Wheel Balancing Beads

QUOTE=donald branscom;233821]I wonder if you put in just a little more beads if that would correct the problem.
They just give a 2 oz. recommendation but maybe a little more or a little less is the answer.[/QUOTE]

Actually, I belive on the G-Wing they reccomend more weight for some reason that is contradictory to the normal tire size/weight application chart. See here:

Dyna Beads

And I'm runnin them front and rear according to the chart in my 6th gen, love em! :thumbsup:

 

Brings on an interesting argument (somebody mentioned this earlier). Regardless of the model...you don't know how much weight it takes to balance a wheel until you've balanced it. Sometimes balance is achieved with no weight at all, sometimes it takes 90 grams. So how do you know for sure how many beads to add?

If you don't add enough, they can't possibly balance the wheel. If you add too many, do excess just roll around the rim harmlessly as someone mentioned? Do the beads know what to do? I don't buy it.

 

tmi, wtmi - wtf!

 

@ speed they will constantly roll around the inside of the tire due to centripetal force. Too little would be bad as you would not have enough to CORRECT an imbalance but a little too much will just re-distribute itself to keep in balance. Too a point, I suppose you could put in WAY too much and have a problem, but it would have to be a lot!! I know this sounds like a lot of bs and snake oil, but they do work. Just think about how much balance there is naturally occouring in nature, you're just letting nature and allready existing forces help balance your tires @ a constant variable to take up for heat, wear, shit stuck in your tire, etc. instead of trying to correct what is likely not a very localized small spot imbalance with a little chunk of lead or other media stuck in one spot or a couple instead of evenly distributed. Dunno if that makes sense in anyone else's head but I am kinda :crazy:

 

Please...I was just trying to provide some honest adivce for my fellow VFRW members.

How many of you all watch porn? Well start acting that stuff out!

Celebrate those marriage relationships!

BZ

 

The critical assumption being made about dyna beads is they will 'find' the imbalance and arrange themselves in that spot via centrifugal force of the wheel. I would speculate their movement being too random and chaotic to be of much use.

I KNOW from personal experience the time honored tradition of balancing wheels with weight works well.

 

I agree with your statement, and shared your skeptical view before I tried them my self as well. I too KNOW from personal experience that traditional balancing with weights works well. I also KNOW that every so often you must REBALANCE the wheels due to wear, etc. BTW, I've been wrenching professionally for quite a while now, ASE Master Re-certified, along with more GM certs than I care to list, so, I'm not just talkin out my ass here. Not tryin to start a pissin match with anyone, just stating what I know, and what I've experienced.:soapbox:

 

It looks like it cost a few bucks for those beads. I'll bet "BB's" will do the same thing. Even small buckshot.

DBS-BP1 Bike Pack #1 - (2) 1 oz Premeasured Tubes $8.25
DBS-BP2 Bike Pack #2 - (1) 1 oz + (1) 2 oz Premeasured Tube $10.49
DBS-BP3 Bike Pack #3 - (2) 2 oz Premeasured Tubes $12.75
DBS-BP4 Bike Pack #4 - (1) 2 oz + (1) 3 oz Premeasured Tube $15.99
DBS-FVC Filtered Valve Core - for angled & bent valve stems $1.10

I've never used them so I'm just swaging it. Always static balanced my wheels.

 

You use judgement and experience of past experiences and reports of riders with similar motorcycles.
I don't think beads know anything....they are just beads.

 

They don't slosh around in the tire, and yes, they do "find" the lighter point(s) in the tire upon rotating quickly enough. I'm no rocket scientist, but I believe it has something to do with physics. Here's a video that demonstrates the concept. From using them, I can attest to them working great. It's just that above a certain tire RPM, it seems like something happens where they don't stay pinned in the light spot in the tire: YouTube - DynaBeads demo video by Evolution Cycles

From experience, they do work well within highway speed limits. There are times though that I don't exactly do what the sign on the side of the road says. To me, it's more of a guide than a rule.

 

Jumping in late to the party, but I use the beads in both of my bikes. Smooth as silk. I run the CBR at the track at 130+ mph and it's just as smooth. I learned about these beads from a guy I work with. He and his father swear by them and haven't used anything else in years, street or track.

 

Cool. I'm in with my next change (hope to get better miles with Angels!). I'm never happy with the way those lead weights stick, and they look nass.

 

Update:

I took the CBR to the track a week ago Sunday. After I got everything taped off I notice that the wheels were pretty dirty so I decided to clean them. When I was cleaning the front I noticed I still had a wheel weight taped on it! Not thinking much about it I pulled it off and then had an "Oh, shit..." moment.

I finished cleaning and then weighed the weight. It was 3/4 oz. I had no idea what to expect at the track. I already had the bike prepped and did want to take it out on the street with no mirrors, lights, etc. I am happy to say that I had no problems at the track from removing the wheel weight. The dynabeads still worked!

I was talking to my friend's Dad about it at the track, he agreed that if the beads aren't working then you don't have enough in the tire. Some require more than others. We put 2 oz. in my tires on both bikes.

He also said that if I take my tire and cut it after it is worn out I will find that it is very evenly worn. The beads will keep the tire balanced throughout it's life.

 

Dyna beads...or whatever they are called are ceramic little balls...I assume one could pour them in the valve stem with the valve removed and the tire installed. Yes...they will flop all over the floor once removed from a tire and no they wont destroy your tire because they are ceramic and not ball bearings.

I was planning to give them a go for my tire replacement but since I got the wrong tire on it'll have to wait until I get the tire off and the new one arrives...

4 ounces required for a rear tire..BTW..

 

Dyna beads...or whatever they are called are ceramic little balls...I assume one could pour them in the valve stem with the valve removed and the tire installed. Yes...they will flop all over the floor once removed from a tire and no they wont destroy your tire because they are ceramic and not ball bearings.

I was planning to give them a go for my tire replacement but since I got the wrong tire on it'll have to wait until I get the tire off and the new one arrives...

4 ounces required for a rear tire..BTW..

 

From what I've read, and from thinking about the problem, beads/powder are going to have an ideal speed range where they work best that will depend on a lot of factors. Too slow, and it rolls around, never balancing out (even the videos will show that until it gets up to speed, vibration is present). Too fast, and where the beads collect will not necessarily balance the wheel. The beads will roll around the tire to the point where they are subjected to the the greatest "centrifugal force" (yeah, not a real force, but the concept is useful).

AFAIK, they were originally developed for commercial trucks, which for almost their entire life will run within a narrow range of speeds continuously. On the other hand, motorcycles (especially during a spirited ride) subject their tires to a wider range of speeds, and are more likely to be varying their speed frequently. I think this is why some people have problems with vibrations above a specific speed. There are a lot of factors, and I think you'd just have to try it to find out if your MC+tire combination will have problems.