TLR 8IGHT E 3.0 THREAD
#1276
Tech Adept
Is anyone going to run the new tapered pistons on high bite clay? Also, how would they help?
#1278
If you like 553 in the ebuggy you would probably like it in nitro too. If the track is higher bite than many like 5/7/3 in both vehicles.
#1280
Tech Regular
outside medium-low bite track
i first tried 5/7/3 then went to 7/7/3 and now im on 7/7/2 and i quite like it
i first tried 5/7/3 then went to 7/7/3 and now im on 7/7/2 and i quite like it
#1281
Shortys in the Middle
I'm running the T8i setup at 3400g exactly with a light 4s. Plan on switching to SMC 4s shorties to drop another 40g. But right now, I did switch to silver all around. My local track generally has small sharp bumps (indoor high bite clay), I found with stock setup the wheels were bouncing off the track and losing grip naturally. Tried Drakes suspension setup with greens all around, obviously worse. Tried 35f and 32.5r, no change to wheels bouncing off track. Too high of spring frequency, so with silvers and no change to fluid wt. problem fixed. Over shooting jump will chassis slap naturally but hitting the jumps right is name of the game anyway.
With one of the Losi 1/4" foam blocks up front, and two layers of the extra long foam blocks in the back, the battery pack is now firmly squooshed in place and held down with one velcro strap. The other velcro strap is holding the back foam blocks in place.
This puts the battery dead center in line with the diff. Should increase steering and also reduce the 'wheelie' effect I was having when the battery was all the way back.
Diffs are still 5/5/5. 15/43 gearing on a Viper VF8 2100 motor. Stock springs/pistons/fluids in the back. Stock springs and pistons in the front with 40 weight oil.
Let's go racin'!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1282
Tech Adept
After chit chatting with some of the competition last week, I decided to try the 'battery forward' position with the SPC short packs this week.
With one of the Losi 1/4" foam blocks up front, and two layers of the extra long foam blocks in the back, the battery pack is now firmly squooshed in place and held down with one velcro strap. The other velcro strap is holding the back foam blocks in place.
This puts the battery dead center in line with the diff. Should increase steering and also reduce the 'wheelie' effect I was having when the battery was all the way back.
Diffs are still 5/5/5. 15/43 gearing on a Viper VF8 2100 motor. Stock springs/pistons/fluids in the back. Stock springs and pistons in the front with 40 weight oil.
Let's go racin'!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
With one of the Losi 1/4" foam blocks up front, and two layers of the extra long foam blocks in the back, the battery pack is now firmly squooshed in place and held down with one velcro strap. The other velcro strap is holding the back foam blocks in place.
This puts the battery dead center in line with the diff. Should increase steering and also reduce the 'wheelie' effect I was having when the battery was all the way back.
Diffs are still 5/5/5. 15/43 gearing on a Viper VF8 2100 motor. Stock springs/pistons/fluids in the back. Stock springs and pistons in the front with 40 weight oil.
Let's go racin'!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1283
SPC Shorties
I've been running my 4s pack all the way forward, I'm almost at 50/50 balance slightly more to the rear. How do you like the SMC shorties? Was going to pick a couple up soon. I was planning on running one foam in the front also, whatever gets my balance back. What kind of track are you running on. Blue groove, like the name suggests?
I'm newly back to this hobby after about a decade break. I used to own the local indoor off road facility but gave it up for various other business pursuits. Several of the "kids" who raced at my track are still in fine form - including the race director at the HobbyPLEX, Alex Sturgeon, who is currently at the Reedy Race in California.
The SPC packs have all the punch and capacity I need for normal 6 minute qualifiers and 10 minute mains, with a weight savings of over 6 ounces. At my age and skill level, I need all the advantage a bottomless checkbook can offer. LOL! The HobbyPLEX track blue grooves up very quickly and we're using worn out Handlebars with virtually no center tread by the end of the rounds.
After 4 months of weekly driving, I'm just now getting the hang of it again. I'd rather be consistently a bit slower than constantly being in 'crash and recover' mode. Our monthly Winter Series for 1/8th scale is next weekend, so we'll see how these changes work out.
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1284
I've been using the shortys for a couple of weeks. I was running them all the way back with a double foam block in front to keep them from moving around.
Had a discussion with several other drivers about how the buggy pulls a wheelie out of most every corner now, which didn't bother me, but apparently was way more visible from ground level. LOTS of weight transfer now with the motor and the battery behind the virtual center/center diff line which, again, was fine with me but seems to be of some concern to others.
The shorty pack won't slide forward very far, or very easily, because of the velcro straps - you can only move it about 3/8" forward before the + & - power output cables are under the strap. So it's either put the battery dead center in the big battery tray or all the way back.
My Viper ESC was giving me all sorts of trouble last night, so I never really got any good laps in. As always, it'll be a state of continuous trial and error. I'm still using the stock springs, just raised a bit on the shock collar to set the ride height at 29mm up front and 27 in the back.
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
Had a discussion with several other drivers about how the buggy pulls a wheelie out of most every corner now, which didn't bother me, but apparently was way more visible from ground level. LOTS of weight transfer now with the motor and the battery behind the virtual center/center diff line which, again, was fine with me but seems to be of some concern to others.
The shorty pack won't slide forward very far, or very easily, because of the velcro straps - you can only move it about 3/8" forward before the + & - power output cables are under the strap. So it's either put the battery dead center in the big battery tray or all the way back.
My Viper ESC was giving me all sorts of trouble last night, so I never really got any good laps in. As always, it'll be a state of continuous trial and error. I'm still using the stock springs, just raised a bit on the shock collar to set the ride height at 29mm up front and 27 in the back.
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
You cant throw a hammer backwards and expect it to fly that, the more weight you have in front the better. Ill post pictures when im done.
#1285
This is why I can't figure why in the end they decided to run the tray behind the esc! Same issue here and with some other racers. Like you said for some its an issue and with me it is. So next week im gonna move the tray forward and mount the esc back behind the battery.
You cant throw a hammer backwards and expect it to fly that, the more weight you have in front the better. Ill post pictures when im done.
You cant throw a hammer backwards and expect it to fly that, the more weight you have in front the better. Ill post pictures when im done.
The plastic battery tray has cutouts/reliefs on the left side of the tray where the tray screws also hold down the plastic chassis trim. With a little dremeling, I can create the same reliefs on both sides of the battery tray. The plastic side loops which hold the velcro straps are perfectly positioned to avoid the center diff gear, too.
All four corner screws are correctly positioned, but the two center screws are slightly out of position to allow a perfect 'flip fit'. At first, I thought that the two center screws would line up, but they don't. So you give up a a little security of having the battery tray screwed down in six places to have two straps up front.
I think I'll just stick to the single strap and foam block method to keep it wedged in place and up front...with all six screws connecting the battery tray to the chassis. The battery is far more likely to slam forward during a crash and one strap should hold it in place. Or I could just stop crashing. LOL!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1286
Tech Regular
just TQ'd and won A-main with my 3.0e first race.
im beginning to think its actually unfair how good this car is!!
im beginning to think its actually unfair how good this car is!!
#1287
Tech Adept
The surface at HobbyPLEX here in Omaha varies from tacky to dry as a bone. You can check out the J Concepts National event videos HERE.
I'm newly back to this hobby after about a decade break. I used to own the local indoor off road facility but gave it up for various other business pursuits. Several of the "kids" who raced at my track are still in fine form - including the race director at the HobbyPLEX, Alex Sturgeon, who is currently at the Reedy Race in California.
The SPC packs have all the punch and capacity I need for normal 6 minute qualifiers and 10 minute mains, with a weight savings of over 6 ounces. At my age and skill level, I need all the advantage a bottomless checkbook can offer. LOL! The HobbyPLEX track blue grooves up very quickly and we're using worn out Handlebars with virtually no center tread by the end of the rounds.
After 4 months of weekly driving, I'm just now getting the hang of it again. I'd rather be consistently a bit slower than constantly being in 'crash and recover' mode. Our monthly Winter Series for 1/8th scale is next weekend, so we'll see how these changes work out.
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
I'm newly back to this hobby after about a decade break. I used to own the local indoor off road facility but gave it up for various other business pursuits. Several of the "kids" who raced at my track are still in fine form - including the race director at the HobbyPLEX, Alex Sturgeon, who is currently at the Reedy Race in California.
The SPC packs have all the punch and capacity I need for normal 6 minute qualifiers and 10 minute mains, with a weight savings of over 6 ounces. At my age and skill level, I need all the advantage a bottomless checkbook can offer. LOL! The HobbyPLEX track blue grooves up very quickly and we're using worn out Handlebars with virtually no center tread by the end of the rounds.
After 4 months of weekly driving, I'm just now getting the hang of it again. I'd rather be consistently a bit slower than constantly being in 'crash and recover' mode. Our monthly Winter Series for 1/8th scale is next weekend, so we'll see how these changes work out.
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1288
Last time out my back end was washing out easily after landing a jump and going into a turn. Someone suggested moving my pack back a pad or 2 but I think my roll center is too loose. My rear tires are wearing more to the outside. All my proline tires been doing this on both my 3.0 buggies. Adam Drake said try more camber but I'm already at -2. Going to run my AKA tires and see what happens.
Increasing the negative camber with the low profile tires keeps more of the center contact patch on the ground. If you're wearing out the outside edges, then you're getting too much tire roll on the wheel - the side walls are flexing and raising the bead off the ground as they roll up.
Lowering the rear ride height from 29 to 27, plus decreasing the front droop (raising the arms with the droop screws), decreases the weight transfer during hard acceleration or when the chassis is being side loaded under tight 180 degree corners.
Or so I was told. LOL! Worked great!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1289
Tech Adept
On our dry and smooth track, I took the advice of the local hotshot and increased the camber to -3.5, as well as a ride height tweak and front droop adjustment to help keep the rear end on the ground. There were times, especially after a tight corner, that the rear end would just loop around like it was on ice.
Increasing the negative camber with the low profile tires keeps more of the center contact patch on the ground. If you're wearing out the outside edges, then you're getting too much tire roll on the wheel - the side walls are flexing and raising the bead off the ground as they roll up.
Lowering the rear ride height from 29 to 27, plus decreasing the front droop (raising the arms with the droop screws), decreases the weight transfer during hard acceleration or when the chassis is being side loaded under tight 180 degree corners.
Or so I was told. LOL! Worked great!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
Increasing the negative camber with the low profile tires keeps more of the center contact patch on the ground. If you're wearing out the outside edges, then you're getting too much tire roll on the wheel - the side walls are flexing and raising the bead off the ground as they roll up.
Lowering the rear ride height from 29 to 27, plus decreasing the front droop (raising the arms with the droop screws), decreases the weight transfer during hard acceleration or when the chassis is being side loaded under tight 180 degree corners.
Or so I was told. LOL! Worked great!
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska
#1290
According to the Hudy setup book:
Less front droop decreases front chassis upward travel on throttle; less rearward weight transfer; less responsive but more stable. Decreasing the rear ride height increases overall rear grip.
Combining the three (2mm less front droop plus 2mm decreased rear ride height plus -3.5 on the rear camber) made my car nice and tight. The rear end wasn't dancing around anymore and it went straight where I pointed it without a lot of rear end skitter.
Lessons learned...
Robert Conner
Omaha, Nebraska