Harbor Freight bubble balancer versus Ranger Bubble balancer

[@MarcBchannel]

Wow what a difference after I modded my HF balancer. I didn't touch the pin. I just widened the pin socket. Drilled it out in steps from 1/2" to 3/8" to 1/4" split point drill bits being carefull on the last bit to not get to close to the center point that the pin point contacts. Plenty of free movement. Takes awhile for it to settle but it centers perfectly. I clocked the centering cone at the 12,3,6,9 o'clock positions and the bubble stays in the same spot. Before I had trouble getting repeatable results because it would stick and not move freely. Cheers

[@deang4895]

Awesome. And it works. I've been balancing tires like this with zero issues.

[@uploadmeful]

When you're checking the 12,3,6,9 positions are you actually lifting the wheel up and rotating it or are you just rotating on the pin? I also drilled it, but I'm not getting consistent results if I lift the wheel and rotate positions. I think this means my balancer is actually not truly centered/balanced.

[@MarcBchannel]

@@uploadmeful I was raising the wheel. I've since stopped using the balancer as I could not get repeatable results

[@freddaniali]

I purchased a 30 plus year old Napa Challenger bubble balancer from a shop that recently went out of business and it works great. I'm sure that once the HF model is modified it work just as well.

[@deang4895]

Agree older ones are made properly. Nice find!

[@nickaxe771]

Thank you Sir.....over here in the UK...they are advertising the one that looks the same as the Harbour Freight on ebay and marking it as the new bubble balancer......I wonder if they have modified them recently. We dont have HF over here. Priced over here at £46 GBP or about $60.....our stuff is usually more expensive than yours. I just dont know if I should get one and mod it....or just pay to have my wheels balanced in a shop....which is not very often......but I do like to be able to do all my own work. Always done my own tyre work since 17....now 70. Nick.

[@deang4895]

Ive been working on my autos, motorcycles and trailers myself since I could hold a wrench . The ones you find on eBay and Amazon I can only imagine are the same manufacturers. The mod is super easy. I would only drill the bushing out. You can actually take the bubble out and use a drift and tap the bushing out to drill and check it's fit. Super easy. You don't really have to modify the point, I just had the means available so I did it. Just one balance job here will pay for the balancer and a box of stick on weights. Practice a 4 point balance on your wheels and take your time. Before you realize it's easy and quick and "bobs your uncle" 👍

[@thingamajig6542]

I think the very best solution to make the HF balancer better is to use a hardened 1 1/2 inch dia ball bearing as a replacement to the needle point support. I guy did a vid on how to do it and the bearing is less than 10 bucks on amazon. I did it and it works great.

[@chuckster6513]

Amazing. Most people knock the HF products ! Good to see the HF win for once.

[@bonholio0o]

I picked up a discontinued HF for $25 from clearance rack and it works like a champ after a 5min mod drill. Don't waste your time getting brand name guys. They all come from the same factory who copied exact design from a Challenger then they slap different brand name and price them based on brand recognition. There is no status symbol for me. Go get the cheapest one you can get and mod it, make sure it rocks for a couple of minute long. The biggest complain I heard is people insist this needs to be sitting on leveled surface - no you don't that's why they gave you 3 level adjustment screws. You do need to make sure the base is evenly seated though, this is the only requirement. Every garage will be off level so it's perfectly fine to use. Second is if you spin X degree you should get the same reading - no don't do that. Do this instead, adjust your 3 screws to get a dead center then mark a spot where you made your setting with a sharpie. Then tap opposite 180, it should return to center then tap 90 -> 180 make sure all 4 spots return to center after tapping. The sharpie mark is your official bird view, now put your tire on and set your weight. Also I find that adjustment that get screwed in the deepest is my favorite starting point because it gives me direct view with minimum optical deflection.

[@maxsands3861]

Sure would like to see your adapter plates for the first balancer, I have one similar but the cone is too small to do all my 16" 8 lug truck and trailer wheels.

[@deang4895]

The one I have I bought from a guy on eBay that makes them for the eight lug Wheels. The only problem is I have a 2000 3/4 ton GMC that it fits but the 2016 Chevy 3/4 ton I have it won't fit so I bought an offset spacer that will adapt the old eight lug style Chevy 3/4 ton to the new spacing on the newer Chevy 8 lug 3/4 ton and bolted it to that adapter plate. That way I can do older and newer

[@BillySBC]

The problem is you assume the Harbor Freight balancer works because it shows level with the wheel on it, but if you pick up the wheel and rotate it 45 degrees it's probably no longer level, then if you rotate it 45 degrees again it's no longer showing level. You can't trust your first reading, because when you check it by rotating the wheel and setting it back down the unit will show something different on the level.

[@deang4895]

@@BillySBC correct but once it's modified so the travel is not limited it's repeat le as long as the surface it's on is level

[@kendalgee5808]

For $60 the Amazon balancer is identical to the HF one. So HF one is the dumb choice. But the Amazon one says it can only balance up to a 15" wheel.

[@peteharrison9816]

Thank you

[@SuperPhen0m]

what size drill bits did you use to make the hole bigger? and was it hard to do without screwing it up?

[@jimfields9217]

I don’t understand why People don’t use balance beads - I never have a problem with them..

[@deang4895]

So I have used balance beads as well but they don't work on lower profile tires. They need a large side wall. I have a 3/4 ton with 16 inch rims and they work. I have a 3/4 ton pick up with 20s and they don't work as the side walls are too small. I used them on my motorcycles and seem to work. Beads dont unfortunately do not work in a lot of applications but they do work. Balancing works for everything but as the tire wears you need to sometimes periodically rebalance unless your suspension has little wear

[@turbot6592]

I bought a balancer from ranger and it looks like i gor ripped off. I thought they would be better

[@deang4895]

I agree they are shit. If you find a Ranger in a yard sale that's about 20+ years old grab it. They work

[@richbinaz]

It's not just the pivot pin that is a problem, This design has many issues and being as how it is made so poorly, it cannot be trusted. Here is an example... see if your units have the same issue with the frame not fitting in the holes kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5-ZpIiIq7qbeKM

[@NicolasWolkensinger]

nul cette machine sa fonctionne pas