New guy here

Don't use DW tools! There great for one thing, parting you and your money. Next, I would avoid using a treadmill to tune, a table at a slope is far better. If you want the help to be fast you're in the right place. /images/boards/smilies/wave.gif
 
I think there is a video on youtube. But there is no way that can be very accurate. I know on my wife's treadmill the surface is rubber and rough. How in the world can you get a accurate idea of what the car is doing?  Oh the value of a tuning board and track!!!!!

DerbyDad4Hire said:
What is with the treadmill tuning thing?
Click to expand...
 
Yeah I saw the treadmill video on youtube. And I guess like purchasing the DW tools I made a mistake. But since I have done all of that I found this website. And have regretted some earlier decisions ever since. They say you learn by your mistakes. But I'm learning more by the day here on this site. Thanks everyone.
 
36.. Don't feel bad.. I mean not at all.. All of the pros on here started where you did.. and most of them bought all the DW tools.. I did...
dazed
Even Derbydad did.. When I finally saw the light started racing with these guys I gave away all of my DW tools.. I have never purposely
dance
bent a rear axle again.. once I started using the methods these guys describe My PWD building has gone to a way other level. My sons have not lost a pack or district race since. Trust me once you learn you'll look back and laugh. Don't sweat it..
 
The video is put out by the derby dust crew. They usually have a link to on there ebay car kit listings.
 
So I bent my front axle and inserted it into the car for a positive cant. I am not sure how to estimate the degree's so I may have gone too far. It appears that 3-4 degrees is what is best. I can adjust the steering by moving the axle head clockwise and counterclockwise but the wheel seems to be riding on on the body of the car and not out on the end of axle head either way I position it.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for the great info and encouragement.

I wish I had all this great advise before I had even started this car!
 
Snow.. You sound backward to me
lol
I mean not you.. your DFW cant.. Is the DFW running on the inside rim of the wheel or the outside edge? the front wheel should only be touching on the outside edge where the tread marks are at. The inside of the wheel "closest to the body" should be up off the track a smidgen.. Check it out and let us know..
 
36racin said:
I know exactly how long it takes to tune a car with three bent axles.  I used my treadmill rolling slowly to determine how the car would run.  It took forever to get the car running like I wanted.  Then the trajady the next morning happened so I naturally thought the car would be toast.  I think the only thing that saved us was the marks on the axles.  Brother-in-law was here when I tuned and must have remembered the general direction of the marks for the affected axle that had came out during the accident. 
Click to expand...

Give me a call. I think it will be easier to help you over the phone.
 
snowmobileguy said:
So I bent my front axle and inserted it into the car for a positive cant.  I am not sure how to estimate the degree's so I may have gone too far. It appears that  3-4 degrees is what is best.  I can adjust the steering by moving the axle head clockwise and counterclockwise but the wheel seems to be riding on on the body of the car and not out on the end of axle head either way I position it. 

 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks to all for the great info and encouragement.

 

I wish I had all this great advise before I had even started this car! 
Click to expand...

snow you have it right. The wheel will ride on the body.
 
Yes, the wheel is riding on the outside edge of the wheel and the inside edge is up a little bit. I had thought the wheel should be riding the on the axle head though like the rears are. Would it be a good to put a little Secret mix Krytox oil on the body of the car where the inside hub will rub against the body?

Thanks
 
Thanks everyone for all your help.

My wife thinks I am crazy for spending so much time on this car but my son and I have had such a great time putting this car together. It's actually kind of addicting. I think she will be pretty happy though if we do well in our race.

We just need to adjust the steering. I have read a few different posts with different amounts of steer recommended for different types of cars. My car is about 3/4 center mass stock car. I have it set up as a rail rider with three wheels touching. Our last car we attempted a rail rider and actually jumped the rails a couple times so I am trying not to do that again!

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated
 
snowmobileguy said:
It is a wooden one. If I remember correctly out of 10 or 12 races it derailed twice in the same lane.
Click to expand...

If you put some acrylic nail polish right at the point where the hub rubs the body, it will act as a washer. That stuff gets really hard. Also, if you put a good enough angle on your dominant front axle, get your steer set right and keep a conservative COM it will help avoid derailing. Check that lane and see if you can bring a sanding block to smooth it out, all the racers should appreciate that. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif
 
Ditto on that tip with the nail polish!

I am showing my utter lack of knowledge here but does more steer make a car more or less stable? From what I have seen 2 3/4 steer might be about right over 45 inches for a car with 3/4 com.

I will have a sanding block at the ready for our race.
smile.gif
 
snowmobileguy said:
Ditto on that tip with the nail polish!

I am showing my utter lack of knowledge here but does more steer make a car more or less stable? From what I have seen 2 3/4 steer might be about right over 45 inches for a car with 3/4 com.

I will have a sanding block at the ready for our race.
smile.gif
Click to expand...

More steer will make a car more stable. To much steer slows you down terribly. Some of my cars will not run stable with that little of steer. Each car is different. Some of my cars are steered at about ten inches at four feet, it depends. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

P.S. Make sure you've read the axle can't thread. http://forums.derbydad4hire.com/post/Axle-cant-5598983
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

davet
setup for wood track vs aluminum
Replies
11
Views
269
General Pinewood Derby Discussion
davet
davet
Darkside
Well that was fun!
Replies
3
Views
287
General Pinewood Derby Discussion
"The Fonze"
"The Fonze"
C
COG vs weight placement
Replies
3
Views
894
Ask The Pros
Chris Stevenson
Chris Stevenson
C
Caught from behind at Districts 2 years in a row
Replies
8
Views
1K
Ask The Pros
flockshot
flockshot
Prozach2
PWD Science Project
Replies
0
Views
506
General Pinewood Derby Discussion
Prozach2
Prozach2
Top Bottom