Home Forums Road Racing Adapting a car tire spin balancer for kart tires

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    • #63101
      Mike Hurdzan
      Participant

      Has anyone had experience with converting a car tire spin balancer to work for kart tires?   I saw a guy at Laguna Seca a few years back that did it, so I know it can be done, but don’t know how that he adjusted the settings to allow for a smaller tire.   The balancer is a Snap-on EEWB330A.    Thanks in advance for sharing.

      Mike

    • #63104
      Jim White
      Participant

      I too have access to an automotive spin balancer and have wondered the same thing.

    • #63162
      Bill Anderson
      Participant

      I bought an electronic automotive spin balancer back in the 80’s and was told by the guy who sold it to me that he increased the sensitivity of the unit a bit to balance smaller wheels.   I never saw a calibration table, so I’m not certain if he really did anything. There are two modes for balancing on those machines.  Dynamic and Static.  I was told to use Static setting which is adequate for a Kart tire.  I was very successful with the whole project and used it for 15 years.  Since I had two karts, raced 5 classes per weekend, I had 12 to 16 tires to balance.  It was extremely handy.  I had a couple of adaptor shafts made with a straight taper to use a front wheel hub as the mounting spindle.

      Have you tried using the unit you have access to?  As I remember, the only data I had to enter was tire diameter and select “static”.  The amount of weight to add is relative.  It might indicate a number for wheel weight based on the assumption that a larger tire is being used. Once you establish your translation table of indicated weight vs actual weight required, you’ll be ok.

      The big deal was getting the special spindle adaptor machined at the time.

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