Problems keeping balance weights on fuchs wheels

[Peter Kelly]

Does anyone else have problems keeping the stick-on balance weights on their Fuchs wheels? I have 16" x 6 and x 8 wheels on my 89, and can not keep the weights on them under hot conditions at the track. I have:

- pressure washed the wheels beofre balancing
- Taped over the weights (tried racer tape and the metal tape)

But the darn things keep flying off. Does anyone know if the stick on type weights vary in quality?

Regards,

Peter

[dean]

My guy uses brake cleaner before he sticks the weights on. The weights don't come off. But I don't track my car, just street driven.

[cstreit]

Are you getting wheel cleaner or any chem. substance on it? I use the metal tape on my racecar and it "mostly" works unless I haven't cleaned the wheel with brake cleaner...

Heat can also melt the sticky stuff on the weight and they can slide right off...

No magic answers, sorry.

[Peter Kelly]

I clean the wheels with brake cleaner before getting them balanced, then lose the weights prior to doing a second cleaning, so no, I am not getting brake clean on the sticky stuff.

I did have the problem yesterday at the Glen. It was very hot, and since I push my car VERY hard at track events, the wheels were getting incredibly hot.

Do any of you guys using fuchs put the weights on the outside of the wheel rather than the inside (inboard)?

-peter

[Don Plumley]

My tire guy uses a die grinder with a wire wheel on it to clean the area where the weights go. So far no problems...

[Kevin Stewart]

Most guys that track cars use grey tape to kkep the weights on, we do and everyone else I know, needs to be about an inch longer on both sides, also there are some that use aluminum tape you have to cut it with scizors, Kevin

[tobluforu]

Have you tried aluminum tape? Give it a shot.

[GeorgeK]

Don Plumley: "My tire guy uses a die grinder with a wire wheel on it to clean the area where the weights go. So far no problems..."

Put the tool down and Slowly walk away from my Fuchs...
GeorgeK

[APKhaos]

Peter,
I agree - it sure looks like heat - especially track heat - causes the adhesive to fail. If so, even perfect cleaning before attaching the weights won't help.

Balance weights fell off my BBS wheels at the Glen as well!

Maybe the Al tape is worth trying - its prime application is to seal HVAC ducting, so its adhesive may be able to better tolerate the heat.

[Peter Kelly]

After the weights fell off (all the wheels) the first time, I took them down to the tire place in the Village and had them all re-balanced. the guy taped over the weights with the metal tape, and then the next morning 8 laps into the first run I lost the front weights.

Again, is anybody putting the weights on the OUTSIDE (outboard part) of the wheel??

[widebody911]

I use that aluminum foil tape to hold mine on.

[Eric Coffey]

Peter-

I do think that there are variances in quality of some wheel weights, particularly in the adhesive used. For instance, I just cleaned up a set of 6 & 7x16" Fuchs (for resale). When taking off the multiple weights, I noticed that the ones on the 6's were a LOT harder to get off than the ones on the 7's. The "good" ones of the 6's seemed to have a thicker, more flexible foam type adhesive. The ones on the 7's (that came off a lot easier) seemed to have a thin "sticker-like" adhesive. The only downside was that the better weights left a lot more residue on the wheels, which was harder to remove.

[widebody911]

Yes, I do, on my track wheels. Haven't lost any weights yet.

Originally posted by Peter Kelly

Again, is anybody putting the weights on the OUTSIDE (outboard part) of the wheel??

[Embs]

I clean the application surface where the weights will be adhered and the surrounding surface spotless, then after applying the weights I put a very thin layer of clear marine silicone around the weights where they attach to the wheel and finger off any of the excess. Works Great and isn't hard to remove later on.