In response to Patrick's experience, I just finished talking to Jim Mower,
Hoffman's National Sales Manager. Says they're located in a Nashville TN
suburb. I read him Patrick's below response and filled him in on my
experiences a few year's back, that were similar in results. He explained
that the Promatch feature is covered in the machine owners manual for all
operators to read. He also said that due to the very low percentage of
vehicles needing such type of balancing, the odds were low that operator's
would be trained in the process, but they should be able to read about it.
Told him that didn't do much for my confidence in getting a satisfactory
job. He agreed and cited percentage's again. In reality, it's out of
Hoffman's hands.
He explained the Promatch process. It requires three steps, with requisite
tire demounting and mounting each time. First step is to spin just the
wheel to find the low and high spots, secondly with the tire on the wheel to
find the same with the tire, and thirdly, to break the tire bead and if I
remember correctly, then rotate the tire high spot to match the wheel low
spot. Jim said to expect the cost to be 3 to 4 times that of a normal
balancing job.
He gave me the name of Monroe Muffler and Tire as a chain of shops in what
he termed the Midwest, mentioning NY, OH, and IN. Gave me phone number's
for two Monroe shops in N Indiana (i. e. Elkhart and Huntington) about 80
miles from me. Says Monroe has ~ 350 locations with 280 having Hoffman
machines.
Patrick, for the Atlanta area, contacts are a salesman Jim Needham,
770-888-6642, and Dugco Supply Co, George Frizie, 404-762-0550.
Dave, a Detroit contact is Mike Sanchez, 810-631-2067.
Jim says Hoffman is constructing a web site:
http://www.hoffman/usa.com. I
suggested they list locations where the Hoffman balancing machine is
located.
Odds don't look real good on this deal (easier said than done)!!!!! Is Wes
leading us down a nearly impossible "prim rose path"????
Paul Bartz
From: Patrick Flowers [mailto
atrick]
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 1999 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Wheel Balancing
Dave
This may or may not help you- Read We's article in his magazine of
Sept '96. Also try phoning the Hoffman Geodyna Balancer factory and get a
dealer in your are that has one. Number is 800-251-4500
Didn't help me. The lady that answered the phone at Hoffman gave me the
phone numbers of two salesmen. One never returned my calls. Of the two
Hoffman equipped shops the other salesman directed me to, neither had a clue
as to what the Promatch option was. If you can find someone with a Promatch
and they know how to use it, expect a hefty charge to balance your six
wheels in this manner as it will require remounting each the tires four or
five times.
