Wheel Balancers



Q: What makes your ATLAS wheel balancers better than the competitors?
A: Greg Smith Equipment Sales is proud to be the exclusive dealer for ATLAS wheel service equipment in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and many other countries. Tire changers and wheel balancers may appear to be the same from the outside, but the quality of the component parts is what separates the ATLAS brand from all other Asian wheel service assembly factories...
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Q: Do your wheel balancers come with wheel weights?
A: No our wheel balancers do not come with any wheel weights (other then 1 100g/3.5 oz test weight). We sell a variety of wheel weights in the Wheel Weights section of the website.


Q: How do I calibrate my wheel balancer?
A: To calibrate your wheel balancer, refer to the MANUAL/QUICK START GUIDE that came with the machine. If you did not receive the MANUAL/QUICK START GUIDE (you really did, but just lost it or threw it away) please call or e-mail us and we can e-mail, mail, or fax you another copy, or download it here. If you still cannot figure out how to calibrate the machine, please call for help. It is really a very simple procedure-so please try more than once before calling. You can do it!


Q: What is the warranty on your ATLAS wheel balancers?
A: All ATLAS brand tire changers and wheel balancers have a one year LIMITED parts only warranty. We do not provide on-site service for these machines, but we have several in-house phone technicians that can provide solutions to just about any issue. We assume that you are technically inclined or would not have purchased this piece of equipment.

We stock a full line of parts for your equipment, and can offer technical advice to help you install the parts yourself. Most customers want to be able to "fix" their own equipment ASAP...and because all Atlas wheel balancers offer "plug and play" features, most repairs can be accomplished in a matter of minutes.


Q: Atlas wheel balancer continues to call for an additional .25 to .5 ounces after I apply the "correct weights" following the first "spin". My "old balancer" gave me a ZERO reading after applying weights the first time. What I am doing wrong?
A: If there is one "complaint" about our Atlas wheel balancers, it is that they are "too accurate". Many of the older wheel balancers incorporate a very large "ZERO TARGET" so that if the wheel was within .75 to 1.0 ounces of being "perfect", the LED indicators would read "OK" or "0000". Our Atlas wheel balancers have "TARGET" of less than .25 ounces. If you do a second spin for the wheel assembly after applying the "correct weight" after the first spin and get a .25 ounce reading, then you may be able to move the weight slightly to get the "ZERO" reading or press the "FINE" button to see (within 1/10 of an ounce) exactly how far "out of balance" you really are. Normally, .25 ounces will not "be felt" by your customer; but if you want to be dead nut perfect, you have the ability to reposition the weight or "shave" the .25 ounce weight so that the wheel assembly is "perfectly balanced".

Of course, a variation can occur if the wheel is not mounted properly (lug centric or hub centric) on the wheel balancer. Please check the mounting method and also check to make sure that the "nut" is tightened properly. If the wheel is allowed to "move" on the shaft (normally occurs during the braking mode), then the machine cannot accurately measure the out of balance condition.


Q: If I unplug my wheel balancer will I need to recalibrate it?
A: Unplugging your ATLAS wheel balancer does not erase the memory. However, if you unplug the machine and move it, it is recommended that you recalibrate it since calibration can be location specific. (If you bounce it around, it may need to be calibrated again).


Q: When using the motorcycle adapter (MC-KIT) with my ATLAS wheel balancer, to what do I set the A (the distance from the machine to the wheel) measurement?
A: For instructions on setting up the motorcycle adapter kit with your Atlas wheel balancer, please refer to our Motorcycle Kit Quickstart Guide.


Q: My Atlas wheel balancer continues to call for an additional .25 to .5 ounces after I apply the "correct weights" following the first "spin". My "old balancer" gave me a ZERO reading after applying weights the first time. What I am doing wrong?
A: If there is one "complaint" about our Atlas wheel balancers, it is that they are "too accurate".  Many of the older wheel balancers incorporate a very large "ZERO TARGET" so that if the wheel was within .75 to 1.0 ounces of being "perfect", the LED indicators would read "OK" or "0000".  Our Atlas wheel balancers have "TARGET" of less than .25 ounces.  If you do a second spin for the wheel assembly after applying the “correct weight” after the first spin and get a .25 ounce reading, then you may be able to move the weight slightly to get  the "ZERO" reading or press the "FINE" button to see (within 1/10 of an ounce) exactly how far "out of balance" you really are.  Normally, .25 ounces will not "be felt" by your customer; but if you want to be dead nut perfect, you have the ability to reposition the weight or "shave" the .25 ounce weight so that the wheel assembly is  "perfectly balanced".

Of course, a variation can occur if the wheel is not mounted properly (lug centric or hub centric) on the wheel balancer.   Please check the mounting method and also check to make sure that the "nut" is tightened properly.  If the wheel is allowed to "move" on the shaft (normally occurs during the braking mode), then the machine cannot accurately measure the out of balance condition.


Q: Sometimes I get erratic readings from my Atlas wheel balancer...is it just me or my machine?
A:

Please remember that this is COMPUTER wheel balancer.  As with any computer, your Atlas wheel balancer should be plugged into a surge protector to prevent damage to your machine.

Erratic readings may be a result of:

  • Improper wheel mounting or a loose mounting nut
  • Wheel balancer plugged into a circuit that also powers other electric equipment. Wheel balancer should always be plugged into a dedicated circuit.
  • Air compressor or other large machinery (that starts and stops) located in close proximity could produce floor vibrations that affect wheel balancer readings.
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