This month we're going to cover some of the aspects of the rear of the car. These hints are Intended as a guide to get your car in the pack and not as absolutes.
First, lets look at the rear oilites. If they are sloppy on the axle the gear mesh will suffer and the car may hop on the track. Soldering them in cures the problem.
Start by scraping the uprights or pillow blocks so that solder will stick. This is Important on flexi-car type of chassis as the solder will not stick to the plating. Next, take an old axle, old gear, and new oilites and put them in place on the car. Tin the oillte, slide it into place, hold old gear, and solder the oilite In. The gear lets you push on the oilite without burning your fingers and keeps it straight with the axle. Do the other side the same way. Now that the oilites are in, clean the uprights (with a wire brush following with a serious scrubbing with kitchen cleanser and a scrub brush, rinse in water and dry thoroughly with a paper towel). Then run the new axle back and forth in the oilites being sure It will spin freely.
Setting the width of the rear tires is also necessary. Start by finding the centerllne of the chassis, front to rear. Now space the tires equal distant from that center line. The car will run square down the straightaway and be equal In both right and left corners. Some racers find a slight offset makes the car faster in a corner they have trouble with, so experiment, but start square so you have something to compare to.
Another common error Is to have the rear axle endplay wrong. It should not be so loose that you can see It move, but not so tight it binds. You should set it up so you can feel the axle move side to side in the chassis but not really see it. The same applies to gear mesh. Just loose enough to feel and just see back lash. If done properly, the cars running gear should now run free and true making your racing efforts faster and more trouble free.
Try two thin axle washers on either side between the wheel, or gear and the oilite bushing if you have room. These will act as thrust washers and greatly reduce friction - Ed.
MODEL RACING INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 2 #1 SPRING 1990
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