Mr Noisy Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Nope, approx 1mm They are in theory able to be fitted through a tyre valve with the core removed but in practice they jam The are almost fluid like they are so small As such I imagine they balance very well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I used balancing sand for a long while - it's like a AFS90 single grain size sand, so it's not abrasive or dusty. It goes in dry and is treated with some clever stuff to repel water. When sold the wheels/tyres I opted for Dyna-beads - they were almost as good Now I just get the wheels and tyres balanced by a decent tyre specialist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Thanks for all the info shared here everyone. Most of the weights have come off mine with driving in rocky conditions - so I'm going to try something inside the tyres at the next change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 It was the cost of the dynabeads which prompted me to look at the airsoft bb's as a cheaper alternative, however, having looked at the price of the beads available from devon4x4 I think I'll just give them a try. Four wheels worth should cost around £30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Any idea of what weights ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 There is a chart with tyre sizes and beads required http://www.devon4x4.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=214&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=14 I ordered the 200g bags which are the only ones out of stock, I'll ring tomorrow and get the larger bags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Noisy Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Yeah I doubt there'd be any trouble having slightly extra in there As above, I'm running 280g front and 170g rear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Further to my earlier post, I have found the packet. It doesn't say ceramic on them. They are 6mm .20g Precision BBs. The make is BB King and I bought 4,000 of them for approx £9.50 including vat and delivery 4 years ago from East Midlands Airsoft Ltd. I did not use all of these, as I used a weight chart which meant I still have some left, but not enough to do another set of tyres. I am keeping these incase I lose some the next time I change tyres. Regards, Diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Yep , was my truck Lewis. Airsoft BB's were mega cheap and worked amazingly. just don't get biodegradable ones! IIRC (and it was a while ago!) I had 200 - 250g in each wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Question to help me track them down in OZ, What was the original design purpose for these BBs ? And couldn't I just buy a few shotgun cartridges and use the little lead balls instead ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean f Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Can't see any reason why you can't use lead shot, might be a bit soft and start to break down after a while but still should work even then. As long as it doesn't start corroding together to form lumps it should be fine, on that point make sure it is lead shot, non lead shot is becoming more common over here for envitromental purposes particularly assosiated with wildfowling and I believe some of that is steel or steel alloys, not sure what the corrosion on this or other substitudes would be like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Can't see any reason why you can't use lead shot, might be a bit soft and start to break down after a while but still should work even then. As long as it doesn't start corroding together to form lumps it should be fine, on that point make sure it is lead shot, non lead shot is becoming more common over here for envitromental purposes particularly assosiated with wildfowling and I believe some of that is steel or steel alloys, not sure what the corrosion on this or other substitudes would be like. I assume on a vehicle that is regularly driven the lead shot wouldn't have time to corrode together, I was unaware that lead corroded. I wonder if silicon spray inside the tyre or tube would prevent that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Noisy Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The dynabeads man said to me avoid any kind of moisture inside the tyre to prevent clumping This included being sparing with tyre mounting paste! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Question to help me track them down in OZ, What was the original design purpose for these BBs ? And couldn't I just buy a few shotgun cartridges and use the little lead balls instead ? BBs are round ammunition for airsoft guns other wise known as BB guns - a type of air weapon for recreational use. The advantage of the precision BBs I use is they are inert, will not degrade and are unlikely to clump together easily because they are 6mm in diameter and perfectly round. I used them because plenty of people recommended them 4 - 5 years ago both here and in USA. I wouldn't use shotgun shot as it is a bit of an unknown as stated in previous posts by others. For me, it would be the BBs I have used, or a purpose made balancing product. Regards, Diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Apparently airsoft is illegal in Australia, so it might be a bit difficult for Bill to get his hands on the BBs. Although I seriously question a country where you can buy a shotgun shell, but not a bag of BBs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Well if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing right..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I'm sure there must be some way to source plastic ball bearing down under ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Noisy Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Well if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing right..... I was thinking the same Airsoft is probably illegal to stop people buying it and thinking it'll be alright to shoot a croc with when really you need a proper gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Noisy Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I do not think plastic BB will be heavy enough Metal it ceramic, you need high density BBs otherwise balancing won't be effective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 I had the same thoughts about plastic bb's, you want the most dense you can get I would have thought. The Magnum balancing beads arrived today from devon4x4 250g looks like Beads are tiny Approx 1mm to 1.5mm I'd guess. I should have chance to get these in the tyres on Saturday so I'll report back how effective they are Bill, given that the stated requirement for tyres in your size is only 200g per tyre would it not be cheap enough just to buy them in the uk or the states and get them shipped? Yes they are more expensive than airsoft pellets but if you have no alternative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Apparently airsoft is illegal in Australia, so it might be a bit difficult for Bill to get his hands on the BBs. Although I seriously question a country where you can buy a shotgun shell, but not a bag of BBs There are lots of stupid, inane rules and regulations in this over governed, over regulated place, thought up by overpaid underworked bureaucrats trying to justify their miserable, unproductive, pointless existence. And Mr Noisey,never mind the Crocs. To do a proper 'culling' of that lot above, plus the corrupt garbage that passes for politicians over here, would require something with a bit more hitting power than a BB gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 23, 2014 Author Share Posted March 23, 2014 I installed beads in my front two tyres a couple of weeks ago, I also fitted a steering damper the day before which rendered any tests moot really. The steering damper took out a great deal of wheel wobble, but at the speeds I noted you could still feel some shaking from the steering wheel. Since fitting the balancing beads there is no discernible vibration or wobble from the steering wheel at any speed. They seem to be doing a great job, but a real test would be to drive without the steering damper fitted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Thanks for the feedback Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 What about using stainless stainless steel ball bearings ? No problems with moisture/rust and are available in many sizes. Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 I’m revisiting thoughts around this … has anyone else had any further experiences worth sharing ? The internet still seems split on them - but they’ve come to mind recently with meeting a chap who does lots of miles on MT’s and just uses beads for balancing his wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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