vibration at cruise speed By borris120 (Read 422 times)

[borris120]

Hi, I was just curious about how many members cruise above 60 mph and have experienced vibrations originating at the wheels. My 250 is starting to get some shake coming from the wheels at around 50+ mph and one shop tells me that I should spend $45 per wheel to get them balanced, other shop says hogwash and that it is the bearings. No noticeable play in bearings when parked, but I know that it wouldnt take much at higher speeds to give me the shake I am getting. 'At the end of the day...' my mechanic tells me '... if you want to go 80, then buy a motorcycle.' Does anyone change/balance their own tires?

Boris

[jenningsjosh]

I can't say I get up past 65.. but my vibrations happen under 15mph and that's it... the faster the smoother.. are your tires in decent shape? Any cupping? 45 bux to balance a tire is way way high..

[borris120]

In SLC the best way to get somewhere is on the beltway or by one of the other two interstate highways. That way you can get anywhere in the valley in 15-20 minutes. I understand that whereas the bike 'can' go 80, that doesnt mean it was built to sustain 80 for long periods of time.
The local 'scooter' shop most people point to is primarily an ATV place. Their apparent philosophy is that scooters are gay, but if you want to throw money at them, they will take it and then take a dump on your bike and say something about how crappy your scooter is.
Tread very well could be cupping, the suspension does correspond to that scenario. Additionally each tire has gone flat once within the last two months. Although each was not ridden on long, each time I limped the bike to a service station. Might just need to can the lot. Vibration at 60 will be about 2 seconds on the front tire, then 2 seconds on the rear, rinse and repeat.

I watched another dealer purchase a tire from his supplier for $18, so he can mark it up to $45. So if I pay $45 for each tire, then go to the other place to have them balanced for another $45x2 = $180 before taxes.

[borris120]

I saw a tutorial on changing a motorcycle tire, I believe on scooterdoc, does anyone know if scooter tires have a balance point, or a mark indicating the heaviest point of the tire to offset the valve? If there is such a mark, I doubt the two commercial tire businesses which do not stock or service motorcycle tires and merely helped me as a favor knew about how to properly orient the tire. In any event, I feel that the vibrations have taken a toll on the bearings, and that I should also look into replacing the bearings when I do the tires.
Are there any bearing manufacturers/distributors one should stay away from or gravitate towards?

[jct842]

In 8 pirelli scooter tires I have bought in the last few years for all of my scooters I have yet to see one that needed balancing. The yellow dot goes next to the valve stem. I am 71yo and if I can change my own scooter tires shouldn't you? Bearings if you lift the wheel off ground and slowly rotate wheel if you feel any thing at all in your finger tips it will probably be the bearing or a brake dragging. It should be totally smooth. Of the three scooters the hardest one to change was the riva with the 10" wheels. the 12" chinese and the majesty were a piece of cake. If you have a cheap tire that's out of balance use dyna beads. If you take it off to balance, you take a rope with a big nut tied to it and pass free end thru the bearing hole and tie it to the over head joist in your garage. Stick weights to the high side of wheel to get balance. If you suspect out of round lift wheel on scooter just off the ground with centerstand and place something under it with a small clearance, then rotate by hand to see if clearance changes. If it does by much its time for a new tire.....no cure available/

[borris120]

I appreciate that jct842. I've heard of dyna beads and have thought of getting some to try out, possibly in this case. There is a motorcycle wheel balancing stand at harbor freight for $20 I think, so I will probably get that, but I like the improvisation of the rope and will use that in a pinch. I will also be checking for out of round and cupping. Worst case, if it takes too much time, I'll just get the tires. Again, two different mechanics worked on the two different tires at different times, I am almost sure the balance mark was not properly oriented, so I will probably start there. Thanks again!

Boris

[jct842]

I think about half the shops I have seen use a form or variation of the rope thing. It is actually a stand with a thin metal rod that goes through the axle hole and hooks to a tapered "nut". If you use a cord around the size of a clothes line or slightly smaller and tie to a nut around3/4 to 1 inch, just big enough that it won't go inside the axle hole. use some stick on weights 2 at a time, one for each side of rim.
A good scooter tire should not need any or very little weight to balance, cheap garbage tires will need weights and you will find there are other benifits to a good tire besides easy to balance. AND occasionally it is not the tire but the rim, they are cast and some times off center as well.