ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

This is a thread to ask questions about Team Associated, JConcepts and Reedy off-road electric products / setups in Australia.

My Background: I have been racing electric off-road since 1992 and am currently a factory driver for Associated / Reedy & JConcepts. I also run KO Propo radio gear. I run 1/10 electric off road only (2wd, 4wd and SCT) and am based in Melbourne.

Outside R/C racing, I am a professional mechanical engineer working in full-size off-road vehicle development (for Toyota) and have previously worked in F1, WRC and Dakar.

Feel free to ask questions about products, setups, driving tips etc. I will try to respond daily where possible. Please include as much information about your setup, track conditions, exact nature of your problem / question so that I can best help out.

Disclaimer: I AM NOT AN IMPORTER OR DISTRIBUTOR. I CANNOT HELP OUT WITH WARRANTY RETURNS - PLEASE CONTACT THE SHOP YOU BROUGHT YOUR PRODUCTS FROM!!!

Ask away

Ray

Links to some additional posts:
Record keeping
http://www.rctech.net/forum/10632880-post59.html

Vehicle Preparation / Maintenance:
Maintenance Routine:
Ask Ray Munday - JConcepts, Reedy, Associated Aussie Support Thread
Preparation Routine:
Ask Ray Munday - JConcepts, Reedy, Associated Aussie Support Thread


Driving Tips:
Mental Techniques:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/10873756-post148.html
Tyre Friction Circle:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/10873762-post149.html

Videos from a Track Walk / Driver Coaching Day at Keilor June 2012:

ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

Tyres: (Updated 30th May 2012)
JConcepts has a large range of tyres and compounds to suit a very wide range of conditions. To help make racing more enjoyable and hopefully cheaper for you, I have created some charts to help you choose which tyre best suits your track conditions. This has been based on a significant amount of testing at a wide range of tracks and conditions, but each track has its own character so dont be afraid to experiment as well

Here is a report I wrote a few years ago on JConcepts tyres:
http://www.keilorrc.org.au/reports/T...yre_report.htm

Recently, they have released the 3D and Hybrid tyres:
http://www.jconcepts.net/index.php?/...s_details/2806
http://blog.jconcepts.net/2012/03/jc...eases-hybrids/

The 3Ds are my new favourite tyre for typical Australian track conditions. They are a mix of a Bar Code style layout (good for hard base) but are constructed of pins and have pins between the bars (giving good traction in the dust). If you have a hard / abrasive track with a loose dust layer, give them a try. I think they could become an awesome control tyre

The Hybrids have a smaller pin design with a flat carcass and are suitable for tracks with a hard base and a light dust layer. They give excellent forward traction but a little less side traction than a DD. Use for a smooth track with a point and shoot layout when you want to let the rear slide a bit in the turns.

Main thing to remember is to match the compound to the temperature and track condition:
Green: Very soft, use in cold / damp condition
Blue: Soft, use in cold / swept condition
Orange: Med, use in warm / swept condition
White: Med/Firm, use in hot / swept condition.

How to make DD 2wd front tyres:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/10783870-post115.html

ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

Reedy Brushless Motors and Speed Controllers:

510R Testing Update:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/14788476-post1294.html

ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

B6D TESTING UPDATE ADDED:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/14788467-post1293.html

I run the Team Associated B6D and B44.3 (soon to be B64D).

One of the best things about running the AE products is that the team has worked hard to get a setup which works well at most tracks. The changes from track to track are not huge.

I have attached a pdf which shows the general settings I use for most Australian conditions. Typically our conditions are a little different to the US style tracks which tend to be smoother and higher grip. Feel free to print out and put in your pitbox!

(NOTE: For the older model cars such as the B5M, B44.3m SC10.2, B4.x, C4.2 and B44.1/.2, I have archived my setup info in the following post:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/11920883-post494.html


If you have any questions about the AE off-road electric products, dont hesitate to ask!

ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

KO PROPO Radio Gear:
I have recently switched from the KO EX-10 Eurus to the EX-1 KIY. The main advantage of the KIY is the adjustability of the transmitter to help fit to your hand (steering position / angle, throttle position, brake trigger position, and grip size can all be adjusted).
I use the drop down 3D wheel extension and the large grip.
The radio is very light, however it can feel a little top heavy as there are no batteries in the base (it uses 4 x AAA in the handle). I have added ~45g in the base (using lead flashing cut to size) and it has a much better balance.

Tip: After adjusting the brake trigger, make sure you do up the 1.5mm allen bolts TIGHTLY or else it may slip during a race!! The bolts thread into metal inserts so you can make them pretty tight

Update 4th Jul 2012 Brake EPA Issue:
- When I first received my KIY transmitter, I had an issue where adjusting the brake EPA resulted in the throttle trim changing. After a quick email to KO, I got the fix:
1) Go to System Menu -> Adjust TH (Page 52 of the manual)
2) Perform the VR adjust throttle routine (full throttle, full brake, neutral, OK)
For some reason my transmitter trigger was not calibrated correctly from the factory, but is all good now. If you have this issue (not very common) then this fix will help!

Losiho

iTrader: (1)

Ok Ray, I'll ask you the curly questions first off

(1) When are Novak going to be releasing a Kinetic replacement ? I'm beginning to think Novalink adjustable timing might be scrapped because of the USA's current love affair with blinky racing.

(2) Have you tried JC Hybrids yet, and when are they going to be available in blue compound ? And ETA on 3Ds ?

DAZC

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for your help @ the Nationals Ray!
Nice idea on the thread.

ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

My first customer LOL!

1) There will be a Kinetic replacement I am told, but no idea on ETA. At the moment, from a performance point of view, the Novak products with X-Drive (Havoc Pro SC, GTB2) are the best. It provides much smoother throttle control, especially in 2wd. There seems to be a general trend of moving away from PC programming and having on-board adjustability. The Havoc Pro SC still has dynamic timing boost available, via on-board adjustment.

2) I have been fortunate enough to be able to test both 3D and Hybrids over the past few months. Both will be good for typical Aussie tracks - Hybrid more suitable for low dust condition, 3D good for hard base / ruts / dustier conditions. 3Ds should be available soon. Both will be good candidates for big event control tyres as well.

I have put together a JC tyre chart which can be found at the Keilor website:
http://keilorrc.org.au/reports/Techn...yre_report.htm

I will update this asap for the new tyres coming out.

Ray

shanemac

iTrader: (6)

Ray , will 3D's be available in 4WD fronts and Truck tyres too??

lookieaefanboi

iTrader: (39)

Hey ray,
Could you please give us a run down on jc inserts. I notice you have used and-1's but also wondering if you have any recommendations on the profiled inserts? I assume they would last longer and have a more consistent feel than the standard foams? Are all jc tyres gonna come with and-1 inserts as standard as they are with the hybrids?

bluechucky

iTrader: (4)

I thought and-1's are the standard foam inserts????

Radio Active

iTrader: (2)

Hi Ray, a question about KO. KO are one of the few radio brands that truly support both wheel and stick type radios at the high end. They recently came out with a radio that was trigger throttle but allowed for either stick or wheel steering.

From personal experience I believe that the stick is an advantage when it comes to throttle as there is a larger range of movement, and therefore allows for finer control. However, the same could be said about the wheel over stick control for steering. Drivers using sticks tend to use more of the throw of the steering more often, so not as fine a control (but are able to make big corrections more quickly).

I therefore find it curious that they would release a radio with potentially all the disadvantages of both wheels and sticks. Do you have any information from the factory on the design philosophy for this radio? Do KO have anything to say in general about the relative benefits of sticks and wheels?

RETRO R/C

iTrader: (57)

Hey Ray - good idea mate - although you might regret it!!

If anyone is qualified to answer tyre, suspension and geometry questions - you are the man!

I would like to request one thing, a while ago you sent me the tyre tuning guide and some other helpful tips with regards to choosing tyres.......I reckon people could learn a tonne from that. I know it opened up my eyes more to compounds and tread patterns etc. It got me thinking more than I ever have about tyre compound choice to be honest.

Would be great if you could share that.

Great to catch up at the nats mat e- and we still need to have that "chat"!

Cheers

Darryn

bluechucky

iTrader: (4)

Ray linked this above:

http://keilorrc.org.au/reports/Techn...yre_report.htm

Is this what you were talking about?

There is also this Lipo report

http://keilorrc.org.au/reports/Techn...nce_report.htm

and weight balance report
http://keilorrc.org.au/reports/Techn...ion_report.htm
by Ray

ray_munday

iTrader: (4)

3Ds have been shown for SCT. JC also showed a new tyre for truck at the Cactus event ("Pressure Points"). As for 4wd fronts, I have made some by cutting and gluing rear 3ds, but the 4w front bar codes work in a wide range of conditions so its not as high a priority.

The standard And-1 inserts are the best for all round conditions. These are firmer than most competitor inserts (in fact Ive often run these in control tyre events when the insert was free).
For higher traction conditions, Id recommend the new Medium Profiled rear insert. These can make the car 'bounce' on very bumpy tracks but do help support the tyre during hard cornering. id probably only use these in Bar Codes. Apparently some guys have been experimenting with punching holes in the cc inserts to make them softer, but its not something Ive tested yet.
The 'Firm' profiled inserts are only designed for use on very high traction indoor clay surfaces. They are too firm for outdoor use.

To be honest, I dont have direct contact with KO. Ive got one of the new KIY EX-1 radios on the way (and Ari used one successfully at the nats over the weekend). Their trigger / stick combo may have something to do with how easy it is to hold a trigger radio, but Im not sure how popular it will be... maybe Masami had something to do with it??

Hey Darryn, I will update post #2 with the JC tyre guide later tonight. Might take a few days to get all the info posted but I will try and make it a work in progress so you can always come to the front page for the latest info.

Im sure I will only regret it when I get the first keyboard cowboy passing through...

Ray