Old tire tech (still works though)

[DrMoab]

So I really didn't feel like paying the 12 bucks a tire to get my tires balanced. My dad said he still had this old tire machine in the back of his garage from when he used to own a shop. I thought "what the hell, what is there to lose?"

Well he pulls out this machine that looks like it belongs on the set of back to the future. It consists of a big electric motor, a strobe light and a weird looking magnet on a stick.

Here is how it works.

You jack up one tire, in my case you have to disconnect the drive shaft. It didn't have the power to handle the job with all the parts spinning.

You stick the weird magnet on a stick under the axle and as the tire spins, and the heavy part hits the bottom it moves a sensor on that stick which kicks on the strobe light.

Then you spin that sucker up. It gets moving quite a bit faster than it would going down the highway.

The amazing thing... IT WORKS!!!

My tires are now running smoother than they ever did after I got a balance job done from a tire shop.

Never discount old tech.

 

[BKCowGod]

absolutely terrifying. and completely awesome.

 

[Bullseye240]

I have one of those at home from my dads old shop. I actually had to use it once at a tire shop I helped run. A customer with True Spoke wire wheels on an older Jaguar was not happy with his balance. With True Spoke wire wheels it is the only way you'll get rid of any vibration as they will not center on a regular off car balancer. You have to guesstimate the weight as the scale on the strobe will only get you close. My dads old one also had a hubcap looking device with four knobs that you held while you placed your head against the fender to detect the vibration. You adjusted the knobs untill you had it smooth. You then stopped it and it would tell you how much weight and where to place it on both sides of the tire/wheel assembly. They both balance the entire rotating assembly so you have to reference mark the stud/lug if you need to remove the tire. If you rotate the tires you will have to start all over again. But they are the most effective method of balancing there is.

 

[tommudd]

Haven't seen one of those for years. Started in the tire business in the early 70s and hated to use them,... at first!

 

[DrMoab]

and hated to use them,... at first!

I would hate to use them if I worked in a tire shop but I have to say it was a pleasure NOT to pay a tire shop 12 bucks a wheel to get mine done.

I will go through a lot of manual labor not to give someone else 50 bucks of my hard earned money.