wheel balance beads

[arizaino]

I have a n issue with balancing. I have a 15 Streetglide special which I powder coated the front wheel. I had a new tire put on it and I was asked if I wanted to go with beads for an extra $10. I told them yes. With beads, I notice a 70 mph or higher shake/wobble. I removed the powder coated wheel with the new tire and installed a stock wheel and tire, walla! no more shake/wobble. I'm not sure how the beads work to balance. I think that perhaps, with the powder coating to a stock wheel, it changes the weight of the wheel? Is there a predetermined amount of beads that correlate with factory wheels? Puzzled !! I feel I may be better off with removing beads and going with stick on weights. Any thoughts??

__________________
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark !

 

[langwilliams]

Wonder if it could be out of balance more that the beads can counter....Can you take it to the place that installed the tire an have them run it on their balance machine? might have to add more beads or a small stick on weight.

 

[arizaino]

I was thinkin the same thing. I'll bring the tire/wheel back this week and see what happens. Thanks for the reply

 

[arizaino]

Wonder if it could be out of balance more that the beads can counter....Can you take it to the place that installed the tire an have them run it on their balance machine? might have to add more beads or a small stick on weight.

Well, here's the verdict.....I brought the wheel back to where I purchased the tire and had the install done. They won't honor my concern, if I want to remove the beads and static balance the tire, I would be charged $53.00. I told them "On Any Moto", "wow, this is a game changer, I won't be doing business with you anymore". I brought my wheel/tire to the local Honda shop "Musselman's Honda" and requested the beads removed and a static balance quote. I was quoted: 15 minutes labor and material, $23.00. I had them remove the beads, static balance, using black stick on weights. Perfect !!! All is back to smooth riding again. Not happy with my balance beads journey. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[langwilliams]

Glad you got it worked out. There's a Honda dealer close to me...it's about 3 miles away an the HD dealership is 12 miles away, I've had wheel bearing swapped out an tires mounted an balanced at the Honda place a few times. HD is just crazy with their labor quotes.

 

[BT802]

I'd say whoever balanced them with the beads just did so incorrectly. I also powder coated my front wheel this year and had it balanced with beads and have had zero issues.