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Workshop Equipment Catalogue 1 www.integratedmarketing.co.za | 012 664 3445 | [email protected]
The Top Tips for Wheel Balancing
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Wheel balancing, also known as tyre balancing, is the process of equalizing the weight of the combined tyre and wheel assembly so that it spins smoothly at high speed. Balancing involves putting the wheel/tyre assembly on a balancer, which centres the wheel and spins it to determine where the weights should go.
Why is wheel balancing important?
• Properly balanced tyres and wheels spin with all their weight distributed equally.
• Whenyourtyresarefitted,balancingshouldbepartofthefittingprocedure.
• Unbalanced tyres can result in tyres wearing unevenly and needing to be replaced more frequently.
Regardless of how well or how little you drive, tyres do eventually wear down over time. It is unlikely that they’ll wear down evenly, and this can cause:
• Changes in the mass of rubber on your tyres.• A weight imbalance.• The steering wheel to shimmy and shake.
The Top Tips for Wheel Balancing 3
How to balance your wheelsSAFETY FIRST
Before you can start, make sure you are protected by wearing the appropriate personal protection equipment, like safety shoes, long pants, safety glasses or goggles and gloves.
Make sure that the tyres you have on the rims are within the legal limit of >2mm. No cracks, cuts or bulges on the sidewall.
Before mounting the wheel onto the wheel balancing machine, make sure you have removed the centre caps (if applicable). And the old wheel weights from the previous balancing. This is to ensure that you get the most accurate results from the wheel balancing machine.
Make sure the tyre pressure is correct.
After you have done all the previous steps, you can now safely mount the wheel onto the wheel balancing machine. Once it is mounted, double check to make sure that the wheel is snug tight.
Once the wheel is mounted, you need to enter the distance from the ma-chine to the wheel, width of the wheel and size of the wheel.
Once all the correct measurements have been loaded you can simply close the hood before starting the wheel bal-ancing machine.
Install wheel weights.Oncethemachinehasfinishedtestingitwilltellyou how much weight it wants and what side of the wheel.
Onceyoufittedtherequiredwheelweights,youwanttore-testthewheelto make sure you added the proper amount of weights, and on the correct location of the wheel.
After balancing – your machine must give a zero weight required reading. You may proceed to install the wheels back onto the vehicle.
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Every time a wheel is first mounted ontoavehiclewith a new tyre, it has to be balanced. This is done to ensure the weight is evenly distributed throughout each of the wheels and tyres on a vehicle.
Wheelsandtyresare neverexactlythesameweight aroundtheirentyrecircumference.Thewheel’s valve stem hole will usually subtract a small amount of weight from that side of the wheel. Tyres will also have slight weight imbalances, whether from a joining point of the cap plies or a slight deviation from being perfectly round.
Balancingtyres evens out heavy and light spots ina wheel so it rotates smoothly. Even a slight differenceintheweightofawheelcancauseenough momentum to create a vibration in the car. At high speeds, even the tiniest imbalance in weight can become a large imbalance in outward force. This can make the wheel and tyre assembly spin in a heavy and uneven motion and cause uneven and damaging wear on your tyres.
Maintaining proper wheel balance is a critical part of maintaining the life of the tyre. Also, proper wheel balancing ensures your vehicle runs more
The Top Tips for Wheel Balancing 5
smoothly and you have a vibration and noise free ride.
Lead free tape-on weights are available for balancingtyres.Therearetwo types of wheel balancing, static and dynamic. Static means an object is stationary. Therefore, before computer balancing,staticbalancing wasperformedwiththe wheel atrest.
Improper wheel balance is the most common cause of tyre vibration. Often a tyre will appear to be round and true when rotated slowly. However, when one side is heavier than the other, centrifugal force tries to throw the heavy area outward during operation.
How do you mount and balance tyres safely?
1. Inspect your machines. Inspect your mounting and balancing machines on a regular basis and always make sure you’re performing all the maintenance that’s required. Always look for any evident air leaks and that all the operating parts are working correctly, from the bead loosening system to the tool arms. The objective is to prevent surprises during operation. Always keep the operator manual close by and make
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sure all the decals, labels and notices are clean and visible to the operator, especially around potential pinch points. Operators should never attempt to over-ride a machine’s built-in safety features.
2. Use protective equipment. Make sure operators wear safety glasses, durable clothing, steel-toed shoes and other safety gear. Do not wear anythingthatishanginglooseorloose-fittingclothing/accessories. You don’t want to get caught up in the moving parts of the equipment.It is recommended that you wear gloves, expeciallyifyouareworkingwithworntyresor wheels. Ear protection is just as important. Getting into the habit of using protective equipment is a function of the shop owner’s policies.
3. Match tyres to rims correctly. It should be part of your standard operating procedure on every tyre you service to look at the size of the new tyre before mounting it. Mismatching tyres and wheelscanleadtoinjuryduringinflation.Alwaysverify tyre and wheel sizing.
4. Examine the wheel closely. Inspect the wheel closely for cracks, rust or any other damage from curbing or a pothole, which can deform therim.Becauseseatingcanbecomedifficultwhen working with a structurally compromised
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rim, operators may be tempted to use more air than is recommended, which can result in injury. Wheels must be cleaned before balancing – check for mud, stones lodged in tyre treads.
5. Body positioning. When mounting, technicians shouldkeeptheirfingersawayfromthebeadseat area to avoid injury. Fingers can be caught between the bead and the rim. Furthermore, operators should avoid positioning any part of their bodies over the tyre and rim assembly duringtheinflationprocess.
6. Don’t loosen beads before the tyre has been fully deflated. This can cause a lot of movement againstthebumperandexcessivewearonthemachine. You can have a blast of air that the technicianisn’texpectingandthatcancertainlycause the wheel to jump. Do not smoke while loosening beads either. Tyres can contain flammablesubstances.Youneverknowwhatwillcome out of an tyre.
7. Don’t force the issue when mounting. If you can’tseatabead,something’swrong.Deflatethetyre completely, inspect the tyre and the wheel, and re-lubricate both beads. If you take it apart anddon’tfindanyproblemsandstillcan’tgetitto seat, you need to think about contacting the manufacturers.
8. Never remove the hood on a wheel balancer.
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The hood is there to retain the tyre should it comelooseandkeepthingsfromflyingoffasthe assembly is spinning. Also make sure the assemblydoesn’tflyofftheshaft.Everywheelbalancer must come with a quicknut/wingnut that tightens the wheel to the balancer shaft.
9. Use the right weights and apply them correctly. It may seem like a minor point, but an inattentive operator can run the risk of injuring himself by hitting on incorrectly sized wheel weights. Make sure you use the appropriate weights.
10. Slow down. Don’t let your machine operators skipstepsinanefforttospeedupthemountingand balancing process. No matter how busy your shop is, make sure they take the time to do the job correctly. Safety is important!
How to protect your investment in equipment
For best results in both safety and performance, mounting and balancing machines — especially state-of-the-art models — must be kept in good working condition. All the tool arms — and anywhere there’s metal-to-metal joints or movement — should be cleaned with a vaporizing solvent and then lubricated. The table top, the clamps and all of your work surfaces should be
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wipedoffwithavaporizingsolventonceamonth.
Inspect the clamps, looking for any worn or damaged grips.
Check the tyre pressure gauge function daily and check its accuracy monthly. We recommend checking the function of the pressure limiter on a weekly basis. You also want to check your oil level weekly.
Daily maintenanc: before you get going, inspect and make sure all of your systems are operating normally.
There’s less to check for on balancers thanks to fewer moving parts. Keep the display clean and clear. Wipe the display down with a damp cloth. You want to keep your adaptors and cones clean.
In a high volume shop, a good balancer can last up to seven years or longer depending on how you look after your equipment.
Maintenance is of the utmost importance together with safety. If you don’t maintain your equipment, any safety initiative you undertake will most likely be for naught.
10 Integrated Marketing www.integratedmarketing.co.za | 012 664 3445 | [email protected]
Wheel balancer equipment available
CB900 Econo wheel
balancerMaxrimdiameter-24”Maxwheelweight-65kg
CB66Car wheel balancer
Maxrimdiameter-24”Maxwheelweight-65kg
CB75Passenger wheel
balancer with laser pointer
Maxrimdiameter-28”Maxwheelweight-70kg
EaglePassenger wheel
balancer with laser pointer
Maxrimdiameter-28”Maxwheelweight-70kg
CB78Passenger wheel
balancer with sonar measurement
Maxrimdiameter-28”Maxwheelweight-70kg
CB46Truck wheel balancerMaxrimdiameter-28”
Maxwheelweight-200kg
XTB820Battery operated & handspun
wheel balancerMaxrimdiameter-24”Maxwheelweight-65kg
XTB1200Mobile hand spun wheel
balancerMaxrimdiameter-24”
Maxwheelweight-120kg
