>
> > Who else is using Equal inside their tires?
> > Does it really work, where do you get, how much does it cost?
I have been using Equal for about a year. It solved a balance problem that=
=20
I have had for over 10 years. I never could find someone to properly=20
balance my 16.5" steel wheels. After getting new tires and a couple tries=20
at spin balancing I gave up and tried Equal. So far so good. Just remember=
=20
to position the valve stems at the top and blow a little air into them=20
(this clears the powder out of the valve stem) before checking the air=20
pressure.
Here are a couple links that I used to help make the decision to try the=20
dry balance approach. The second is pretty long and doesn't mention wheel=20
balancing until somewhere in the middle of the article.
http://www.ccjmagazine.com/balance.htm
http://jppsosat.randolph.af.mil/transformer/issue14/vehmx.html
> If I had it all to do over, I'd still look for someone to properly=20
> balance
>the wheels, THEN add the Counteract/Equal.
My understanding is that it will not work properly if there are wheel=20
weights already on the tires. I think the instructions say that you should=
=20
remove the weights before installing equal. I did some experiments this=20
summer with another vehicle (91 Jeep) and what I found bears this out.
This summer I was trying to see if I could use powdered silica gel (its=20
sold at craft stores for drying flowers) to balance tires. My jeep was in=20
need of new tires so I thought I could experiment a bit before having the=20
tires replaced. If the experiments where a failure it was no big deal since=
=20
I would be replacing the tires anyway. In the end it worked quite well. I=20
was able to balance the tires and ran them another 10K miles before the=20
tread was bad enough that they needed to be replaced.
I posted this to the list earlier but here it is again for anyone else who=
=20
may be interested:
- ------------------------------
I made an injector out of a length of metal pipe, two reducing fittings, a=
=20
hose barb, an air valve and a length of 1/4" rubber hose. I removed the=20
valve from the valve stem on the wheel. Then I put 3 oz of silica gel in=20
the pipe. I attach the rubber hose between the pipe and the tires valve=20
stem. I slowly turn on the air and the air pressure blows the silica gel=20
from the pipe into the tire. Then I replace the valve and fill the tire to=
=20
normal pressure.
So far my test results have been inconclusive. When I first installed the=20
silica gel it seemed to work intermittently. It would run smooth for a=20
while and then, if I hit a patch of rough pavement, it would start=20
vibrating. Later I removed the wheel weights. That seemed to solve the=20
problem. Now it runs smooth all the time. Actually the end results are=20
quite impressive.
But the reason I say my results are inconclusive is that I don't know how=20
bad the tires and wheels are when there are no weights and no balancing=20
compound inside. Maybe removing the weights is all I needed to do. There is=
=20
no simple way to do that test now unless I dismount the tires and vacuum=20
out the silica gel. So at this point I would say that it may work but more=
=20
real world testing would have to be done to know for sure.
Other notes. If anyone is interested in trying this experiment here are=20
some other things to think about:
I chose silica gel because its cheap ($10 for 1.5 lbs), stable, has a=20
course texture (like very fine sand) and absorbs moisture. If there is=20
moisture in the tire (from the compressed air) then the moisture may=20
condense or freeze during the winter and cause the power to clump
up.=20
Silica gel absorbs moisture so it should stay loose even during cold=
weather.
Be sure to dry the silica gel before placing it in the tire. I baked mine=20
on a cookie sheet for about an hour at 300 degrees. Most Silica gel has=20
indicator particles that will change color (mine went from brown to blue)=20
when its dry.
Be sure the pipe is at least long enough so that you don't fill it more=20
than half way with the silica gel. If the pipe is too short the powder will=
=20
not flow freely when the air is turned on.
Never open the air valve unless there is air pressure applied to the valve.=
=20
Opening the air valve with no pressure will allow the powder to get into=20
the valve and trash the seals in the valve.
When checking your tire pressure the powder tends to get into the tire=20
valve and cause slow leaks. Be sure the valve stem is at the top when=20
checking air pressure. I blow a little air into the tire to clear the dust=
=20
before checking the pressure. I also use metal valve stem caps with rubber=
=20
seals. The metal caps will hold the pressure even if the valve leaks.
Hope this is food for thought for anyone else interested in experimenting.=
=20
If you try this, please post your results to the list. Maybe we can come up=
=20
with a cheap and dirty way to keep our wheels/tires in balance.
Dave
Ann Arbor, MI.
73 Sequoia (26'/455/EFI/HEI/160=B0)
wner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Hanson9
