New (very old building) shop

[Lynn]

Still making progress on the shop, and even working on cars quite a bit. The floor situation is what it is. I have a couple of floor cleaners that I fitted with aggressive scotchbrite pads and every time I go over it, it gets a little smoother. Should eventually be a polished finish.

I wasn't planning on purchasing a wheel balancer or tire mounting machine, but this pair came up for sale on the Public Surplus Auction site (along with some other useful things) in one lot, and I couldn't pass up the deal. Made in U.S.A.

Have not used the tire mounting machine yet, as it needs to be anchored to the floor, and I am still undecided as far as where to put it. Pretty sure it is going to go right about where I have it in this picture. I have tested all the functions, and everything works. No bad solenoids, no air leaks. The top arm is disassembled in this pic, but it only takes a couple of minutes to re-install. Kind of top heavy with it on there, so I am waiting until I get it anchored to re-install.

As for the wheel balancer; boy am I glad I got this thing. With 16 cars, seem I am always purchasing tires on line, then dragging them to the local repair shop for mount and balance. I have NEVER felt like they were getting balanced quite right. It doesn't matter how good the equipment is if the operator is a dim wit. My son just had new Michelins put on his Suburban, but was complaining of vibration on the highway. I balanced all four, and could not believe how out of balance some were. Same thing on my Yukon XL. Same thing on my old Biimmer. The BMW especially, as it has alloy wheels that will not accept hammer on wheel weights. I learned back in the 80s how to "fool" the computer balancers (used an old Hunter back then) and do a true two plane dynamic balance on such wheels. This new balancer has settings so that you don't have to fool it. The difference on my Bimmer was amazing, especially at 100 mph. Smooth as glass.

It is really nice NOT to be at the mercy of incompetent repair folks.

[napa68]

If you do not have them, get yourself a set of pin plates. It mounts the wheel lug centric as opposed to hub centric. Older wheels are not always hub centric, and some newer wheels (or aftermarket) do not have a proper surface to mount the wheel. The balance job is only as good as how it's mounted to the balancer.

The tire equipment is some of the best money I have spent (only second to hoists)

[Too Many Projects]

Happy for you that you got the tire equipment. I bought my old pair 10 years ago and have used the crap out of them. I was buying older wheels with junk tires at swap meets and having the tires dismounted at a local Walmart for a few dollars. Osha passed a law back then that they can't touch any tire more than 10 years old, as they may explode or come apart as the tech is handling them and cause an injury. I took 2 tires to them that were flat and the beads were already broken to remove and they still wouldn't slip them off the wheels. They claimed if they got caught doing that the Osha fine was thousands of dollars. Another controlling oversight of big brother gone awry. That was the turning point of me getting my own equipment. As you say, having the wheels properly balanced has been a big benefit of that purchase.