CMUidiot

I’ve never raced before but looking to do so soon, but what does everyone do between qualifying and races? I saw the Reedy races online last weekend and these guys looked like they were taking the entire buggies apart after each run? Is there a mental checklist for guidelines for what should be checked after each run in race days?

EbbTide

iTrader: (39)

For me I do this if I'm not looking to make any setup changes:
Take out and charge battery
Remove tires/wheels (clean them if you want, I don't)
Remove dirt chunks from chassis
Check screws to make sure all are tight
Check steering assembly for excessive slop
Check shocks for leaks (bleed if necessary)
Check diffs for leaks
Remove motor and make sure driveline spins free
Install motor and reset mesh.
Race.

IMO you really only need to disassemble it if you are going to be switching diff oils and shock oils in between heats. Otherwise I don't see a need unless you noticed your car was acting funny in the last heat.

the rc guy

no need to disassemble anything unless you notice rc not running as it should..
charge battery
diffs are sealed no need to tear them apart.
shocks are sealed no need to refil unless you have a leak..is it seal or o ring?.
keep it low key no need to do all this work you don't need to
see a guy every week pull his brushless motor apart he does change a bearing (just to do something) we run on astro turf..


when are your Marshaling duties?.go do them.mine are directly after i race,,so i just unplug battery from esc and turn radio off.

CMUidiot

Thanks for the tips.

kevinatfms

iTrader: (10)

As stated above:

pull battery and set to balance charge in lipo sack
*go marshal
remove tires and clean, dry and resauce
clean chassis with brush
check to see if anything is loose, broken or missing

get ready for the next heat.

Djr8505

Most of the racers out my way only disassemble a kit if there is something that is broken or needs significant adjusting. I typically do what other people say, charge battery clean chassis if it is needed ( I run a lot of turf so not a big deal) between the quals. Before the mains I try to double check screws especially those holding the motor on so the mesh doesn't slip and most importantly check wheel nuts before the mains. I have seen so many guys lose a race they were about to win because the wheels didn't stay on the car.

buster8787

IF it moves, move it. If it binds when you move it take it appart because its probably broken or bent. Retighten all screws and charge the battery. Let them sit before you use it again to let them calm down for about 10 mins before.

WagwanBumba

iTrader: (1)

Something in the 1/10 electric on-road world that buggies don't care seem to account for is chassis tweak. I never got that in to the buggy setup as the clay off-road track in Hong Kong has been closed for 2 years now. Do the buggy folks check for tweak at all??

chuck_thehammer

inspection... know your car... inspection..
marshal after your heat/main

charge battery next.. then inspect.. fix/adjust when NEEDED.. do not follow the pro's.

most important... HAVE FUN...

the detail is at home..not at the track..

R/C racing since 1991... all types.

ljl23

iTrader: (11)

If it aint broke don't fix it. Here's what I usually do as a basic thing after each round:

Get battery going
Marshal
Clean tire (If you're on dirt)
Check gear mesh
Look around for loose screws
Inspect solder joints
Wiggle arms and wheels back and forth to check for play

And That's it. If I find any issues I will investigate from there. They are disassembling their cars because there is so much time between races they have time to make sure everything is ok. In a regular club race you probably don't have time to do that.

chuck_thehammer

my opinion....
.
Pro's.. it about an advantage .. A N Y advantage...

Mind Games..... even disassembling cars

1992 I went to a BIG race ,, to view new friends racing..

One guy but peanut butter on the batteries before recharging. and then removed just before next race..
another put motor in plastic bag.. and it into an ice chest full of ice.

the stuff you can see.. back in the pits of a big race is amusing ...

Evoking1230

iTrader: (8)

in between runs I first blow off the car with an air compressor. Take our receiver battery and top off on charger. Check the engine mount screws and any screws that go into metal for tightness, loctite as needed. Tighten wheel nuts lol, check air filter, if its super dirty, replace it! Check the glow plug to see if you're in the ball park on the tune (thats a separate topic and I always run a new plug each track/race day). Check for excess amounts of slop in suspension.

IF I need to make any changes, I will, otherwise I leave it as is

The above of course applies to nitro but you get the jist

kstorm2k7

iTrader: (10)

Go over everything. Last thing is to lose because a loose screw or esc coming loose and shorting. Only disassemble I major changes or something wrong or bad bearing. Those internal items are best checked during the week when you’re not racing

Rattfink

iTrader: (2)

I use to toss huge amounts of new bearings clutches tires at my car. Then one day I observed a guy who always won races and he hardly did any work to his car. He drove smother, more careful, made less mistakes, keep it in the grove. Then I started focusing on driving skills and less on having the fastest car. Then everything started to go better for me

Evoking1230

iTrader: (8)

cant put those fast bearings, super grabby clutches and super sticky tires to use if you don't know how to drive ;-)