How to Run In a Car with No Test Track?

[rookie]

This might be a bit of a dumb question, but I've read it takes a few runs (6-7) to run in graphite or oil lubrication. How do you run in your cars if you don't have a test track?

I was just going to hold the car and spin the wheels by hand for a bit or I was thinking of attaching a buffing wheel for a dremel tool to a cordless drill on low speed and spinning the wheels with that.

 

[E.T.Racing]

If you have a compressor you can use air to spin the wheels. Turn the press way down so that you don't ruin your wheels. With graphite I don't spin them at all before the race to keep as much graphite in the wheel as possible just give them a quick spin by hand. Hope this helps.

 

[W racing]

If you have graphite it is not needed if you prep the wheels correctly.

 

[rookie]

OK, thanks. Will leave the graphite cars with just a quick hand spin. I built an oil car for the open class following the DVD, but using jig. I'm really interested to see how fast that car is compared to the graphite.

I'll spin the wheels on that car a few extra times.

 

[OPARENNEN]

I found that oil wheels take at least 5 to 8 runs to reach its peak.
So use the compressed air suggestiion above after oil prep.
OR - get any kind of an 8 to 10 foot board, and run the car down at least 20 or 30 times.
But use a pillow at the bottom!!!

OK, thanks. Will leave the graphite cars with just a quick hand spin. I built an oil car for the open class following the DVD, but using jig. I'm really interested to see how fast that car is compared to the graphite. I'll spin the wheels on that car a few extra times.

 

[GravityX]

I've viewed or read this somewhere, not my idea, if memory serves me correctly someone has used a treadmill for break-in.

Pros or cons about this method???

My thinking is that in theory it is a great idea, but the tread surface may beat up the car (no worse than a wooden track I guess).

Once again, this is not an my idea, but something I have viewed or read somewhere.

 

[Crash Enburn]

That has been suggested elsewhere, and there is a video of it on YouTube. But, I can't imagine that doing your wheels any good at all. And none of the guys that race in the NWPDRL use that method.

 

[Quicktimederby]

+1,000,000,000

And none of the guys that race in the NWPDRL use that method.

For me I have no break in period. Usually with oil my first time down is the fastest. Don't get discouraged with the oil. The first 3-5 times I tried the process it was slower than the graphite. Once you do it enough you will fine things that work for you, and you will pick up big.

 

[ljo]

The blue thunder prep took a while to break in, but the jig was immediately fast.

 

[5KidsRacing]

Whatever I do doesn't require a long break-in period. If I didn't have a track I would just prep and send it in and not worry about trying to perform an artificial break-in. I usually see that the first couple runs are a little slower, but not .020 slower, maybe .003-.004 slower. After I get it broke in I usually de-tune it right back to slow and then have to work another hour to get it back. Half of the time it would have been better off for me to just do no tuning. Running it down a tuning board a few times would be fine.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

DO NOT USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR ON OIL CARS. If you are using Jig it is ready to go immediately. THe air blows all the oil out even at a slow speed.

 

[rookie]

Thanks.... was just about to turn on the compressor..... Looks like I'm set to go without anymore prep.

 

[jator359]

John, would you say the same (ready to go immediately) with multiuse if jig not available?

 

[OPARENNEN]

John, I have always used air to spin wheels a bit, but being careful not to let it get close to axles. I.e. pointing air to outer edge of running surface at an extreme angle. Is that bad? Would that harm the JIG? Or would wheel speed be too extreme?