The Dummies Guide to Wheel Balancers: What You Need to Know |
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Nick C.
November 2, 2007
Which wheel balancer is right for you? Without a ton of experience it can be difficult to surmise what your needs are going to be. Many of the larger units have technical features that may exceed your needs, yet you never know if you will want those features as you begin to grow and expand. It’s a tough call to make, and without the right information it’s also almost impossible.
There are a few things that you should be on the lookout for when you are shopping around for a wheel balancer. These are:
* Capability – Make sure that you buy a wheel balancer that will allow you to continue to use it as you grow and expand. The biggest indication of capability will come from the size of the rim that the balancer can handle. The average is around 23”, though you may want to go even larger than that.
Buying one with plenty of future capabilities is the kind of forward thinking that may cost a bit more now but will definitely save money down the road. You don’t want to be constantly replacing your equipment, and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing if you only buy with today’s needs in mind.
* Calibration – Who’s going to tell the balancer how the balance the wheel? No one- a good wheel balancer will be self-calibrating, meaning that you won’t have to worry about fine tuning all of the minute details and annoying quirks. As well, it is much more accurate when it calibrates itself as the computer is probably capable of calculations that you couldn’t even begin to make in your head.
The on-board computer will handle the calibration, taking one stress off of your mind. Depending on the model, you may be required to verify essential information (such as rim size and tire size) beforehand to ensure seamless operation.
* Speed – How long does it take for the wheel balancer to actually do its job? Obviously, the faster it is the better. Being able to handle more clients will help increase your profits, and you are only able to do that if your equipment can keep up with the pace.
Look for a wheel balancer that is mechanically capable of operating at a reasonable speed (assuming that the operator knows what they’re doing).
* Automation – The less that a human has to do the less of a possibility there is of that human screwing up. Try to get one that is largely automated, making things faster and more predictable.
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