna Beads - 4 oz. - each $9.99
DBS-5 Dyna Beads - 5 oz. - each $11.77
DBS-6 Dyna Beads - 6 oz. - each $13.70
DBS-8 Dyna Beads - 8 oz. - each $18.20
DBS-10 Dyna Beads - 10 oz. - each $22.58
DBS-12 Dyna Beads - 12 oz. - each $26.98
DBS-14 Dyna Beads - 14 oz. - each $31.60
DBS-16 Dyna Beads - 16 oz. - each $36.12
DBS-20 Dyna Beads - 20 oz. - each $45.15

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by jhowes

Maybe Brent can reply as a dealer of the beads. How do they work? It would seem that they would travel to the heavest part of a spinning wheel by cintrifical force making the situation worse.

I've never tried the beads, but it would seem to be as you say that the heavy part would drive the tire/wheel further from center and make the beads collect there.

Many have reported good results using the beads.

[Synchro909]

I make my own weights by melting down the lead from an old battery and pouring it into a mold of angle iron which I have pre heated. If the mold is not preheated, the molten lead cools too quickly and becomes too brittle.
This gives a roughly triangular strip of lead that I like to keep to not more than about 1/4" sides. I balance the wheel on a front hub just as others describe and use modern weights and masking tape to find how much weight is needed where. I then weigh the strip of lead I have poured and measure its length. From this, it is an easy calculation to cut a piece the same weight as I found was needed to balance the wheel. I then wind it around the nearest spoke to the required point and wrap it with black tape (my wheels are black). I have some that is best described as black duct tape.
I find this works well and costs nothing but a little time. BTW, I like the recycling part of it too. The remains of the battery go in the recycling bin.

[CWilson]

Has anyone tried the brand "TYREBEADS"? They seem to be quite a bit cheaper.

[fritznbud]

I use Crosman Air-Soft BB.s from Walmart @ $8 bucks for enough to do all 4 wheels and the spare with leftovers. They are in all of my cars and seem to work just fine.

[aojo]

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I picked up a set of '34 17" wheels and took them to Discount Tire and asked them to spin them for me to see if they were out of round or useable. They did so and said when I am ready for tires the wheels are good enough that they can balance them when the tire is mounted. Didnt ask what was involved with the balancing but the testing was free.

[inex01]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Dyna Beads should work well balancing Model "A" wheels. Look here for a demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg

I find that the stock 19 inch wheels start to noticeably tamp between 50 & 55 MPH. Looking at the demo video, the initial imbalance using Dyna Beads is of no consequence because by the time the wheels reach 50 MPH, the Dyna Beads will be 100% effective.

As for quantity of Dyna Beads:
650/16, 4 ounces per wheel;
475/19, 5 ounces per wheel;
4.50/21, 6 ounces per wheel.

As for cost, I found this matrix:
DBS-1 Dyna Beads - 1 oz. - each $4.29
DBS-2 Dyna Beads - 2 oz. - each $7.52
DBS-3 Dyna Beads - 3 oz. - each $9.14
DBS-4 Dyna Beads - 4 oz. - each $9.99
DBS-5 Dyna Beads - 5 oz. - each $11.77
DBS-6 Dyna Beads - 6 oz. - each $13.70
DBS-8 Dyna Beads - 8 oz. - each $18.20
DBS-10 Dyna Beads - 10 oz. - each $22.58
DBS-12 Dyna Beads - 12 oz. - each $26.98
DBS-14 Dyna Beads - 14 oz. - each $31.60
DBS-16 Dyna Beads - 16 oz. - each $36.12
DBS-20 Dyna Beads - 20 oz. - each $45.15

Thanks Bob for this information

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by jhowes

Maybe Brent can reply as a dealer of the beads. How do they work? It would seem that they would travel to the heavest part of a spinning wheel by cintrifical force making the situation worse.

I don't know what kind of help I can be on this. We have installed many sets on customer's cars, -and I run them in all of my own vehicles, but I really do not have anything to compare them to. Therefore I guess everyone is happy using them.

I guess it is in someways just like using oils with anti-friction additives. The dyno tests show gains however in my own engine I would never know if the gain is there or not.

[Bob Bidonde]

"I use Crosman Air-Soft BB.s from Walmart @ $8 bucks for enough to do all 4 wheels and the spare with leftovers. They are in all of my cars and seem to work just fine."

Fritznbud,
How many miles of driving do you have on your Model "A" with the BBs?

[TDO]

Originally Posted by fritznbud

I use Crosman Air-Soft BB.s from Walmart @ $8 bucks for enough to do all 4 wheels and the spare with leftovers. They are in all of my cars and seem to work just fine.

How do you no how many BB.s to put in each wheel. Do you go by ounces.

[springerpete]

My local garage has a regular spin balancer on which he does all of his customers wheels. My A wheels fit fine and the stick on weights are still stuck.

[fritznbud]

I weigh them out in a sandwich bag with a postal scale. I don't have many miles on my model A, a couple hundred with the airsoft's in there, but it drives down a bumpy, uneven road without the steering wobble it always had in the past. My cruising is all done on a 55 mph road, no stop lights for 7 miles, and I notice the difference. My '55 Chevy, '60 Rambler and Jeep also drive better.

[Purdy Swoft]

Dyna beads inside trhe tube. I have used lead weights on the backside on 19 inch rims. Its hard to perfectly balance the wheels with lead weights for speeds of 70 MPH The vibration on my speedster with lead weights starts at 70 MPH and smooths out at 75 .

[Bob Bidonde]

Prudy,
Try tightening the front wheel bearings on your speedster a tad. It appears that your front wheels hit a critical vibration node between 70 & 75 MPH. Tightening the wheels bearings a tad will reduce the freedom of motion, change the stiffness and raise the critical vibration speed.

[Purdy Swoft]

Thanks Bob, I'll check that out .

[1930artdeco]

Having never used Dynabeads, I know they go into the tube, but do they rub the rubber to the point it will break? I assume you take the valve core out and just pour them in?

Mike