Maintenance
What
About Maintenance?
What
about Maintenance? Well, to keep your car in the best working
condition, you will need to do some maintenance. The following
schedule is suggested (but certainly not official!), and it should be
adjusted according to your race schedule (this is assuming you race once
or twice a week).
Every
Race Week:
•
Check the smoothness shocks and suspension components. Make sure
nothing is binding or cracked/broken.
• Check/replace worn or sloppy ball cups or shock ends.
• Check tires to make sure they are in good condition and the glue
is still holding strong.
• Check drive belts and gears/pulleys for debris stuck in them.
• Re-lube bushings.
• Check pinion/spur gears for broken/bent/worn teeth.
• Check screws for tightness (more important on a Nitro car!).
Loctite if necessary.
Every
Race Month:
•
Check/replace worn plastic parts.
• Check/replace hinge pins.
• Clean out bearings.
• Re-build shocks.
• Check/rebuild diffs.
Miscellaneous:
•
Electric Motors require alot of maintenance (modifieds,
especially). Make sure the brushes or springs are not
discolored, and that the motor comm is not grooved. If it is,
it's time to cut it (and replace the brushes!!!).
• Batteries should be discharged and stored in a cool, dry place!
• Nitro Motors don't require as much maintenance. Just note
that after 2-3 gallons of fuel, it might be time for a rebuild.
Recommended
Cleaning Tools:
•
Motor Spray. Use only motor spray that is made for RC
Vehicles. Some people use 'Electric Motor Cleaner' made for full
size car alternators and such, but some of that has some strong
ingredients that will eat away the coating on RC Car motors, causing
them to detonate (cool looking if it's not YOUR car!)
• Toothbrush. Preferably an old one no one uses anymore.
And, don't grab your sisters, use it, and then put it back!!!
Well, on the other hand, if she's really mean....
• Large Bristle Brush. This is to help clean off all the dust
and larger debris from the car.
• Denatured Alcohol. Good for cleaning tire marks (or other
imperfections) off the car body.
• After Run Oil. Good for Nitro motors. It absorbs
moisture that might enter your motor.
• Compressed Air. If you're lucky enough to have a compressor,
this little gem will help clean out all the goobers floating around in
the car!!!
|
