Balance Issues
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 6
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From: Earth
Balance Issues
How often do you guys find your tires out of balance enough to be noticeable? back story here, 2018 Ultra (18K total miles) replaced F&R at 15K with the Dunlop Elites. At about 100 miles in, ran over bolt with rear. Sucks but after plugging it (all good for 1000 miles) my Wife refused to ride with me till I replaced it. OK, replaced at a local dealer with winter killer deal. After several rides it was apparent something amiss. Had warranty work done at another dealer and I asked them to check the balance. It was off A LOT. Seems original installer never balanced or removed original weights. So, rebalanced all groovy for another 1000 miles. Now. seems to be vibration once again. Never had this issue before. Just my luck? Wondering if maybe the previous miles on the originally unbalanced tire has created a less than perfect surface area.
Thanks as always in advance.
Olmoose
Thanks as always in advance.
Olmoose
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
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From: South Carolina
Pull the wheel, make sure the wheel bearings are good, and have it re balanced.
Have the shop check the balance first (without removing the weights), to see how much unbalance you actually had.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 22, 2020 at 10:42 AM.
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Joined: Sep 2017
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From: England
I have been out with a couple of people who have had tyres fitted at a well known indy here. The wheels are not balanced and the riders do not notice any problems. The guy at the shop told me he never balances the rear wheel and has never had any comeback.
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balance is important as it adds to tire life. running a couple k with it not balanced would not be a killer unless it was severe enough to damage the core, then the tire is trash. i highly doubt that is the case. also, the method of balancing can make a diff. machine balance is better than gravity balance. sometimes, you have to split the weights because at certain speeds, it can induce a vibration because all the weights are on one side of the wheel.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
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From: Earth
You bring up a good point Andy. However, what I find interesting is this is a new condition that hasn't been present when new (off show room floor) or after the immediate rebalancing. Or with my previous Electra Glide. So clearly something amiss.
Olmoose
Olmoose
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
Likes: 12,747
From: South Carolina
I have balanced a countless number of rotating parts for jet and rocket engines for over 36 years (from compressor modules that weigh 5,000 pounds to tiny rocket turbines that you can hold in one hand) and what you just said is not a fact.
All balance counterweights on one side of a rotating part will not cause an unbalance, if the weight is correct.
If a properly balanced tire/wheel assembly has a unbalance issue at speed, there is an issue with the tire or wheel.
There is no precision to be had in balancing a tire/wheel assembly, about all that can be done is to get rid of the gross unbalance of the rotating mass.
On a rubber tire that is about all you can do..
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 24, 2020 at 09:25 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,105
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From: Ramseur NC
I have to concur with this .The rear tire is the driven tire, constantly under load unless you're coasting. the balance would have to be way off to notice anything.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,808
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From: OH
I mounted all my own tires from 1978 until 2017, never had the equipment or inclination to balance, no ill effects.
Now that I`m a geezer and just drop the wheel off at a shop, they get balanced.
Just my experience
Now that I`m a geezer and just drop the wheel off at a shop, they get balanced.
Just my experience
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 468
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From: NorCal
I have never rebalanced a tire after installation and initial balance. I learned about tire balance on my pan chopper with 21-inch front wheel when I first started riding and the springer would start to pogo after about 50mph....
