ah fudge... drilled it crooked!

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Hey PWD gurus. So I am getting my 2 kids cars together for our churches Awana Grand Prix. Now unfortunately I have to do this on the cheap so no fixtures, all by hand and TLAR. Yes I know I certainly won't get away with those methods if I ever step up to race with the big dogs but for now that'll have to do. Here's the issue. So I re-drilled the rear axle slots further back being as careful as I can to get them perpendicular to keep them straight. I got a good enough cant but sure enough, one wheel is off... toe-in in the front (one mill closer in the front than in the rear). I suppose 3 out of 4 on my first try ain't too bad. It seems like the only way to fix this is re-drill again a bit further forward or just make another block and start over (not happening, I don't have good tooling and the closest friends table jig saw sux, took 20 minutes to do one block). Don't want to re-drill either since that means re-drilling them both and risk 2 wheels out of alignment.

So I am kinda seeing 2 options (other than a re-do)...
1. take that axle and give him a slight bend in order to kick the wheel back straight
2. leave it alone and hope for the best

Will a rear wheel being toed in have that much of an affect on alignment on a car that I intend on setting up as a rail runner? Looking forward from the rear it is the left wheel.

Any ideas/advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for looking!
Regards,
Jimmy

 

[ljo]

Fill the hole with a toothpick and wood glue and redrill.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Hmmm never thought of that. I do have some Titebond II but it's a few years old. I had it when I was doing stick & tissue rubber powered planes. I don't think a little age hurts that type of glue... or does it? I'll give that a try. Or is there a better glue than that to use? The only other glue I have is Duco which I usually thin out with acetone.
Do you have a specific favorite wood glue?

Thx for the advice ljo! Really appreciate it.

ps... a closer inspection shows BOTH cars with a toed in wheel... DOH!!!

 

[ljo]

Hmmm never thought of that. I do have some Titebond II but it's a few years old. I had it when I was doing stick & tissue rubber powered planes. I don't think a little age hurts that type of glue... or does it? I'll give that a try. Or is there a better glue than that to use? The only other glue I have is Duco which I usually thin out with acetone.
Do you have a specific favorite wood glue?

Thx for the advice ljo! Really appreciate it.

ps... a closer inspection shows BOTH cars with a toed in wheel... DOH!!!

I use titebond II, as well. Mine is more than 2 years old, and still works fine.

 

[robo4881]

I'm not a pro by any means, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Before I got the silver bullet or a drill fixture the first 3 wheel car I decided to try I just put my rear axles in at an angle using the slots. While it wasn't the Ideal way to do it, it actually worked out well for a scout race. At least you can adjust them until you get them where you want them then glue them in. It may be too late now if you've already cut the car out and such but maybe something to try if you don't get a drill fixture.

 

[Crash Enburn]

You could also use the cheap bastard method...

Take another unbuilt block, and tape a 1/8" (do the math to verify my memory) drill bit to the top edge of the side. Clamp your car to the top of that block. Your block should now be at a 3° angle. Drill, move the drill bit to the other side, repeat.

It is not as precise as the Silver Bullet or Block, but with care, you can get a good drill job out of it. Certainly better than with relying on luck as you press/hammer an axle into the slots.

 

[davet]

Slightly bend the axle and align.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Thanks for all the advice guys. For the path of least resistance I am going to take a shot at davet's suggestion to give the exles a slight bend in order to straighten it out. This keeps me from having to re-drill. Worst case it doesn't work and I have to get new axles and drill again. Best case I am all set.
So I am curious though... exactly what affect will having a rear wheel toed, in if left alone, have on how the car tracks down the track?

 

[Crash Enburn]

Either crabbing down the track or being a tank-slapper. With both, you are making too much contact with the center rail(s) and running slow.