Wheel Balancer Maintenance: Benefits & Best Practices

We're not just identifying what should be done to maintain your wheel balancing equipment, we're also advocating the benefits. We maintain that garage machinery upkeep is not just a box-ticking exercise, we'll showcase the value this brings for your business and your customers.

What does effective wheel balancing maintenance look like?

Inspect on a regular basis

Even if your team is busy, this step could easily be overlooked. Inspecting on a regular basis should help reduce downtime and keep your wheel balancing equipment in good condition so it can last for longer. It's about protecting your investment, which is always worth setting aside some of your team's time.

If the machine is used frequently (on a daily basis) the equipment should be inspected at intervals. If you're not sure on how often to book in a routine inspection, refer to the manufacturer's instructions. If you require training or support on wheel balancer maintenance, ISN Garage Assist provides ongoing calibrations, maintenance contracts and aftersales support. We'll be able to advise on how often and when your wheel balancer should be inspected.

It's easy to tell customers that their car needs its MOT, or a service, and the same mentality should be followed for all your garage equipment and machines. This contributes to a safe and productive work environment while also protecting your investment.

A wheel balancer should also be checked before its first use to ensure it's been installed correctly. The same applies if you relocate the machine. If you buy a Hofmann Megaplan wheel balancer, this will have undertaken a pre-delivery check and calibration. It will be installed by one of our qualified engineers and checked again. 

Create a routine maintenance checklist

The list below list offers a suitable wheel balancing maintenance checklist for your technicians. We recommend listing all the components that need checking, how often and who is responsible for each element of the checklist.

• Deep clean: The entire wheel balancer should be checked for cleanliness, ensuring any dirt or dust accumulation is wiped away. The immediate surrounding area should also be cleared of debris, including underneath the machine.
  
  
• Inspect components: All key safety and functional components should be checked, including but not limited to, safety decals, hood mechanism, shaft, cords, plugs and connectors. Check for damage or signs of wear such as rust or fraying.
  
  
• Calibration tests: Wheel balancing machine calibration tests can reassure your team that the machine is producing accurate readings.
  
  

Keep a maintenance log: By recording all inspections and maintenance, you can satisfy compliance regulators that you've done your bit to protect your team from a health and safety perspective.

Why is wheel balancer maintenance important?

Health and safety compliance

Protect the lifespan of your equipment

Regular inspections give you the opportunity to intervene on encroaching wear and tear, and you may spot an issue that could otherwise wreak havoc if left unaddressed. By protecting your wheel balancer through cleaning, troubleshooting and part replacements or repairs, you should be able to prolong the lifespan of your equipment. It's no different to the advice you give your customers when it comes to the maintenance of their car!

Reduce downtime

Signs your equipment is malfunctioning and needs a health check

Not unlike a vehicle with a malfunctioning component, a wheel balancing machine may show the following signs if there is wear and tear or a mechanical or software failure:

• Unusual noises
• Vibrations
• Inconsistent balance readings
• Rust or visible damage
• Worn or missing decals
• Damaged hood mechanism
• Dim or flickering screen
• Damaged air hoses, cords or plugs
  
  

Ensure your technicians know what to look out for and have a standard operating procedure in place to deal with equipment malfunctions safely and promptly. A damaged wheel balancer will most likely produce inaccurate results, which will lead to unbalanced wheels on customer cars and damage to your reputation. Worst case you could be endangering the safety of your technicians. 

When is it more cost-effective to repair versus replace equipment?

Get wheel balancer maintenance

At ISN Garage Assist, we don't just supply wheel balancers, such as the Hofmann Megaplan megaspin 220 Wheel Balancer, we also provide garage equipment care plans. We're all about making wheel balancer maintenance as manageable as possible. If you feel your garage would benefit from the expert support of a leading garage equipment supplier in the UK, get in touch with us today.

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