Graphite question - The car is fast but the wheels don't spin as fast or as long as my previous car or my friends car.

[jatofau1]

I prepped my sons axles and wheels using the Derby for Dad process. The wheels don't seem to spin as fast or as long as the previous graphite prepped car we built last year or one of my friends car that we tested tonight. But our new car is faster than the old car and faster than my friends car. Is this less wheel spin normal for the process defined below.

Polished the axles using Derby for Dad for Hire axle sanding and polices including the Cheetah Polish. I pledged the axles and let them air dry. I did not wipe them off.

The wheel prep was done as follows:

erbyDad4Hire Wheel Bore Polish Kit Instructions

Step 1: Put a drop of WB Polish #1 in the wheel bore

Step 2: Cut the fuzzy ends of the Q-tip off at an angle and insert the polishing stalk into your hand drill and spinning at a very low speed move the wheel up and down the stalk about 20 revolutions. It will be a tight fit so take it slow and easy. Blow excess polish out with compressed air.

Step 3: Insert wheel into 91% alcohol and using a no scratch applicator (the long thin stick with the fabric on the end) clean the wheel bore out thoroughly and blow out with compressed air to dry. Keep this same applicator separate for this purpose as it can be used until it wears out.

Step 4: Using Red Rocket, coat the wheel bores and contact surfaces of the wheel using the No Scratch applicators. Let dry for 10 minutes. Blow out excess with compressed air and let dry for 10 more minutes. Buff out the polish well using extra fluffy pipe cleaners and wipe off the wheel. Allow polish to cure for 20 more minutes.

Step 5: Insert a no scratch applicator stick into the hand drill and polish the wheel bore at a medium speed for 3 to 5 seconds then blow excess polish out with compressed air and let polish dry for 10 minutes.

Step 6: Insert a pipe cleaner into hand drill making sure that there are no sharp metal ends sticking out of the pipe cleaner. It is best to cut the pipe cleaners with very sharp scissors. Keep snipping the end until there is no sharp point sticking up. Buff the wheel bore on high speed for about 5 to 10 seconds.

Step 7: You can also use the WB polishes to polish the inner edge, outer hub and inner hub contact surfaces for ultimate performance. Wipe the wheel down thoroughly with preferably a Selvyt cloth.

Step 8: Blow the wheel off good with compressed air and you are ready to go.

Than I burnished the wheels with Derby for Dad's graphite.

Would this process result in a slower spinning wheel when I spin the wheels?

Should I be worried and re-prep the axles or wheels?

 

[Vitamin K]

Are you running lighter wheels? A lighter wheel won't spin as long as a heavier one will.

 

[plhiatt]

You are supposed to wipe the pledge off, or at least I do. I wipe it off then check again under magnification-blow off if needed.

 

[jatofau1]

I am running wheels that are straight out of the box with no alterations.

 

[txchemist]

Spin time with graphite is good measure of friction, but once you get about 25 sec. you have gotten most of the speed possible. If you have better alignment, you can still win with slightly slower wheels. What spin times are you talking about?

 

[jatofau1]

I will check when I get home. I don't think I am getting 25 seconds. How hard should I spin the wheel?

 

[jatofau1]

I checked my car. I am not getting 25 seconds. I guess I should have wiped of the pledge.

I will remove the axles and clean them to remove the pledge residue.

What is the difference in the new pledge formula?

 

[jatofau1]

Here is the latest update. I wiped down the axles and tested the wheels. I can get 25 seconds. I tested the axles with a stock wheel unpolished or prepped and get a better spin time. I think the wheels got messed up a little by having to much pledge residue.

I have spare axles that are polished and I will prep a new set of wheels. I will not add pledge to the axles this time. I am not sure if the new formula pledge is adding any speed. I am getting better spin times on a non pledge axle.

 

[txchemist]

Great news. now you can get quick feedback on how you are progressing and modify your own prep to improve.

Then after testing spin time with no pledge, see if you can get a bit better after pledge on one of the axles.

Next level is to find ways to use your tuning board to tell you how fast your car is if wheel friction were the only variable. { compared to other cars you have}

Information comes in the form of sound and speed. If you set your board up and it is wide enough, you can race two cars and get a correct answer on which one has lower friction. Most of the time it will also be the fastest on a track if steer on both cars and COG and thickness are the same.