Wheel alignment with a basic jig and block thats not tight in the jig.

[DR650SE]

Hey guys, my sons derby is coming up and I'm assisting him. He wants to drill the axle holes and move the wheels further back. So we go a basic jig. The problem is he cut the car out and sanded it, and in sanding the car to round all the corners, with a belt sander, the sides lost a bit of wood. Now getting the block in the jig straight is a challenge.

The angles will be off since there is a tiny gap in the side between the wood block and the jog. I'm also not wanting to just rest one side on the jig because the car may not be perfectly straight.

I'm thinking the best way would be to stand the car on the back end, and then put the jig in place with something flat to hold it up enough, then clamp the two together. That's my best idea.

Should i just suggest bending the axles and rotating them to align the wheels? If the axel holes ar crooked, one will be at an angle slightly in front of the other. I don't really know the best way to get straight axels. We should have drilled first! Doh!!

 

[Mojo Racing]

apply tape to both sides of your car, the same amount on both sides... this should shore it up until it is tighter in the drill jig.

It isn't ideal, but it is better than nothing

 

[DR650SE]

apply tape to both sides of your car, the same amount on both sides... this should shore it up until it is tighter in the drill jig.

It isn't ideal, but it is better than nothing

I had thought of that, like just wrapping it, but was wondering if it would introduce some play in it. Might have some play/flex, but at the least it's better than nothing and will minimize it. would a bent axle help correct for the tiny angle of the axles?

 

[Mojo Racing]

don't wrap it... just put the same number of layers on one side as the other

or go get another block from the store

The axles from the kit probably have a little bend to them... check them out and use that if needed.

 

[Reecedad]

Hey guys, my sons derby is coming up and I'm assisting him. He wants to drill the axle holes and move the wheels further back. So we go a basic jig. The problem is he cut the car out and sanded it, and in sanding the car to round all the corners, with a belt sander, the sides lost a bit of wood. Now getting the block in the jig straight is a challenge.

The angles will be off since there is a tiny gap in the side between the wood block and the jog. I'm also not wanting to just rest one side on the jig because the car may not be perfectly straight.

I'm thinking the best way would be to stand the car on the back end, and then put the jig in place with something flat to hold it up enough, then clamp the two together. That's my best idea.

Should i just suggest bending the axles and rotating them to align the wheels? If the axel holes ar crooked, one will be at an angle slightly in front of the other. I don't really know the best way to get straight axels. We should have drilled first! Doh!!

I sent you a private message.

 

[DHRacing]

If you have time to start a new one it might be worth considering

 

[DR650SE]

Unfortunately I don't have access to a band saw or scroll saw. The play in it is just the tiniest amount. Adding electrical tape to the rear axle on one side is enough to make it tight. The front requires one layer of electrical tape on both sides. This is definitely a lesson learned for next year!

Here's the pics of it so far. Tomorrow the plan is to add the weights in and use wood filler, then sand the filler once it dries.

http://imgur.com/gallery/WcHjtBF

 

[Pinewood Outlaw]

Yup...drill your blocks first then cut shape and sand