Width between body and wheel?

[John-newbie11]

Over the years I've purchased 2 different spacers; 1 is pretty much as thick as a credit card (maybe even a notch thicker), the other is a bit thinner. The thicker one of course leaves a larger gap, the thinner one is smaller.

What do you guys do for spacing? Or does it depend on multiple factors?

This is for a local pack race, some of my family's cars are just running 'regular', 1 is rail-riding. All are on 3 wheels.

Thanks!

 

[Castoro Racing]

Over the years I've purchased 2 different spacers; 1 is pretty much as thick as a credit card (maybe even a notch thicker), the other is a bit thinner. The thicker one of course leaves a larger gap, the thinner one is smaller.

What do you guys do for spacing? Or does it depend on multiple factors?

This is for a local pack race, some of my family's cars are just running 'regular', 1 is rail-riding. All are on 3 wheels.

Thanks!

I have had good luck using business cards. I think most of the pros are able to eyeball it, but I dont have that ability. A credit card is around .030 thickness i think. If you have calipers you can always measure the thickness of a piece of plastic or a business card or 2. The last time I ran graphite I went hair under .015 which was a business card with a piece of packing tape on top of it. I have only built a few oil cars and went with slightly smaller gaps, but I can't say if they were fast yet.

 

[John-newbie11]

Thanks. Sounds like I should shoot for a little bit of a smaller gap, but not too small...

I'm running graphite.

 

[DuckOfAllTrades]

Those store bought gauges/credit cards give you a little too much spacing. You can go tighter.

I don't go as aggressive as others, I use a piece of cereal box with a strip cut out of it for my gauge. Sometimes too I just eyeball it.

Must say, this business card with a piece of tape on it sounds wonderful too! May try that.

 

[John-newbie11]

Thanks again

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Eye ball and feel after building and seeing enough and always going about the same. Biz card sounds good depending on the stock it’s made out of. I used to use a credit card which is too much.

 

[Castoro Racing]

Those store bought gauges/credit cards give you a little too much spacing. You can go tighter.

I don't go as aggressive as others, I use a piece of cereal box with a strip cut out of it for my gauge. Sometimes too I just eyeball it.

Must say, this business card with a piece of tape on it sounds wonderful too! May try that.

I

Eye ball and feel after building and seeing enough and always going about the same. Biz card sounds good depending on the stock it’s made out of. I used to use a credit card which is too much.

I check the thickness before I used them with calipers. I know my work business card is not as fancy and thick as some of the cards vendors pack in their boxes.

 

[John-newbie11]

In other words, there really shouldn't be too much of a gap at all... correct?

 

[Castoro Racing]

In other words, there really shouldn't be too much of a gap at all... correct?

From what I have read between .010-.015 is typical. I am sure some are less but I think .015 is good for graphite.

I bet the cereal box is a bit thicker than the business cards I have used. Sounds like a good idea to me anyway.

You should def have a smaller gap than any of the tools that the non-pro vendors sell.

 

[John-newbie11]

Great, thank you!

 

[John-newbie11]

For one of our cars I already put wood glue (a fair amount) on the axle/precut slot and worked it in with a toothpick.

I assume there is no safe way to move the axle at this point, correct? Does anything safely 'dissolve' wood glue? Or might I even be able to turn it and break the wood glue seal?