I am trying to get a car ready for a local fun race and axle holes are loose. How can I tighten them up? Tried Epoxy with a non race axle. Let it set and then removed axle and tried the race prepped axle. Still loose. Thanks for fix ideas.
Loose axle hole fix?
- Thread starter Scott Porter
- Start date
Many options:
- Put a little water in the hole, that will make the wood swell a bit.
- Shim it with toothpick, wood splinter, dental floss etc.
- Drop or two of wood glue on the axle
- If you have tungsten putty a small amount of that as a shim works well
- Put a little water in the hole, that will make the wood swell a bit.
- Shim it with toothpick, wood splinter, dental floss etc.
- Drop or two of wood glue on the axle
- If you have tungsten putty a small amount of that as a shim works well
I use a toothpick to apply the glue into the hole and then discard the toothpick and install the axle
For Scout races I've had success using dental floss. The brand I like is Oral B Glide. It's more of a tape vs. a string. Cut a couple of 1/2" pieces and place over the axle hole in an x pattern. Then insert the axle. Just make sure there is no dental tape hanging out of the hole.
Thanks for this idea, I have some at home. Understand not wanting it to cause friction on a wheel.
If you dont want it to touch your hubs....dont make a glue mess....only into the hole, then insert the axles and tune....
I found this year in fact that the 3M flimsy duct tape worked spectacularly! I just wrapped the axle one time , so no overlap to cause a cant, worked better than floss for me anyway
Txs! I will put that idea into my book. I do not think I am that loose right now but will keep it in mind. Is flimsy duct tape different than standard duct tape?
Yes I got it at Lowe’s it is super light and sticky works great for under the body on ladder cars too
Txs Chief for more info on the tape from Lowe's! A new twist. Is the duct tape on the underside of the ladder cars for aero? I have built a couple of ladder design cars and the outlaw was fast with one big hole, but the stock car was just ok with two. Recent cars I have taken the holes away to see how they run without the interruption of body. same style, no holes. Haven't run them yet. Need a track.
I built the ladder designs thinking I could get more weight aft (and they sorta look cool) but do you think, even with tape on the bottom for aero, that the ladder design is more of a negative for speed than just a clean wedge design? Txs for your conversations!
That is something you will have to play with and see if it is worth it to you. Look through the forum and watch the videos and look at photos to help you decide. Mine are not ladder design but they have cut outs and i tape the bottom of every car! Even if it doesnt help the car, it puts my mind at ease haha
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