Tire Balance - Piper PA-32R-301 SARATOGA SP Maintenance Manual

U. TIRE BALANCE.
Proper balancing is critical for the life of aircraft tires. If a new tire is balanced upon installation it will
usually remain balanced for the life of the tire without having any shimmy or flat spots. An inexpensive
balancer can be made that will balance almost any tire for light aircraft. See Figure 3 for balancer details.
Balance the tire as follows:
(1) Mount tire and tube (if one is used) on wheel, but do not install the securing bolts. Install wheel bear-
ings in wheel; then, using the -7 bushings, -6 spacers, and -5 nuts, (refer to Figure 3) install the
wheel-tire assembly on the pipe. Secure the nuts finger-tight so that the wheel halves touch each
other. Be sure the bolt holes are aligned.Insert the axle through the pipe and place the wheel in the
center of the balancer. Make sure the axle is only on the chamfered edges of the balancer and that
it is at 90 to the sides of the balancer.
(2) Release the tire. If it is out of balance it will rotate, coming to rest with the heaviest point on the
bottom. Tape a 1/2 ounce patch across top center of the tire. Rotate the tire 45 and release it again.
If the tire returns to the same position, add a 1 ounce patch and again rotate the tire and release it.
Continue this procedure until the tire is balanced.
(3) When balance is attained, put a chalk mark on the sidewall directly below the patch. Use one mark
for each half ounce of weight needed. Mark the valve stem location on the tire and the opposite
wheel half to assure reassembly in the same position. Remove the wheel from the balance stand,
break it down and clean the inside of the tire with toluol. Apply a coat of patch cement to both the
patch and the inside center of the tire in line with the chalk marks. When the cement has dried,
install the patches making certain they are on the center line of the tire and aligned with the chalk
marks on the sidewall. Burnish the patches to remove trapped air, etc.
(4) When reassembling the wheel, powder the inside of the tire. Mount the tire on the valve side of the
wheel in the same position it was in when it was balanced. Install the other wheel half, aligning the
chalk marks. Install the bolts and tighten to required torque, then air the tire and recheck the bal-
ance. The wheel should not be more than 1/2 ounce out of balance.
3
2
1
8
5
7
6
7
PIPER AIRCRAFT
PA-32R-301/301T
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
-1 1 ea. Base
-2 2 ea. Tee
-3 2 ea. Sides
-4 1 ea Axle
-5 2 ea. Nuts
-6 2 ea. Spacer
2 ea. Spacer
-7 2 ea. Bushing
2 ea. Bushing
-8 1 ea. Pipe
*
2 ea. Bearings
6
5
4
Wheel Balancer
The following list of material were used in making the balancer:
12 x 11
2.5 x 2 x 11
14 x 11
0.125 x 10.25
AN 365-624
0.50 X 2.25
0.50 X 1.25
1.480 X 1.625 X 1.00
2.240 X 1.37 X 1.00
1/8 X 9.3
Save two of each sice worn wheel bearings from
previous inspections
Figure 3
1F16
0.190 2024 T3 clad aluminum alloy
0.190 2024 T4 extruded aluminum
alloy
0.125 2024 T3 clad aluminum alloy
4130 steel, normalized
5052-0 aluminum tubing
5052-0 aluminum tubing
Richlight, phenolic or aluminum
Richlight, phenolic or aluminum
Black steel pipe
12-10-00
Page 12-13
Reissued: July 1, 1993