Centramatic Wheel Balancers
- Outback Jack
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Posts: 1357
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
I've just done seven years with tyres that were powder balanced when they were mounted in the USA, and been very happy with them; but I've been to two tyre fitters lately sounding them out about fitting new tyres that I have coming, and neither want to do powder balancing, both wanting to do external balancing (but offering no guarantees of satisfaction). They each have their arguments against powder balancing, and they see a lot more tyres than I do.
My one concern with powder balancing in the past has been that it may have stuffed up internal tyre pressure sensors. Neither of the fitters referred to above had that on their list of objections.
If Centramatics do work well, all issues would be addressed.
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Peter and Sandra OKA 374
- Offline
- Posts: 1321
They are a bit pricey here in Oz though. They won't cure massive imbalance but if you have the wheel and tyre balanced first they will cope with normal variations.
Hal did you ever have problems with valve blockage when lowereing tyre pressures? I tried the powder and despite fitting so called "filtered valves" which the powder wasn't supposed to get into they still blocked up.
Tyre fitters also hate the powder as it makes a huge mess and if you get damp air in the tyre from a compressor the powder tended to clump.
OKA 374 LT Van, converted to camper/motorhome,
400ah Lithiums, 1100w solar, diesel cooking heating and HWS,
Cummins 6BT, Allison 6 speed auto, Nissan transfer.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Outback Jack
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Posts: 1357
But if they save a few tyres, well might be ok.
Seems Hummer guys love them
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
Peter and Sandra James OKA 374 wrote: Hal did you ever have problems with valve blockage when lowereing tyre pressures? I tried the powder and despite fitting so called "filtered valves" which the powder wasn't supposed to get into they still blocked up.
Tyre fitters also hate the powder as it makes a huge mess and if you get damp air in the tyre from a compressor the powder tended to clump.
I never had a problem, and have mostly had valve stems that came with a TPMS butterfly on the inside - so nothing special; and I always use Staun deflators, which leave the valve in place (unlike an ARB deflator for instance). So that was probably just good luck with the type of grit that was used, but I might not be so lucky next time. I could also always picture the clumping with damp air getting pumped in, but would always expect that any clumps would very rapidly get smashed apart again anyway.
OBJ that's $200 for a set of four, not each, so lots better. Figure out which ones we should have and I'll get a set and try them. I'll put them straight on without pre-balancing and see if that works; if not I can always get the new wheels externally balanced and re-fit them.
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Aussie Iron
- Offline
- Posts: 29
Dan.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Outback Jack
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Posts: 1357
Might have to budget for them and give them a go....
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
Aussie Iron wrote: I use stainless tyre beads in my 315/75x16 tyres
Oh gawd, now too many options. Dan do they rattle at all? Any ideas how much weight you used in each tyre?
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Peter and Sandra OKA 374
- Offline
- Posts: 1321
The 16" alloys with 315 tyres never give a problem anyway, I ran with them unbalanced for a couple of thousand k's before I had them balanced and they were pretty well balanced without being done.
OKA 374 LT Van, converted to camper/motorhome,
400ah Lithiums, 1100w solar, diesel cooking heating and HWS,
Cummins 6BT, Allison 6 speed auto, Nissan transfer.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- PeteFox
- Offline
Are these supplied with 5/8" wheel stud holes or do they have to be drilled?
Pete Fox OKA266 MultiCab
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.byles.net/www.oka4wd.com/forum/membe...oka-266?limitstart=0
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Kav1050
- Offline
Here is the website for distributor Hal Mentioned. There is a page to reference the part number for specific fitting options.
www.truckalign.com.au/centramatic-balancing-system.html
Shane
OKA 423 Shane and Lisa
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
PeteFox wrote: Hal
Are these supplied with 5/8" wheel stud holes or do they have to be drilled?
He took the info from me (he was on the road) and will get back to me later. I saw on the USA manufacturer's website to 'let him know' if the vehicle had 5/8" studs so I expect I will get them already sized correctly (I let him know) but I haven't asked whether they'll be special order ex USA or if he'll drill them locally. Doesn't bother me as I still have a month up my sleeve. I'll also get a pair for the camper trailer, which has 8 on 6.5 as per the OKA but only 1/2" studs.
I've just perused a few independent reviews on the web and they get plenty of positive feedback.
I'll skip Dan's stainless steel balls as I also hope to be able to experiment with strap-on TPMS sender units on the wheel centres, and they probably wouldn't complement each other.
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Aussie Iron
- Offline
- Posts: 29
Hal Harvey wrote:
Aussie Iron wrote: I use stainless tyre beads in my 315/75x16 tyres
Oh gawd, now too many options. Dan do they rattle at all? Any ideas how much weight you used in each tyre?
No noise from them at all. They are running in Kuhmo KL71s on alloy rims and show no sign of hitting the rim. I have heard of some that are running them with internal TPMS and not having a problems as they are forced to the outside by centrifical force. The tyres weight in at approx 36Kg (79 LBS) and you use 1oz per 10Lbs = 8ozs about 227 grams. I don't like the internal TPMS as you need to pull the tyre off to replace the batteries and they don't last as long as they say. I use external Tyre Dogs and have not had a problem and we do a lot of mud running.I replace the batteries in mine about once a year.
Dan.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- DarrenWebster303
- Offline
- Posts: 144
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Dean and Kaye Howells
- Offline
- Posts: 533
Peter and Sandra James OKA 374 wrote: .....................................but if you have the wheel and tyre balanced first they will cope with normal variations.......................................
If your wheels have been balanced already what do you need these other 'balance devices' for ?
Deano
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
Dean and Kaye Howells wrote: If your wheels have been balanced already what do you need these other 'balance devices' for?
That would be for when you scrape off a balance weight, or attach a clump of mud, or lose a chunk of rubber... I've certainly come back from some trips with enough limestone formed up inside the rims to overpower any fixed balance weight.
But I'd rather try them just on their own, no prior balancing.
There's a good video here of how it works:
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Hal Harvey
- Offline
- Posts: 275
Aussie Iron wrote: I don't like the internal TPMS as you need to pull the tyre off to replace the batteries and they don't last as long as they say. I use external Tyre Dogs and have not had a problem and we do a lot of mud running.I replace the batteries in mine about once a year.
Thanks Dan, good to know the stainless balls are quiet in an aluminium wheel, but I would still have some concerns about potential damage to a TPMS sender without first-hand knowledge. I am up to speed with the options in senders (see the third post at www.oka4wd.com/on-the-road/750-tyre-pres...tooth-the-itpmsystem ) but if I can get them, am still keen to try the strap-on type with the longest battery life. If the tyres outlast me and the batteries, we can still revert to the one-year external type that you and I are both currently using (and I'm losing occasionally) rather than pulling the tyres off to replace the internal batteries - best of both worlds.
The other thing in favour of Centramatics for me is that when this little project is complete, I will have three different sets (sizes) of wheels and tyres, but won't (shouldn't) have to get any of them balanced, which sounds like a good plan.
Principal advisor to the Minister for Tourism, Liza Harvey MLA
... OKA 260 ... "I'm not leaving any sooner than I have to!"
www.byles.net/OLDportal/members-vehicles-public/5-oka-260
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Outback Jack
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Posts: 1357
Will be intrested in how you go.
I think Darren is getting a set too. Cant remember what rim/tyre size he has.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Peter and Sandra OKA 374
- Offline
- Posts: 1321
Re the inertia sensors the one in the spare which is on the rear carrier quite often doesn't wake up as it isn't moving enough to make it turn on unless you go around a corner of over a large bump.
OKA 374 LT Van, converted to camper/motorhome,
400ah Lithiums, 1100w solar, diesel cooking heating and HWS,
Cummins 6BT, Allison 6 speed auto, Nissan transfer.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.