Balancing Rear Wheel
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
Balancing Rear Wheel
I bought my 2005 Road King last summer and had the tires replace last weekend. I took the wheels off and took everything into a local Cycle Gear to have the tires put on. They guy who put the tires on said that the rear took a lot of weight (told me how much, but I can't remember right now). I did not think about it at the time, but for some reason it just hit me this morning that maybe there is a problem with spokes being loose? I have not had a chance to ride the bike yet. Been crappy weather here since I got them put back on.
So first question is - Is it possible that some of the spokes are loose and that is why the wheel needed so much weight?
Can I check the spokes with the wheels on the bike? How can I check them?
Thanks
Phil
So first question is - Is it possible that some of the spokes are loose and that is why the wheel needed so much weight?
Can I check the spokes with the wheels on the bike? How can I check them?
Thanks
Phil
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 5
From: Emerald Coast, FL
What brand of tire and how much weight? In the meantime, did he put the weights on the spokes where they are supposed to be or did he mount them on the rim. Is the dot on the tire aligned with the valve stem? Did he take the time to look inside the tire and make sure he took out all the shipping cardboard? If the weights are over about seven ounces, I would have them remount the tire.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
What brand of tire and how much weight? In the meantime, did he put the weights on the spokes where they are supposed to be or did he mount them on the rim. Is the dot on the tire aligned with the valve stem? Did he take the time to look inside the tire and make sure he took out all the shipping cardboard? If the weights are over about seven ounces, I would have them remount the tire.
Phil
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 507
From: Florida
Answer to Question #1, Sure some spokes could be loose. No that would not cause one to add more weight.
Answer to question #2, Yes you can check them on the bike. Raise bike on jack so wheels will turn freely by hand spinning. Take a phillips driver and rest on spokes with lite pressure and spin the wheel. All spokes should have a ring to them some what similar but not the same. A dull tone will indicate a loose spoke. Repeat on other side and other wheel.
Old weights should have been removed prior to new balance. Some guys are just lazy.
Answer to question #2, Yes you can check them on the bike. Raise bike on jack so wheels will turn freely by hand spinning. Take a phillips driver and rest on spokes with lite pressure and spin the wheel. All spokes should have a ring to them some what similar but not the same. A dull tone will indicate a loose spoke. Repeat on other side and other wheel.
Old weights should have been removed prior to new balance. Some guys are just lazy.
Last edited by V-Twins & Bowties; Mar 9, 2011 at 09:34 AM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
Answer to Question #1, Sure some spokes could be loose. No that would not cause one to add more weight.
Answer to question #2, Yes you can check them on the bike. Raise bike on jack so wheels will turn freely by hand spinning. Take a phillips driver and rest on spokes with lite pressure and spin the wheel. All spokes should have a ring to them some what similar but not the same. A dull tone will indicate a loose spoke. Repeat on other side and other wheel.
Old weights should have been removed prior to new balance. Some guys are just lazy.
Answer to question #2, Yes you can check them on the bike. Raise bike on jack so wheels will turn freely by hand spinning. Take a phillips driver and rest on spokes with lite pressure and spin the wheel. All spokes should have a ring to them some what similar but not the same. A dull tone will indicate a loose spoke. Repeat on other side and other wheel.
Old weights should have been removed prior to new balance. Some guys are just lazy.
The old weights where not removed so I will have to ask him about it.
Phil
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,741
Likes: 1,599
From: Danbury CT
Why would he leave the old weights on? That's just stupid!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
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From: Ogden, UT
If it were me, I would check all spokes, remove all the weights, and pick up the proper amount of Dyna Beads. Been using them for a while and don't think I would ever go back to weights.
They make it easy for me to change my own tires and get a smooth ride.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/
They make it easy for me to change my own tires and get a smooth ride.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Thanks handyhoward for the response. The weights are on the rim and not on the spokes. There are other weights on the spokes from the previous mounting. I will check out how much weight when I get home tonight. The tires are D402's. I will also check to see if the dot on the tire is where it is supposed to be. I did not know to look for that. Thanks!
Phil
Phil
Are the old weights near the new weights? If not, there is part of the problem - some of the new weights are needed to simply cancel out the old weights.
As far as tightening the spokes go, you should check the wheel for true when adjusting the the spokes. It's also a good idea to have the tire dismounted because depending on how much you tighten the spokes, you may need to grind off the excess inside the wheel, or risk a punture to the tube.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
Don't know why anyone would balance a tire without removing old weights... unless you were lucky and they ended up in the correct locations.
Are the old weights near the new weights? If not, there is part of the problem - some of the new weights are needed to simply cancel out the old weights.
As far as tightening the spokes go, you should check the wheel for true when adjusting the the spokes. It's also a good idea to have the tire dismounted because depending on how much you tighten the spokes, you may need to grind off the excess inside the wheel, or risk a punture to the tube.
Are the old weights near the new weights? If not, there is part of the problem - some of the new weights are needed to simply cancel out the old weights.
As far as tightening the spokes go, you should check the wheel for true when adjusting the the spokes. It's also a good idea to have the tire dismounted because depending on how much you tighten the spokes, you may need to grind off the excess inside the wheel, or risk a punture to the tube.
Sounding more like I will be pulling the wheel off and taking it back in.
Thanks again everyone!
Phil