Bending the axles - good or bad

[AUPatrick]

I've read several comments on here that you shouldn't bend your axles and you should use the "Silver bullet". Our rules state that "Front and rear axle slots must be remain stock, no modifying or repositioning".

With this rule, is it better to 1) bend only one axle and "rail ride"; 2) bend all four axles and rail ride and cant the back wheels; or 3) put the axles in straight; or 4) is it possible to place straight axles in the stock axle slots to cant the real wheels and rail ride while still complying with this rule.

thanks for any help you might give.

 

[Quicktimederby]

Do all 4 wheels have to touch? You do not want to bend the rear axles. The only bent axle you should have is the FDW.

 

[AUPatrick]

the rules state that all 4 wheels must touch the track but I have seen cars run with a wheel raised and they didn't seem to care

 

[Quicktimederby]

How do they enforce one but not the other? It sounds like they are pretty loose on the rules. If that's the case than I would drill the holes and cut the slots. If you do it right they will not know the difference.

 

[AUPatrick]

what do you mean by cut the slots? (slots are already there)

but to answer your question, the rules are strict but they do not appear to be enforced. the only inspection done on the cars was to check to see if the axle slots were in the correct area (by glancing at it) and putting the car on a scale.

 

[Crash Enburn]

Wow. Those are some pretty poorly worded rules. Just sticking an axle into the slot modifies it. If you were to shorten the car by lopping off the front, you will have repositioned the slots by making them closer to the front of the car...

Install the rear axles canted, use a bent dominant front. Tune it with just three wheels on. Then, since the rules dictate it, install the non-DFW canted so that it just contacts the track.

Good luck!

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

You can insert the rear axles in at an angle. Do not bend them. Bend one front one for the dominant and follow the normal RAIL RUNNING techniques.

 

[AUPatrick]

Is there a difference in rail running and rail riding?

 

[cygnus]

The terms are interchangeable but technically the DFW does not "ride" the rail (like a train). It "runs" against and along side the rail.

 

[SoGone]

Whats worked for my son and I, is put enough cant on the rear axles that when the car is rolling the wheels come to the axle head.. when the car is at rest at the inspection table the wheels will be flat to the surface.. the degree of cant is around 1. this is a fine example of the precision of the silver bullet. With it you can precisely cant ..even very slight canting angles,both sides of the car will be equal. I say drill the slots in the rear an DFW. We also have strict district rules and they are enforced. Good luck