Balancing Tires??

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:29 pm

Well today the new tires arrived, so I took a few minutes off work to fit them. Needless to say, I didn't have the right sized tubes for the new 110/80-18 front and 130/80-18 BT45s, but I has one that was close enough. The rims are aluminum 2.15 front and 3.00 rear, and the tires a good match.

Ten minutes in and I managed to pinch that tube and created 4 holes - from one pinch event.

So I drive the 40 mile round trip and pick up new tubes and slip them on and finally wrestle the rims up into position. I won't tell you how much pressure it took, but it was quite a substantial number.

I bolted the front wheel in and THEN I see the rim tape still on the bench. I know the weather was hot and sticky and I was tired, but there is no excuse for that sort of brainlessness.

So off comes the wheel and by now it's time for dinner. After dinner i finish removing and replacing the tire and tube and I'm all done by 10pm.

So much for a ten minute job.

Tomorrow if I have a spare 5 minutes, I'll balance those wheels - or maybe not....

diamondj · Post by **diamondj** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:37 pm

It's times like that when the shops that *only* want $25 to $30 per tire for a mount and balance start to seem reasonable.....

skids · Post by **skids** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:49 am

To get the best effect try to be creative when you swear... and you will be swearing before those !#$%^ get back on the bike

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:37 pm

The real problem was my attitude. I knew it would be quick, so I wasn't dressed appropriately, and it was hot so I didn't want to change clothes or change into something more suitable.

Any mistake I make is clearly all my own doing.

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:12 pm

I ended up pulling the front tire back off a day or two after the last post. Found a verrryyy small hole, patched it, carefully put it all back together. By then I was getting good at it, didn't take long at all.

Been riding for a couple weeks now, no problems. It was definately worth both saving $75, and going through the learning experiance. Next time will just be easier.

tz375, it'll take longer than 5 minutes to balance them. I did it while watching TV, just spun the tire, and at the next commercial, checked the tire, added weight, spun it again, waited till the next commercial, and then repeat. Otherwise you get really bored watching that tire go round and round waiting for it to stop.

Tip: Just spin the tire hard enough for a complete revolution, it will stop quicker then.
Kevin

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Kevin,

that was the point. if a ten minute job takes most of the day a 5 minute job will take how long?

diamondj · Post by **diamondj** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:49 am

tz375 wrote:Kevin,

that was the point. if a ten minute job takes most of the day a 5 minute job will take how long?

Umm, let's see... carry the 2.... Half of most of the day?

Jim