The cost to build your own wheel balancer is approx $20 to $30, give or take a few bucks, depending on what you have on hand and what you should be able to scrounge for free from a sheet metal shop or scraps your friends have. I personally think you can build it closer to the $20 buck level as I did. The bearings being the most expensive parts at $17.00, if you have a source for some bearings the stands could be build for virtually nothing.
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Instructions
The distance from the bottom of the axle to the top of the 2 X 4″ bottom support, is 16 1/2″. The rear wheel of the Road Star is approx 13″ from axle center to the edge of the tire, this with a 160/80-16 tire. The stand should be fine for most motorcycle wheels.
They are separate as to be able to adjust for different width wheels.
The main piece of the balancer is a 2″X 2″ by 3 1/2″ long piece of 80 thousands thick metal angle. (obtained from metal building supplier) The holes to mount the bearings are 3/8″ dia. they are 1 1/4″ apart and centered, 1/4″ down from the top edge. The bearings are held on the bracket with 3/8″ hex cap screws, 3/4″ in length and hex nuts.
List of parts:
- 2 ea (A) 13 1/2″ wood 2 X 4
- 2 ea (B) 4″ X 9″ piece of 1/4″ plywood
- 2 ea (C) 8″ piece of wood 2 X 4
- 2 ea (D) 2″ metal angle 3 1/2″ long
- 4 ea 1614-DCSR12 bearings.
- The bearings are 3/8″ID, 1 1/8″OD Actually you can purchase any size in this approximate size range just change your hole locations to accommodate the different sized bearings.
- 4 ea 3″ long sheetrock screws
- 8 ea 1/12″long sheetrock screws
To build:
- Center item”C” to item “A” and attach using 2, 3″ long sheetrock screws. Notch out Item “B” to fit over base “C“and attach with 2, 1 1/2” sheetrock screws.
- Drill 2, 1/8″ holes in bottom of 2″ metal angel and place bearing side flush with edge of item “A” and attach with 2, 1 1/2″ sheetrock screws.
- Using 2, 3/4″ cap screws attach bearings to 2″ metal angle “D“, notice in the second picture I ground out a small area at the area in between the bearing mount holes , this to give plenty of clearance for axle if needed.
This project is a pretty simple deal, the purpose of the bearings is mainly due to grease seals that are on some wheels and cause drag. The bearing cradles reduce most any friction to allow a easy balance of your wheel.