Pledge on axles

[Kinser Racing]

If you spray pledge on your table then wipe it off, Is it wet? It would be classified as a dry lube. Most of the guys that are having to use dry lube, I think alignment, steer, COM and aerodynamics should be a primary focus. Pledge is just the icing on the cake. IMHO. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[SoGone]

I agree with kinser 100%... You can have all the best and fastest lubes in the world,,but without a good setup that lube ain't worth beans. Setup wins the race 99% of the time

 

[Guest]

This kind of bugs me. I think if the race rules say "graphite only" you should run with graphite only. I am going to pass on using Pledge, because our rules say only graphite or powdered teflon for lubricants. You can argue that Pledge is not a lube, but I think in actuality, it is (it's the silicon). And I don't like the idea of using oil when the rules say "dry lube". Yes, it isn't dripping, and it isn't a danger to the track, but I don't imagine that the race organizers would agree to you using oil if you explained what you were doing.

The justification that it seems to me like I'm seeing is "This fits the letter of the rules, in my interpretation, and they're not able to to detect it as otherwise."

In my opinion, we should strive to abide by both the spirit /and/ the letter of the rules.

Personally I like DD4H philosophy in his article “How to easily win a cub scout district race.” He says “I am shocked to hear anyone complain that a car would look clean and complain that there was no graphite. If the rules say dry lube only then I will run my oil process every time. It appears dry at race time and meets the wording of the rules.” I agree with this and after our district race they pull the axle out to check them. We have been lucky enough to win district 3 times and not one time have I ever been questioned of why there was no graphite all over the place.

Thankfully this argument will be presented before the Supreme Court later this year.

Only then will we find out whose "spirit of the rules" will define the PWD for the next 60 years

 

[IAE Racing]

Vitamin K, Thanks for coming here to discuss thoughts, as you have learned you are open to discuss your thought without censor. If you read many of my posts I encourage all to strive to abide by the spirit and letter of the rule. I really dislike grey areas. I strive to help my pack, district, and council make clear, concise, and measurable rules.

Your opinion is very welcome here and you are free to chose. Having used Pledge, I feel though it is just part of the final polish process though and not part of the lubrication process. Example: finish polishing axles with brasso, no graphite = poor run. Polish with brasso, finish with pledge, no graphite = poor run. If pledge was a lubricant, you would see good runs with it only that would last an entire race.

JM2C

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

If it's the silicone in the pledge, wouldn't any silicone spray work,

 

[rpenning1970]

I did the pledge treatment on my axles this morning, sprayed it, wiped it off, then I took the wheels and burneshed them with graphite as a reprep and added some graphite and put things together. i am not sure if it helped which I expect that it should have but the car did not really run ahead of the pack, about 3-4 other cars were really close to the car and I was rather confused as to why.

 

[g.o.racing]

as gravity x said earlier he had a .006 gain if all other things are equal that is the edge you need. its not going to make a slow car from the back of the pack suddenly come to the front and win the race!!!

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

The faster your car is, the less of a gain you will get from any speed boosting mod. That's true of any speed sport.

 

[IAE Racing]

Very true. So that's why a .006 gain is huge. If a .006 gain is not huge for you, then need to go back to the beginning - proper alignment, balance, steer, prep - that is where you will pick up the .3000.

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

My car is a Cub Scout racer. .006 is still a lot since my son finished less than that out of the money. I could have used that .006 a couple of weeks ago!!

 

[IAE Racing]

That's what I mean - when you're at the top and it's close, .006 is big.

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

That is NOT what she said!

 

[IAE Racing]

I stepped into that one!

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

But I really appreciate you doing it!!

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

But I really appreciate you doing it!!

 

[Guest]

Hey Vitamin K,

I saw some of your work on a different forum.

Very impressive stuff!

The "spirit of the law" is like the banshee.

Once you think you can grasp her, she disappears before your eyes.

IMHO

Welcome fella.

 

[Pacfanweb]

That's what I mean - when you're at the top and it's close, .006 is big.

My son finished 2nd at District two years ago by .003. Every little bit helps.

 

[jrbryant68]

I have gone through the steps of polishing the axles down to 3000 grit polishing paper and I was planning on using a molly boron to coat the axles. As I understand the rules for the race the only stipulation on, lube is no oil or wet lube. So would pledge be something I could use with that as I assume it would be dry before the race. And the second thought going through my head is can I use something like a thin teflon/plastic cutout to line the body around the edge of the axle to reduce friction or would that have any effect? I appreciate the help

 

[bracketracer]

I think most scout rules would consider that cutout to be a washer, jrbryant68. Do your rules say no washers?

 

[Pacfanweb]

Regarding the Pledge vs. anything else for graphite:

Would not straight silicone spray work, too? Spray the axles and let it dry? Or are we thinking the Pledge leave a little something else behind than just silicone?