robsryd

Hey folks, hope your all having a great Memorial day.
This is my first post and have a question about my TC5. I ran a race last weekend for the first time with my TC5, set up with a spool, and it seemed to loosen a bunch,(the adjusting screw) therefore loosing front drive while coming out of the turns on the throttle. It seems to me that a traditional diff would work better but I am new to spools and am not entirely sure. Other than trial and error, do any of you have an argument for this?
Rob.

not home

iTrader: (23)

well the spool can loosen up after a little use just because it maybe be its first run??? just breaking itself in. possibly you over tightened it and after a little friction it loosen itself up. what type of track are you running on?

robsryd

I was running on an asphalt track in very good condition, with a half dozen tight turns. It seems to me if a spool is not locked down tight, then you loose almost all front drive while hard on the throttle. Whereas a diff will always bite when on the throttle, unless it too is loose. So confusing

geeunit1014

iTrader: (14)

You may want to try a little threadlock on the screw. The reason people run spools (solid axle) vs a diff is that it makes the car easier to drive and more consistent in low traction situations like asphalt. When it is working right, the spool will always transfer 100% power to the tires, which helps give you better drive out of corners.

robsryd

Your absolutely right, no locktight. I had a problem with the original nut that came with the kit. it stripped out. AE sent me new harder nuts(3904) and these are nylocks, so I didn't use locktight. I do understand now the benefit of a front spool. I will probably try a regular diff (I'm old school)to see the difference.
I really like to "drive" the hell out of these cars, especially with competition around me, so If I have to fine tune my car, or driving skills for that matter, to have the reliability of a differential, I may go that way. Besides, won't the front wheels chatter with a "posi" like front end? Possibly burn through tires? Again, this spool system is new to me and I have to experiment to find out what suits me best, now that I know what a spool basically does. Thanks.
Rob

geeunit1014

iTrader: (14)

If your going to be really aggresive with your driving style, the solid axle will probably be your best bet. It will give you the best combination of steering and stability that will let you push the car to the edge. The wheels can chatter, but only if you have to utilize a lot of wheel angle to get around corners (ie a lot of dual rate). The stock TC5R setup should get you in the ballpark. With tires, it will depend on how the setup is. If the car is understeering a lot, you will burn through front tires. If it is loose, you will burn through rear tires. It all depends on setup.

robsryd

I'll keep that in mind when I test this week.