Balance beads

[ultrafxr]

OK I got the 'definitive' word from the manufacturer - Centramatic. I went to their website and to the 'contact us' section and posed the question: 1 or 2, if 2 then why and part number. I got answers today (surprising since it is Saturday) from Jerry Robertson, Director of Technical Support. Here is what he said:

GOOD DAY

IT DEPENDS ON IF YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO ROTORS

1 ROTOR ONE BALANCER

2 ROTORS 2 BALANCERS

THESE BALANCERS BOLT TO THE CENTER HUB OF THE RIM ( 5 BOLTS)

HARLEY HAS DIFFERENT STYLES OF ROTORS

IF YOU HAVE THE STYLE OF ROTOR THAT BOLTS TO THE SPOKES OF THE RIM (5 BOLTS)

THEN IT WOULD TAKE ONE BALANCER

SEND A PICTURE OF THE ROTOR TO ME

I sent the photo and his reply was:



YOU NEED THE SET FOR A HARLEY TRIKE WITH 2 FRONT ROTORS MHD 200-201 PART NUMBER

Why 2 when Gary you only have 1? His reply:

2 rotor front balancers have different amount of weight in each balancer, different weight than a single front balancer.

This change to a single front with the open style of rotors not bolt to the center hub is a physical dimensions issue, not for a perform

issue one side of the bike to the other side are not equal dimensions for where the balancer mounts

As manufacturers are want to do perhaps they changed something over the years - product improvement, lower manufacturing costs, who knows, that they recommend 2 balancers with different amount of weight (less I would think) vs just one balancer.

So I'm satisfied that I've exhausted the information available - I know I've exhausted myself, lol, but hopefully uncovered some useful information for all who are interested.

Cheers!

[GARYD]

I don't know and it is curious. When I called Centramatic the lady who answered said no one there could assist me with a technical question and to call the distributor. I may investigate this further as I'm beginning to have less confidence that what he told me is correct. And I think I'll check with my dealer also. Agree with you - buying two is a bit pricey. But I did find several vendors on eBay and one had a substantially lower price that does Centramatic itself. Not uncommon for manufacturers to sell at full price since thy don't want to undercut and dealers who do not want to discount.

That's really strange that the OEM has no idea on how their product works/installs....very strange. At least it's a great product.

I would be interested to hear from anyone that has put 2 balancers on the same wheel......and why. What's the thinking??

My company is the same way. I quote MSRP on everything and then refer the customer to a dealer. I'm not going to piss off a dealer for a few bucks = that's bad business. Most dealers give some kind of discount.

Update after reading ultrafxr's post

I still don't agree = there's only one tire on the front not two. JMHO

Why didn't he say all tourers (or bikes with 2 rotors) not just the trike needs 2 balancers? Why single out the trike??

My dealer says hogwash on 2 so I'll go with him. The only time he's been wrong was back in the early 80's when he said syn oil would destroy my engine.

[ultrafxr]

That's really strange that the OEM has no idea on how their product works/installs....very strange. At least it's a great product.

I would be interested to hear from anyone that has put 2 balancers on the same wheel......and why. What's the thinking??

My company is the same way. I quote MSRP on everything and then refer the customer to a dealer. I'm not going to piss off a dealer for a few bucks = that's bad business. Most dealers give some kind of discount.

Update after reading ultrafxr's post

I still don't agree = there's only one tire on the front not two. JMHO

Why didn't he say all tourers (or bikes with 2 rotors) not just the trike needs 2 balancers? Why single out the trike??

My dealer says hogwash on 2 so I'll go with him. The only time he's been wrong was back in the early 80's when he said syn oil would destroy my engine.

Gary, I think that is what he is saying - two balancers if you have two rotors. Looking at his website he shows different kits. The very first one is 3 balancers - 2 front, 1 rear. Unfortunately the description doesn't say much except for 2000 model year forward but in looking at the options it seem to me that is the idea. There are kits with 1 front and 1 rear which I think are for Harleys with just one front rotor. Not saying your dealer is wrong only that this is what I was told and what I learned. So I guess it's up to us to decide which way to go. The eBay vendor I mentioned, wingstuff, has the balancers with about a 15% discount. Again thanks much for posting about this. In all my years of riding and reading on various forums this was new to me. Great find.

BTW I'm thinking your dealer is Wildfire H-D in Villa Park. The installation video Centramatic posted for Harleys was done at and by a tech at Wild Fire. Was up there in early 2000s when we did the national H.O.G. Route 66 Posse Ride as St. Charles was the gathering spot for the start of the ride. Visited Wildfire a couple times the and was very impressed with the dealership. They used to discount for mail orders back then - don't know about now.

[GARYD]

Gary, I think that is what he is saying - two balancers if you have two rotors. Looking at his website he shows different kits. The very first one is 3 balancers - 2 front, 1 rear. Unfortunately the description doesn't say much except for 2000 model year forward but in looking at the options it seem to me that is the idea. There are kits with 1 front and 1 rear which I think are for Harleys with just one front rotor. Not saying your dealer is wrong only that this is what I was told and what I learned. So I guess it's up to us to decide which way to go. The eBay vendor I mentioned, wingstuff, has the balancers with about a 15% discount. Again thanks much for posting about this. In all my years of riding and reading on various forums this was new to me. Great find.

BTW I'm thinking your dealer is Wildfire H-D in Villa Park. The installation video Centramatic posted for Harleys was done at and by a tech at Wild Fire. Was up there in early 2000s when we did the national H.O.G. Route 66 Posse Ride as St. Charles was the gathering spot for the start of the ride. Visited Wildfire a couple times the and was very impressed with the dealership. They used to discount for mail orders back then - don't know about now.

Yep, that was Wild Fire. Know them very well. That's the HOG chapter dealer I belong to. And the tech in the video is a friend of mine - we all call him "Boone"

He found the problem with my CB that no one else could fix ..... and FIXED it.

You'll never convince me to put 2 balances on one wheel but if that's what you want to do that's fine with me. I think it's a way for them to make xtra money.

Good luck and stay safe.

[Fearless]

Not sure of these balancers but I have seen these sort of rings on CMV Front axles before I really can't say one way or the other. Could these make a huge difference ? Fred

[PosseRider]

hmmmmm 2 big ugly things for almost $200. vs a $5 bag of beads that work ( used for several yrs now ) I will stick with the beads. New tire & beads tomorrow. New American Elite Tire, new All- Balls bearings & beads ,just a tad more ,w/bearings installed.