Minimum Axle Width?

[Vitamin K]

Hullo folks,

So, also along the lines of drafting rulesets, I've seen that some rules have minimum axle widths specified. NSC, for example, requires that axles be at least .084" thick.

Is this primarily to prevent "needle" axles being used? If, in the rules, you already specify that they must only use BSA wheels, and that they're not allowed to use bushings or bearings or fill-and-redrill the bores, is there any benefit that somebody could gain from using a super narrow axle?

Just trying to see what the possible loophole might be.

 

[ccw13175]

That's exactly why it was written that way.

 

[Guest]

Hullo folks,

So, also along the lines of drafting rulesets, I've seen that some rules have minimum axle widths specified. NSC, for example, requires that axles be at least .084" thick.

Is this primarily to prevent "needle" axles being used? If, in the rules, you already specify that they must only use BSA wheels, and that they're not allowed to use bushings or bearings or fill-and-redrill the bores, is there any benefit that somebody could gain from using a super narrow axle?

Just trying to see what the possible loophole might be.

The .084 refers to the diameter, not the width. Super narrow axle (smaller diameter) used to be faster, but lately leaps and bounds have been made with large diameter axles....
.084 to .094 and the gap certainly has been closed. However I do think there is more to it behind the scenes that the times have dropped as much as they have.

 

[Kinser Racing]

The .084 refers to the diameter, not the width. Super narrow axle (smaller diameter) used to be faster, but lately leaps and bounds have been made with large diameter axles....
.084 to .094 and the gap certainly has been closed. However I do think there is more to it behind the scenes that the times have dropped as much as they have.

It's a little of both. The league track gate is sooooooo smooth it makes all others feel like dinosaurs.

 

[Vitamin K]

The .084 refers to the diameter, not the width. Super narrow axle (smaller diameter) used to be faster, but lately leaps and bounds have been made with large diameter axles....
.084 to .094 and the gap certainly has been closed. However I do think there is more to it behind the scenes that the times have dropped as much as they have.

Fairly certain that for a cylindrical object (like an axle), width is synonymous with diameter.

I can see small diameter axles being useful if you're able to reduce your bore size to match. If not, though, you're not doing yourself any favors with the extra wheel slop.

So, essentially, if you forbid methods of reducing bore size, minimum axle width requirements are pretty much just redundancy.

 

[cycrunner]

I have addressed this situation before. I would like to see a class that allows needle axels. Of course you would have to use smaller diameter wheel bores to be effective. I know needles can be faster than the current .084 or larger diameter axels. I have raced in other venues like WIRL with needles and they were faster than the bigger diameter axels. You do need to select the proper wheel bore to needle size to get the best performance. Needles are, however, not as fast as bearings. Bit they are fun to run and the cost for a needle car is a lot less than a bearing car! Some guys have objected to needles because they have used needles that beak easily. The ones I have used can be bent very easily and do not break. I use sewing needles from a place like Joanne Fabrics.

 

[Guest]

The .084 refers to the diameter, not the width. Super narrow axle (smaller diameter) used to be faster, but lately leaps and bounds have been made with large diameter axles....
.084 to .094 and the gap certainly has been closed. However I do think there is more to it behind the scenes that the times have dropped as much as they have.

Fairly certain that for a cylindrical object (like an axle), width is synonymous with diameter.

I can see small diameter axles being useful if you're able to reduce your bore size to match. If not, though, you're not doing yourself any favors with the extra wheel slop.

So, essentially, if you forbid methods of reducing bore size, minimum axle width requirements are pretty much just redundancy.

I'm fairly certain you are wrong on your terminology...........round parts are measured with a term called diameter. Look at any league rules. Take a wheel for instance, a diameter is given, and also a width.
However, I know how you like to debate, so call it what you like..........YOU WIN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4z2fi2PTKQ

 

[Vitamin K]

I'm fairly certain you are wrong on your terminology...........round parts are measured with a term called diameter. Look at any league rules. Take a wheel for instance, a diameter is given, and also a width.
However, I know how you like to debate, so call it what you like..........YOU WIN!

I'll concede that diameter is probably the better term to use, since it's more specific, in this regard, and not orientation-dependent.

 

[3phase]

Cyrunner, the unlimited rules do not say you cannot run needles. Maybe you can talk 5kids and BSB to race with you.

 

[cycrunner]

To be competitive with needles we need a separate class from unlimited. No point in running needles against bearings - as I said bearings are faster.