Hey all, I had a local shop install new tires on my bike. When I went back to pick the wheels up everything looked ok, I paid the guy and headed back home. As soon as I got home I got a phone call from the shop asking if one of my wheels was missing a weight. Sure enough, I checked the rear wheel and there was nothing on it. Apparently the weight fell off as I carried it out of the shop.

At this point I'm kinda peeved since it's a 24 mile drive one way to the shop. At $4.30 a gallon I really try to avoid driving my gas guzzling truck very far but I needed the wheels done that day so I drove all the way back there. He apologized and explained to me that because of new government regulations they aren't allowed to use lead weights anymore, they have to use steel. The problem is that steel doesn't bend as easily as lead so they are having a lot of trouble getting the weights to form to the wheel and stick. That's understandable I guess.

Anyway, he rebalanced the wheel and sent me on my way. I got both wheels installed without a problem and I didn't think anything more of it. Well, last night I walked past the bike and I noticed a wheel weight laying on the ground. I quick look revealed that the front wheel was dropping weights! (End rant)

So my questions are...
Anyone else having this issue?
Can I reinstall the weight myself? I can sorta see where it was stuck on the rim, does it matter if it's 1/8" or so off?
What kind of adhesive should I use?

Thanks.

 

eh you could give it a shot, get some double sided 3m tape from advanced auto or wherever you prefer and put it on where you thought it was. Go for a ride. Notice any vibrations?

That's really all it will be is a lumpy tire feeling (kind of). You won't notice it at parking lot speed, but it might start around 35ish. Again, depends. Give it a shot, you don't really have anything to lose

 

^agree! if that will not work just take the whole bike there make them take everything apart and re-balance the wheel

 

Get dyna beads. Thats what every shop around here uses. My tires balance themselves everytime i start to move. Its a great advance in just plain weights.

 

+1

YouTube - DynaBeads demo video

 

Never heard of those before.

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm gonna try heating the weights up with a heat gun and then use C-clamps to hold them tight to the rim. I'll let you know how it goes.

Those dyna beads look pretty sweet, never head of them before. If I didn't already have my tires installed and the wheels on the bike I'd give it a shot...but I don't feel like ripping the bike apart again.

The thing that worries me is that there is quite a bit of weight added, 12 grams on the rear wheel and 6 on the front. If those things come shooting off at highway speeds they're gonna do some damage. I may just take the bike to the shop and make them take the wheels off and rebalance them for me.

 

it looks like you can put the dynabeads in with the wheels on the bike. Just put them in through the valve stem. no?

 

Yeah Nick - Their website says they'll go in thru the valvestem with the core removed. The kit is relatively cheap - ~$20 @ rockymountainatv.com.

thinking about having my wheels repainted - would love to not have weights on them afterward.

 

You can try a small strip of colored duct tape that matches your wheel. That's what we did when I raced years ago.