| [GMCnet] New Topic-Balancing beads [message #128740] |
Sun, 05 June 2011 10:27  |
George DV
Messages: 132
Registered: August 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I am opening up a new topic since the discussion of use of balancing beads
has wandered.
There appears to be many name brands including Equal, Counteract, etc.
I had used Equal brand on my 78 EL2 for about 20k miles. I bought some 4 oz.
packs online and took them to Wallyworld with me when I bought 2 new fronts
in size 245-75/16 in the summer of 2005. As I recall I paid about $6-8 per
bag.
The grunts at Wallyworld were very 'reluctant' to install the packs [also
since I declined the 'road hazard extra-cost package! ], stating they had
never done this before. Sounds like an ole time honeymooner!.
I persisted and they complied, and beads have been in since with no adverse
effect that I can detect.
I am now shopping for 6 new tires for my 76 Glenbrook and am preparing a
cheaper and simpler remedy.
I bought from Wallyworld an industrial size plastic jug of air gun pellets
in sporting good area..
They offer a selection of colors but only the black ones are 'super weight',
and slightly more pricey, like $10+ instead of $9 per jug.
I measured these out into small plastic baggies and as I recall, it yielded
a dozen or so baggies. Not a bad deal for more than enuf.
I surfed the net and came up with a lot of info on the touting of beads or
marbles or even golf balls as a balancing media.
It has been out there for a long time.
Herein are some of the many videos which show in vivid color just what is
happening.
The first one, with the hand drill demo, is particularly interesting and
anyone can do it to convince themselves.
There was one site which did some mumbo jumbo about static electricity
forces and having been a grunt scientist at Xerox involved in electrostatics
several careers ago, I ain't buying that one.
Seems it is just a simple balance of forces phenomena.
[Rob, doesn't even involve SCALAR vectors!]
And interestingly, ever time you stop, the beads fall to the bottom; and at
start up, you get a new, fresh dynamic balance; this will compensate for
wear and tire life. And unlike lead weights, the beads also give you wobble
balance, that is, side to side..
Demo using a hand drill and a plastic water bottle.>>>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg
Demo video showing an intentionally off balance small wheel/tire and a
supplemental product which contains steel marbles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skY6qvzpNXI&feature=related
Chart denoting how much [by weight of beads] is required per tire size.
Seems like 4 oz. is right for our GMC's.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/chart.htm#CommercialChart
Should this chart be in our permanent reference files?
If one surfs, one can find many such demo sites, including installation
techniques; enuf to amuse for a while.
George DV
_____________
/ ][ ] [ ] [ ] \
o O_______O_O ]
1976 Glenbrook
HEI 455 Alcoas 3.70
225 Bridgestones
beautiful upstate NY
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Topic-Balancing beads [message #128752 is a reply to message #128740] |
Sun, 05 June 2011 12:32  |
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I told my GMC tire dealer/installer that I wanted a 5oz bag of balancing beads in each wheel. They were reluctant but agreed. Didn't charge me anything extra for this service even though they had to order in the beads.
Maybe it's a small town thing . . .
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Topic-Balancing beads [message #128761 is a reply to message #128740] |
Sun, 05 June 2011 12:55 |
fred v
Messages: 999
Registered: April 2006
Location: pensacola, fl.
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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tire shops don't like the stuff as they can't charge you for a balance job. i've use porcelain tumbling beads. you can even put 4 oz. of water in the tire and it will work. not good for the rim.
Fred V
'77 Royale RB 455
P'cola, Fl
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Topic-Balancing beads [message #128764 is a reply to message #128740] |
Sun, 05 June 2011 13:23 |
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I bought a bulk amount of Equal (couldn't get the individual pack) and
measured out the correct amount into sandwich bags. Then, off I went to Big
O where I had them put the powder in when mounting the tires on my new
Eagles that flew in under JimK's command.
The local Big O down the street had no problem because the owner of the
franchise used powder in the tires of his SOB.
Yes, there's a bit of bouncing around until you're above 35 mph for a few
hundred yards. Yes, each time you start out you get a "fresh" balance. Is it
the greatest thing since toilet paper? I don't think so.
Now, for the thrilling part. Am I sold on the idea? Two observations. (1) It
works. (2) Is it better than weights? I'm not convinced.
In my asking about you'll find truckers and fleet owners that swear by it
and others that swear against it.
I'm drawn to this conclusion -- It's a "feeling" thing. Some feel like it's
great and others don't feel convinced.
As I said, either way works. Choose your poison. However, be sure to "keep
your powder dry." And, as Ken Burton will tell you, let the repair guys know
it's in there in the even that you have to repair a tire.
Byron Songer
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Louisville, KY
Personal - http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Eastern States - http://www.gmceast.com
delve wrote:
> There appears to be many name brands including Equal, Counteract, etc.
> I had used Equal brand on my 78 EL2 for about 20k miles. I bought some 4 oz.
> packs online and took them to Wallyworld with me when I bought 2 new fronts
> in size 245-75/16 in the summer of 2005. As I recall I paid about $6-8 per
> bag.
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Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Topic-Balancing beads [message #128795 is a reply to message #128740] |
Sun, 05 June 2011 18:33 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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George,
Got a kick out of your comment about SCALAR vectors! ;-)
Ken Frey put 4 oz. of Equal in my Kumho tires when he mounted them back in
2008 and I was happy with the way it worked.
When I replaced the valve stems with Haltec TR-553 valve stems that would
accept the filtered Schrader valves the tire shop vacuumed out the old stuff
and put in 4 oz bags of Equal.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of delve
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 1:28 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] New Topic-Balancing beads
Seems it is just a simple balance of forces phenomena.
[Rob, doesn't even involve SCALAR vectors!]
George DV
_____________
/ ][ ] [ ] [ ] \
o O_______O_O ]
1976 Glenbrook
HEI 455 Alcoas 3.70
225 Bridgestones
beautiful upstate NY
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GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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