Looking for an inexpensive way to balance SC tires
 

So I have been looking around the net for a way to balance SC and 1/10 buggy tires without spending too much money. What are some of you using for this? I found this but im not sure if it will work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Flite-Po...item2a1c6f983b

Here is what I use for almost all of my tires...
$5 works great.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK247&P=7

Run to the store & get some kids modeling clay for weight (not playdough).

You'll need an old 17mm hex & nut if you want to do 1/8th buggy tires, I don't know if my fingers would like Truggy tires.

Get some CLAY or similar to balance with and get a balancer that comes with adapters to hold wheels in place.. not sure about the one you linked but the dubro has them. Something like this ONE are way easier to use though :)

I'm bad, I have the dubro and the clay... just never use um ;P I've gotten pretty good gluing my own tires so they are pretty well in balance. Normally when they get out of balance it's due to the wheel taking a hit or bending a bit.

This is probably a dumb question but how do you glue tires so they don't need to be balanced?

Thought I would post what I have been doing. I know its probably not pinpoint but its better then nothing. I take a spare SC10 rear hub put to bearings in it and the axle. I slide on a wheel and spin it and go from there using lead tape.

+1 thats works to :nod:

Even though there is some in and out play it still works .

I did it on my truggy tires.

You don't. An imbalance doesn't come from the glue job, it comes from the tire and/or the foam insert being heavier on one side than the other. And you need to rebalance the same set of wheels/tires on a regular basis as well, as the insert will shift and spin inside the tire. I rebalance mine every couple of race nights. Sometimes the balance is still fine, and other time's it's off.

I use the du-bro ballancer the stand type with the large steel rollers. And I either use plumbers putty or modeling clay for weight.

^ This.

Balancing makes a huge difference IMO, especially in 2WD buggy. It helps keep the car smooth when accelerating, and also smooths out in-air corrections.

Cpt is kinda correct.. it's not in the glue, well unless you glue really really bad :P

Check the balance when you build um; first the wheel then the tire and wheel (before you glue). You can do several things to get a balance when you make our own. Small piece of well placed black gorilla tape on the foam if the foam is off a touch or on the inside of the wheel if the wheel is off. You can also (depending on the wheel brand) make your own vent holes and if you place them where you need to reduce weight get it pretty darn close with out using extra clay or similar balancing material. This isn't 100% and can backfire so like he explained if you check now and then or when you see your tire bouncing around a lot you can get it back in control. Just spin up on your car stand you can tell by the vibrations if you have some balance issues.. not very hard iMO but it can make a difference.

If you got Lego this one actually works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBO5z6JYUfQ

Took a video to show the difference. As I was balancing them anyway.
not balanced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y200...e_gdata_player

Balanced
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gA...e_gdata_player

I use this balancer:

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...Wheel-Balancer

Do NOT buy that $14, 2 oz. clay. Go to a teacher supply or art supply store and you can get a full pound of non-hardening clay for less than $3. I balanced every 1/10 tire I owned on 3-4 vehicles and used about 1/3 of it. It does not fall off the wheels no matter what.

Like this: http://www.unitednow.com/product/133...spx?item=29219

The best way is to find somebody local who has a balancer and give 'em a couple bucks to borrow theirs... Thats pretty cheap, just buy the clay and your set!

I have had one of those prop balancers for 20 years, just used it a while ago along with some clay my daughter had left over from an art project.

It works great and I agree with the fingers holding up to 1/8th scale.

I also have some rare earth magnets, thinking about building a jig to hold it with.
Thanks for the ideas and help

p.s. I have 10 pounds of clay, stop by and get some...lol