It's often said that races are won or lost in the pits, and that goes for RC racing too. Good preparation does not always mean victory, but it will allow your car to give its best in each race. Keep in mind that much of this preparation takes place not on the track, but on your workbench at home. Here are our tips for preparing your vehicle for the race.
Clean your car properly
After a day of racing, your car is often covered in dirt, which can help hide certain defects. Careful cleaning allows you to have a clear view of the mechanics of your vehicle.
After removing the tires and bodywork, spray your vehicle with a cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes so that it dissolves any dirt, oil or grease. Use a compressor or cloth to dry the car, apply a light coat of finishing product to reduce dirt adhesion. Be careful not to splash any product on the electronic parts which must be cleaned using a brush and a cloth only.
Screws
Before each race, it is important to do a check-up of your vehicle's hardware to ensure that all screws, nuts and e-clips (if any) are not loose or missing. The screws fixed in the plastic parts can be secured with a little glue . No need to bring a screwdriver to check the screws : If they are not half unscrewed or simply missing then there is a good chance that they are in place correctly. Don't forget to check your wheel nuts !
The suspensions
Vehicles can sometimes collide with other vehicles or against the shoulders, which damages your suspensions. Damaged suspensions directly affect the performance of your car, so you need to check that they are working properly.
To do this, remove the front and rear shock absorbers , lift each suspension arm and drop it. If the arm falls normally then everything is fine but if it remains suspended in the air then there is a problem. In the latter case, check that the hinges and bases are not damaged. It is sometimes difficult to check that the hinge pin is not bent, one technique is to disassemble it then roll it on a flat, smooth surface, if it rolls smoothly then it is not damaged.
The gears
Even if you have installed specific protection on the gears, dust and small debris can get inside and cause damage to the sprockets. Rotate the gears to check for wear, broken teeth, or small stones embedded in the gear. A sprocket is not very expensive so do not hesitate to replace them if you encounter any of these problems.
Also take a moment to check the meshing between the gears . A motor that is not tightened enough may shift gears mid-stroke. There should be just a little play between the gears.
Shock absorbers
Take advantage of the inspection of your suspensions to check your shock absorbers . Compress the shock absorber, if you feel resistance then you must have a bent shock absorber axle and will need to be replaced. Any roughness during compression means the O-rings are damaged and need to be replaced. You can also check the oil level .
Differential and slipper
You can quickly check the slipper by holding the tires and pressing the accelerator. The front of the unit should stick out about an inch. If the front rises higher than 2.5 cm, your slipper may be too tight, if the front does not rise much the slipper may be too loose.
While holding the sprocket, rotate the tire to feel for any roughness in the movement. If there is, it is a sign that the differential is too loose and is slipping. It must then be rebuilt. If the movement is fluid, it is ready for the race.
The tires
Check your tire tread for damage or wear and replace it if necessary. Take the time to check the grip between the tire and the rim . Grab the rim and try to pull the tire away from it. If the tire comes loose, then you will need to clean the dirt from that area and add glue .
Bearings
To check the bearings , move the pinion away from the spur gear and operate the transmission by rotating the tires. If they spin freely then your bearings are good, if they stop right away then a bearing is locked up somewhere. It may take a while to find the bad bearing, but if you start at the hubs (where the bearings see the most dirt), you'll probably find the problem fairly quickly.
Electric wires
In most cases, your vehicle's electrical wires are protected from the elements, but sometimes they can rub against the transmission, suspension or other moving parts. This friction can damage the insulation sheath of the wires and even cause a short circuit . Inspect all wires to ensure the insulation jacket is completely intact. Also, examine the solders to make sure the wires stay connected properly. Don't forget to check the sensor wires on your brushless motor (if you're using one) as they can break at the connector.
