The Ford Barn

John Kuhnast · 04-13-2012, 01:58 PM

Would like to balance the wheels on my1931 pickup. Local garage tells me they will not fit on their machine.Will the clamp on weights fit Model A wheels or must I use stick on? If I was to try to balance them by spinning them on the truck do I need a special Tool to mount the clamp on style? Anyone know someone in the northern New Jersey area that can do them?

Pete · 04-13-2012, 02:41 PM

I can't help you on a local shop but here is some info on machines.
Stewart Warner and Hunter machines balance the wheel on the car.
This is advantageous because it balances the hub and brake drum/disc
along with the wheel as an assembly.
I have never run into a shop in my area that could not mount a model A
or AA wheel on their modern machine. Good luck on that.
The clamp on weights will work fine on A wheels. No special tools needed to apply..Just a small hammer...Nothing wrong with stick on weights if they are applied properly.

Jon · 04-13-2012, 02:59 PM

John, I did mine on my car with stick on weights. I could see the difference 1/2 ounce made, so figure mine are about as good as they ever will be short of spin balancing.

marc hildebrant · 04-13-2012, 03:12 PM

I too would like to find a place to balance the wheels. The local shops where I live tell me it can't be done (Eagan, MN)

Marc

Cape Codder · 04-13-2012, 03:32 PM

I have read a lot here on Fordbarn about the beads that are put inside the tubes. Have you thought of this type of product?
Good luck in which ever you go.
Joe Grobleski

JBill · 04-13-2012, 03:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Try the beads? Can't hurt. Might help.

Gary WA · 04-13-2012, 04:17 PM

www.dynabeads.com I have them and they Do work!

Kevin in NJ · 04-13-2012, 04:24 PM

Keep in mind exact balance is less critical with the A. The axles are a lot of unsprung weight that dampens the vibrations. So you do not need perfection.

You could set up a front spindle with oiled bearings on the bench. Put the wheel on the hub and see how fast it finds bottom. Mark the tire and rotate the tire on the rim for slowest movement.

Some tires may come pretty close to right just by moving the tire on the rim. You can tape on some wheel weights to find out how close the wheel is, you get a pretty good idea by how fast it seeks bottom.

Once you get it close then you can add dynabeads to finish off the balance.

For what it is worth. Out of 5 wheels with new Goodyears I got 2 that almost came our perfect, 1 that was ok, and 2 that seemed to move fast. I put the best balanced wheels on the front, the next 2 on the rear and the worst on the spare. I need to get some Dynabeads just to get the wheels as best they can be since I will be driving my car 55 MPH.

jhowes · 04-13-2012, 04:44 PM

What is the theory with dynabeads. It seems they would go to the heavyest part of the tire and make the situation worse. Jack

Gary WA · 04-13-2012, 07:25 PM

Go to their web site to get more info. www.dynabeads.com

dr.j · 04-13-2012, 07:33 PM

The beads are my choice. Remove the stem and assist with the installation with a palm sander lightly touching the plastic bottle or tube. It took less than a minute per tire to install the beads with the added vibration of the sander.

western77 · 04-14-2012, 07:28 AM

I just added the beads yesterday, can't wait to try them out.

04-13-2012, 01:58 PM	#1
John Kuhnast Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 564	Wheel Balance Would like to balance the wheels on my1931 pickup. Local garage tells me they will not fit on their machine.Will the clamp on weights fit Model A wheels or must I use stick on? If I was to try to balance them by spinning them on the truck do I need a special Tool to mount the clamp on style? Anyone know someone in the northern New Jersey area that can do them?

04-13-2012, 02:41 PM	#2
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,410	Re: Wheel Balance I can't help you on a local shop but here is some info on machines. Stewart Warner and Hunter machines balance the wheel on the car. This is advantageous because it balances the hub and brake drum/disc along with the wheel as an assembly. I have never run into a shop in my area that could not mount a model A or AA wheel on their modern machine. Good luck on that. The clamp on weights will work fine on A wheels. No special tools needed to apply..Just a small hammer...Nothing wrong with stick on weights if they are applied properly.

04-13-2012, 02:59 PM	#3
Jon Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalamazoo, MI USA Posts: 166	Re: Wheel Balance John, I did mine on my car with stick on weights. I could see the difference 1/2 ounce made, so figure mine are about as good as they ever will be short of spin balancing. __________________ John - Kalamazoo, MI

04-13-2012, 03:12 PM	#4
marc hildebrant Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 1,128	Re: Wheel Balance I too would like to find a place to balance the wheels. The local shops where I live tell me it can't be done (Eagan, MN) Marc

04-13-2012, 03:32 PM	#5
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,262	Re: Wheel Balance I have read a lot here on Fordbarn about the beads that are put inside the tubes. Have you thought of this type of product? Good luck in which ever you go. Joe Grobleski

04-13-2012, 03:33 PM	#6
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Wheel Balance Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Try the beads? Can't hurt. Might help.

04-13-2012, 04:17 PM	#7
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,108	Re: Wheel Balance www.dynabeads.com I have them and they Do work! __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

04-13-2012, 04:24 PM	#8
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Wheel Balance Keep in mind exact balance is less critical with the A. The axles are a lot of unsprung weight that dampens the vibrations. So you do not need perfection. You could set up a front spindle with oiled bearings on the bench. Put the wheel on the hub and see how fast it finds bottom. Mark the tire and rotate the tire on the rim for slowest movement. Some tires may come pretty close to right just by moving the tire on the rim. You can tape on some wheel weights to find out how close the wheel is, you get a pretty good idea by how fast it seeks bottom. Once you get it close then you can add dynabeads to finish off the balance. For what it is worth. Out of 5 wheels with new Goodyears I got 2 that almost came our perfect, 1 that was ok, and 2 that seemed to move fast. I put the best balanced wheels on the front, the next 2 on the rear and the worst on the spare. I need to get some Dynabeads just to get the wheels as best they can be since I will be driving my car 55 MPH.

04-13-2012, 04:44 PM	#9
jhowes Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: upstate NY near Mass border Posts: 789	Re: Wheel Balance What is the theory with dynabeads. It seems they would go to the heavyest part of the tire and make the situation worse. Jack

04-13-2012, 07:25 PM	#10
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,108	Re: Wheel Balance Go to their web site to get more info. www.dynabeads.com __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com Last edited by Gary WA; 04-13-2012 at 08:24 PM.

04-13-2012, 07:33 PM	#11
dr.j Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, ON, Canada Posts: 315	Re: Wheel Balance The beads are my choice. Remove the stem and assist with the installation with a palm sander lightly touching the plastic bottle or tube. It took less than a minute per tire to install the beads with the added vibration of the sander. __________________ Dave A Jamieson Portland, ON Canada 1928 Tudor

04-14-2012, 07:28 AM	#12
western77 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Grand Rapids Mi Posts: 168	Re: Wheel Balance I just added the beads yesterday, can't wait to try them out.