Dyna Beads

[CROSSBOLT]

Found a substitute for the now much more expensive Dyna Beads ( $6 US/ oz, $10 US/2 oz). You can get 4 oz for about $4 US for some very small beads with holes in 'em at Hobby Lobby. These are designated "10/0" and are in a 4 oz package. The beads are .085-.095" diameter which is much larger than the Dyna Beads but they still go down the valve stem which has a .118" restriction to seat the Schrader valve. This hole in the valve stem was measured with numbered drill bit shanks: #32 would pass (.116") and #31 (.120") would not. Careful, don't let the #32 drop into the tire!

Karl

[johnson]

Interesting. What's the composition and what is the composition of Dyna beads?

Have you put them in?  How's the ride?

[Momma bear]

I've heard mixed opinions on dynabeads. Some say they cause vibration on acceleration and deceleration. Others say they don't do a thing. What do you guys think? Don't be so quick to throw hobby beads in there. They may breakdown to dust and screw up the valvestem.

[CROSSBOLT]

Big John, they are glass, probably cut off a glass tube. Dyna Beads are "ceramic", probably of superior quality than the glass beads. However, since virtually anything including sand will work it SHOULD make no difference what the medium is, just so it "flows" freely inb the tire and does not destroy the tire.

Yes, they made a difference in the wife's Like which had an irritating road speed vibration. The vibration is less now but still there. I think what is left is due to Kenda tires lumpy treadform.

Will advise all as time progresses.

Karl

[Vivo]

Yes Crossbolt.. you can use glass beads, airsoft pellets, bb's, even golf balls.!!!  But Dyna Beads are ceramic and they are heat resistant... and will not harm rubber inside...   For scooters and short trips, maybe glass beads are fine...

[wordslinger]

I think what is left is due to Kenda tires lumpy treadform.

..I'd second that experience.. They do not ride without some feedback...

[CROSSBOLT]

Momma Bear, I suspect most of the negative stuff about Dyna Beads is started by the guys that invested a moderate to a magnanimous amount of money in traditional static and dynamic balancing machines and lead weights. Vivo is right in that you can use just about anything that will work. The Dyna beads work very well and absolutely will not harm the tire casing. My first experience with non-traditional balancing "media" was one pound bags of SAND (well, it looked like sand) in the truck tires on my motorhome. The dealer that sold me on the idea was pumping my head full of stuff that sounded like "magic beans" crap but I tried his bags of "magic sand" and it worked! The motorhome, named "Bertha the Bounder" never ran smoother, no steering wheel shake, no wheel tramp. There is NO transitional vibration unless it is due to out-of-round tires or irregular tread profiles like on the Kendas.

Karl

[CROSSBOLT]

Update: Tried a "bright idea" to "de-lump" the Kendas on the Like. Didn't work. Spun the back wheel with the engine and took a belt sander to the tire. Could not hold the sander steady enough to remove the really large lumps of the tread. It was like the tread mold was not true to the casing part of the mold. It was that much out of true. So, only new tires will solve this.

This might be something that a bike buyer should check before money changes hands.

Karl

[cochi]

Crossbolt, I had the sme problem with the Kendas on my Like. I tried Dyna Beads before I realized that rear Kenda was out of round. The beads didn't work. Nothing would have worked. Apparently, Kenda made a bunch of wacky tires. I ended getting a pair of Shinko white walls and now she's as smooth as silk. cochi      

[CROSSBOLT]

Shinkos, huh? That is good to hear and a surprise. I think I will put Avons on her bike when I can talk her into it.

Karl

[cochi]

Hi Crossbolt.  Avon makes pretty decent tires. I've used them on my motorcyles and never had any problems with them. Good luck. cochi