View Full Version : Retyred
The Stranger
28th September 2005, 10:46
Would it be considered normal to balance a bike tyre when it is installed as you would expect say when replacing a car tyre?
Bit of a different experience.
Needed a couple of new tyres on the cage so go into Andy Harper they offer me a selection, remove the old, install the new, balance them, fit the wheels, pull out the torque wrench and torque the wheel nuts correctly then ask me what pressure I wanted to run and set all tyres accordingly.
Got a puncture on the Bike yesterday and took it to the local bike repairer. He advises that there is a cut cord and that I should replace the tyre. Ok so he offers a selection removes the old, fits the wheel, does the axle nut up with the rattle gun (axle spinning all the while) and says there you go.
No torque wrench, no balance and no setting the pressure.
Juan
28th September 2005, 10:48
I would insist on balance, things can get a bit out of control with a badly out of balance front wheel..... be carefull
MSTRS
28th September 2005, 10:49
Would it be considered normal to balance a bike tyre when it is installed as you would expect say when replacing a car tyre?
Bit of a different experience.
Needed a couple of new tyres on the cage so go into Andy Harper they offer me a selection, remove the old, install the new, balance them, fit the wheels, pull out the torque wrench and torque the wheel nuts correctly then ask me what pressure I wanted to run and set all tyres accordingly.
Got a puncture on the Bike yesterday and took it to the local bike repairer. He advises that there is a cut cord and that I should replace the tyre. Ok so he offers a selection removes the old, fits the wheel, does the axle nut up with the rattle gun (axle spinning all the while) and says there you go.
No torque wrench, no balance and no setting the pressure.
Probably more common than you'd think. Tell'em you're not happy with their standard of care in this instance. If no-one tells'em, why would they change the way they do things?
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 10:51
not ballance a tyre? they fukin mad?
I'd hate to be doing 150 round a corner to have it bouncing away.. Take it back and get it done. Then kick him up the arse rather harshly
As for the pressure, hopefully they were paying attention when they were filling it with air.
Where was this? We want names..
Sniper
28th September 2005, 10:54
What they said and get them to bloody pay you danger money
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 10:55
What they said and get them to bloody pay you danger money
think I could go to Kawa on that line..??
Sniper
28th September 2005, 10:55
think I could go to Kawa on that line..??
They will just put riding a Kawa down to brain damage, sorry mate :killingme
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 11:01
They will just put riding a Kawa down to brain damage, sorry mate :killingme
ooooo..... that's a red-rep offence from every kawa rider here..
altho brain damage does help
Sniper
28th September 2005, 11:02
I have a clip somewhere of a guy riding the new 636 and when he climbs off, he pukes. So I suppose they can't be that bad........ (I do want a ZX10R though)
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 11:08
I have a clip somewhere of a guy riding the new 636 and when he climbs off, he pukes. So I suppose they can't be that bad........ (I do want a ZX10R though)
ask WL's first impressions of the 636. He was shaking before he even got on it..
anyway, back on track..
The Stranger
28th September 2005, 11:17
As for the pressure, hopefully they were paying attention when they were filling it with air.
Where was this? We want names..
Yeah he was paying attention. Pump it up hard to expand the tyre onto the rim then put the valve in as the air is pissing out, thump the tyre and that was it.
I was certainly feeling more vibration than usual, but could not say if it was simply the different tread pattern or a balance issue. Thank you all for your responses I shall take it back and insist on a balance.
Damon
28th September 2005, 11:24
Thats not cool, take it back and tell him you've got a shake at 100k's and what him to fit it properly
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 11:29
Yeah he was paying attention. Pump it up hard to expand the tyre onto the rim then put the valve in as the air is pissing out, thump the tyre and that was it.
I was certainly feeling more vibration than usual, but could not say if it was simply the different tread pattern or a balance issue. Thank you all for your responses I shall take it back and insist on a balance.
yeah, I'd take it back and just fob some story about how it doesn't feel right, so you want it ballanced (if you're a winging pom like me), or if you're 'ard, then just say it needs ballancing.
They shouldn't charge you for anything and hopefully they won't do it to any other bikes!! That's quite bad practice for a bike shop
vifferman
28th September 2005, 11:31
The decent tyre places will not only balance it, but if it's a wide tyre (such as a 180 or wider rear), they'll dynamically balance it so that it's balanced across the width of the tyre as well as in the other planes. Instead of just fitting one weight in the middle of the rim, they may end up fitting smaller stick-on weights either side of the rim in different places.
Even the rear tyre can be important, as an out-of-balance rear tyre can cause headshake.
So yeah - definitely get it properly balanced.
Lou Girardin
28th September 2005, 11:41
Would it be considered normal to balance a bike tyre when it is installed as you would expect say when replacing a car tyre?
Bit of a different experience.
Needed a couple of new tyres on the cage so go into Andy Harper they offer me a selection, remove the old, install the new, balance them, fit the wheels, pull out the torque wrench and torque the wheel nuts correctly then ask me what pressure I wanted to run and set all tyres accordingly.
Got a puncture on the Bike yesterday and took it to the local bike repairer. He advises that there is a cut cord and that I should replace the tyre. Ok so he offers a selection removes the old, fits the wheel, does the axle nut up with the rattle gun (axle spinning all the while) and says there you go.
No torque wrench, no balance and no setting the pressure.
You won't be going there again then?
They should balance the tyre and check chain tension too. It may cost extra to adjust it, but it's easy enough to check it.
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 11:52
You won't be going there again then?
They should balance the tyre and check chain tension too. It may cost extra to adjust it, but it's easy enough to check it.
on one hand, if the back wheel is just coming off and going straight back on, the chain tension shouldn't need adjusting, I wouldn't have thought..
but on the other hand - I'd consider that as part of 'fitting'.. They took the wheel off, as far as I'm concerned and in the nicest possible way - it's their job to make sure I can ride my bike safely on the new tyre(s) they've just fitted. It's a package deal as far as I'm concerned.
The Stranger
28th September 2005, 12:56
Ok the storey continues.
Thanks to you lot I went back armed with a bit more certainty and spoke to the man.
He offered a genuine appology and corrected the situation. He said that he was distracted. I knew his attention was elsewhere. Amazing the effect a redhead biker babe can have on a guy isn't it?
In some ways though I am pleased he found her more attractive than me.
He thanked me for the oppertunity to put it right and said most others would just have slanged him off. So I am real pleased that I did not name the place aye.
And they all lived happily ever after.
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 13:57
good, glad to hear a happy ending..
Damon
28th September 2005, 13:57
A happy ending, good on you for going back,
i'm like most "other people", i would have slagged him off and gone somewhere else, perhaps i'm just an asshole....ok i am, but i expect things to be done right the first time, thats what i'm paying for and if it doesnt happen i'll go somewhere where it does.
Glad to hear it's all sorted tho
Lou Girardin
28th September 2005, 14:57
Ok the storey continues.
Thanks to you lot I went back armed with a bit more certainty and spoke to the man.
He offered a genuine appology and corrected the situation. He said that he was distracted. I knew his attention was elsewhere. Amazing the effect a redhead biker babe can have on a guy isn't it?
In some ways though I am pleased he found her more attractive than me.
He thanked me for the oppertunity to put it right and said most others would just have slanged him off. So I am real pleased that I did not name the place aye.
And they all lived happily ever after.
That's fair enough as far as it goes, but I'd hope he doesn't get distracted while working on brakes or damn near anything on a bike.
Zed
28th September 2005, 15:06
Yeah he was paying attention. Pump it up hard to expand the tyre onto the rim then put the valve in as the air is pissing out, thump the tyre and that was it.
I was certainly feeling more vibration than usual, but could not say if it was simply the different tread pattern or a balance issue. Thank you all for your responses I shall take it back and insist on a balance.If I witnessed him doing (or not doing) that I would have asked him at the time to attend to it. You would have soon found out if he simply forgot, or if he's that negligent all the time [Edit: "distracted" often]...he needs to sort it out either way!
I remember a tyre-guy last year removing my rear wheel when I interrupted him and said..."ahem, front remember!" :weird:
The Stranger
28th September 2005, 21:10
Footnote...
The rattle gun achieved 35ft-lb.
The specified torque is 70ft-lb.
Some other bikes have higher torques specified for the axle nut.
bugjuice
28th September 2005, 21:20
Footnote...
The rattle gun achieved 35ft-lb.
The specified torque is 70ft-lb.
Some other bikes have higher torques specified for the axle nut.
ouch.. my bike specs are 96lb.. might go check mine later.. but I know my bike has a split pin in the axle at least
gav
28th September 2005, 23:19
And what pressure did he adjust the tyre to?
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