Wheel balance?

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:46 pm

Do Buddys need to have their wheels balanced?

I don't have a shimmy or wobble but do notice that I'm unwilling to remove one hand from the bars when I'm going more than 30 because there is some vibration in the front end.

When I say "some" I mean that it's minimal, but maybe other people's scoots don't have any vibration in the front end at all.

If that's the case, I think I should have my dealer take a look or a test ride to be sure all is OK with Scootle.

It might just be a case of me not knowing any better so I could think the vibration is normal.

Thanks.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:10 pm

Could it be my tire pressure?

Just went to the basement and Scootle had 26 in the rear and 24 in the front.

Put both up to 31. Unfortunately it's raining here now (was gorgeous all day) so I can't test my theory.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:04 am

No responses? I did a wheel balance search and got nothing definitive.

Anyone know?

Thanks,

Jeff

Post by **illnoise** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:07 am

Sounds like tire pressure was maybe your problem, but I've been wondering about balance too. Someone asked a few weeks ago, and no one answered.

Anyone know?

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:11 am

I'll definitely take Scootle out tomorrow AM when I go to breakfast. Will put her through her slow-speed and high-speed paces to see if upping the pressure solved the issue.

If that did it, I'll be slightly surprised because my 500-mile service was last Friday and I figure for the $100 fee I should have probably gotten a look-see at tire pressure.

Maybe they did look and I'm living in bizarro world where when it gets hotter the tire pressures drop.

But seriously, I'd rather not go all the way back down to have them search for an issue if there is none. Will post my findings after breakfast.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:15 am

I know this issued has been raised on Stellaspeed before and the consensus was scooter tires, because of their size, did not need to be balanced.
Is the tire pressure really supposed to be as high as 31?

Campbell990 · Post by **Campbell990** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:26 am

The manufacturer recommends 30 psi. on the Buddy.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:30 am

Johnny wrote:I know this issued has been raised on Stellaspeed before and the consensus was scooter tires, because of their size, did not need to be balanced.
Is the tire pressure really supposed to be as high as 31?

Pumped it with the bike pump to 31 so when I removed the pump it would drop to 30 or so with the rush of air. I guess I could just go to a gas station but I don't want to spend too much time there. That's one of the reasons I got Scootle in the first place.

Leeroy Jenkins · Post by **Leeroy Jenkins** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:59 am

my bro's kymco 125 needed his front wheel balanced. alotta vibes

I have my own balancer. I have never balanced nor felt the need to balance my bud hoops

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:20 am

My mech balances tires by bouncing them.

When discussing PSI, be sure to specify what kind of tires you have on your Buddy. There are even several different stock tires on various years and models now, some of which will have differences in recommended PSI. One of many reasons to follow the tire manufacturer's recommendation, not whatever's in the Buddy manual.

Post by **illnoise** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:32 pm

ericalm wrote: One of many reasons to follow the tire manufacturer's recommendation, not whatever's in the Buddy manual.

If the tires are stock to that model, the sticker ON THE BIKE should be correct, right?

And by "Manufacturer's Recommendations" you don't mean the number printed on the sidewall, right? I think that's usually the "Max inflation" value and totally unrelated to the application (it would be too high), right?

Bb.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:46 pm

illnoise wrote:
ericalm wrote: One of many reasons to follow the tire manufacturer's recommendation, not whatever's in the Buddy manual.
If the tires are stock to that model, the sticker ON THE BIKE should be correct, right?

Yup. I think. Well, it should.

And yes—not the MAX inflation on the tires! That's asking for trouble!

djelliott · Post by **djelliott** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:17 pm

You could use wheel balancing powder. Some companies make it for motorcycles and scooters.

http://www.chemco.ca/Products/Wheel_Bal ... powder.htm

DJE

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:58 pm

Well, I went out and put a BUNCH of miles on Scootle today at the higher pressure.

And they were inflated to 30ish instead of the 24-26 they were at last night.

Wobble is still there but WAY LESS noticeable.

I now think it's an up and down movement and less side to side. But as I said earlier, it's tiny. It makes me nervous to take a hand off the bars if I'm going 35+, but otherwise I'm fine riding one-handed.

Jeff