Bosch wheel balancer woes

[carl0s]

Hi all.
I've been wanting to do my own tyre changes for a while, so I picked up a used Bosch WBE 4110 dynamic balancer. It was advertised as faulty due to a certain error code, which I found to mean an optical sensor / photodiode fault. So I bought it on the basis that I might be able to fix that.
Got it home and no such error, seems to work fine.
I balanced my known-vibratory 1 series front 18" wheel and it was much better, fine in fact. This was about a year ago. Other things have happened since (g/f engine spun 5x rod bearings) and so my tyre changing project has been on hold until last weekend when I got my garage back and built the manual tyre changer + adapter / modifications.

I have this issue with the Bosch balancer though and am not confident it's right. It might be that I'm using it wrong, although I think I'm doing it right.

The issue I have is that it tells me to put 30g on the inside. I do that, then spin it up again, and it tells me to put 20g about 30 degrees anti-clockwise to the 30g that I just put on. Then I spin it up, and it tells me to put 15g about 30-degrees anti-clockwise to that too.
Isn't the idea that it gets it right first time? I did my mum's wheel today and after about 3 or 4 lots of loading up weights, it says it's balanced.

Any tips? I haven't attempted a calibration. I suppose I should at least calibrate the spindle. I don't really have a known-good test wheel.
Maybe I should get a static balancer to compare the results? if they're cheap.

 

[Jack Pattenden]

Hi all.
I've been wanting to do my own tyre changes for a while, so I picked up a used Bosch WBE 4110 dynamic balancer. It was advertised as faulty due to a certain error code, which I found to mean an optical sensor / photodiode fault. So I bought it on the basis that I might be able to fix that.
Got it home and no such error, seems to work fine.
I balanced my known-vibratory 1 series front 18" wheel and it was much better, fine in fact. This was about a year ago. Other things have happened since (g/f engine spun 5x rod bearings) and so my tyre changing project has been on hold until last weekend when I got my garage back and built the manual tyre changer + adapter / modifications.

I have this issue with the Bosch balancer though and am not confident it's right. It might be that I'm using it wrong, although I think I'm doing it right.

The issue I have is that it tells me to put 30g on the inside. I do that, then spin it up again, and it tells me to put 20g about 30 degrees anti-clockwise to the 30g that I just put on. Then I spin it up, and it tells me to put 15g about 30-degrees anti-clockwise to that too.
Isn't the idea that it gets it right first time? I did my mum's wheel today and after about 3 or 4 lots of loading up weights, it says it's balanced.

Any tips? I haven't attempted a calibration. I suppose I should at least calibrate the spindle. I don't really have a known-good test wheel.
Maybe I should get a static balancer to compare the results? if they're cheap.

I don't have any first hand experience with these machines, but I've heard second hand that you shouldn't chase the balance if it wants you to add more and more and more. Just go with the first recommendation.

Balance on a good wheel shouldn't take more than 50-60g of weights, if you're at that or under, you're good.

 

[Erie Fred]

Hi all.
I've been wanting to do my own tyre changes for a while, so I picked up a used Bosch WBE 4110 dynamic balancer. It was advertised as faulty due to a certain error code, which I found to mean an optical sensor / photodiode fault. So I bought it on the basis that I might be able to fix that.
Got it home and no such error, seems to work fine.
I balanced my known-vibratory 1 series front 18" wheel and it was much better, fine in fact. This was about a year ago. Other things have happened since (g/f engine spun 5x rod bearings) and so my tyre changing project has been on hold until last weekend when I got my garage back and built the manual tyre changer + adapter / modifications.

I have this issue with the Bosch balancer though and am not confident it's right. It might be that I'm using it wrong, although I think I'm doing it right.

The issue I have is that it tells me to put 30g on the inside. I do that, then spin it up again, and it tells me to put 20g about 30 degrees anti-clockwise to the 30g that I just put on. Then I spin it up, and it tells me to put 15g about 30-degrees anti-clockwise to that too.
Isn't the idea that it gets it right first time? I did my mum's wheel today and after about 3 or 4 lots of loading up weights, it says it's balanced.

Any tips? I haven't attempted a calibration. I suppose I should at least calibrate the spindle. I don't really have a known-good test wheel.
Maybe I should get a static balancer to compare the results? if they're cheap.

Same issue here, obsolete machine.

Sneak up on adding the weights.

If mine says add 3/4 oz, I hammer on 1/2 oz.

As soon as it starts wanting weights in other area's, I take off the original weight
and move it towards the "new location".

When all is said and done, run it one more cycle, and make sure it is asking for under 1/4 oz. (smallest weight)

 

[MetalMonkey]

Its called "chasing weights" and the key thing is to recognise when it is lying to you and stop the cycle.
I've had issues before when there has been debris caught in the mounting surface or if the machine is not sufficiently well secured (mine is a portable unit so needs to be bolted down).
I would say calibration is a good first step - there should be some sort of procedure - this video seems to cover it
You should just need a steel wheel in reasonable condition which you can hammer on weights.

 

[carl0s]

cheers guys, much appreciated! I have the user manual which includes calibrations and also the repair manual.
Also I haven't bolted it down.. I suppose I should. Doesn't seem like it's wobbling or vibrating on the floor though.

 

[carbon]

I change my tyres myself using the garage that gets my tyres equipment. With there previous balancer. There instructions were if it showed that it needed a 25g weight add 5g more. On the second spin it never then required anymore weights and I never felt any vibration when it was on the vehicle.

 

[carl0s]

Thanks guys. Top advice!
Well it's telling me the shaft is out of balnl (10g rear 5g front) so I'm attempting the calibration but my instructions are for wbe4110 and it turns out my model is 4210. I am getting the cal menu up but can't get to c1 etc.
I will figure it out or find proper instructions.
The label is worn off the machine so I couldn't make out the 4210 at first.

 

[carl0s]

Figured it out. Same idea obviously just different buttons need pressing. Shaft is calibrated now

 

[carl0s]

Looks miles better so far, but I only had a 2006 Honda Jazz space-saver to test with. Completely unused wheel and tyre though. I have no hammer-on weights so I used an adhesive one to test and it asked for 10g on the outside and was happy when I gave it that.

I am back to square one with the user-manual though. I thought I couldn't find one, then last night I was like "hang on, you already have it here in your downloads", but that's the WBE4110, and I've just re-realised that mine is a WBE4200 or 4210.
This explains why I thought the manual was a little bit strange.
I'm fairly sure mine uses the vernier caliper to touch-off where the weights will be placed, as well as the rim-edge / offset. I'm not 100% sure I'm doing this procedure right every time.

 

[carl0s]

Ah, I have just found the proper instructions. On the bosch-automotive website of all places!