- Building and tuning the XXX4 buggy -
Ellis Stafford is one of the
most experienced off road racers in Europe and the UK today,
His racing career covers in excess of 15 years, during which
time he has Competed at all levels from Club to World
Championships.
During this career he has won the European offroad
championship as well as the British National offroad
championships, British Junior Championships along with 23
individual British National Championship rounds and
countless regional meetings and club meetings.
Building
Tips.
When building the gearbox don't fully tighten the fixing
screws; instead
just back them off a little and this will help make the
gearbox spin more freely.
Also put a little of the White thrust race grease on the
gears this will also reduce wear and increase efficiency.
With the rear kick up shims cut one side out of the screw
hole so you don't have to take the screw fully out to change
them instead you can just slide them in and out, this will
make adjustments to the rear a lot easier.
Put some oil on the shock cartridge o-rings before inserting
the shock shaft, and also only insert the shaft from the
piston end. This will help to stop any damage being done to
the seals.
After fitting the shock cap and seals to the shock shaft,
measure the length of each shock shaft with the ball joint
on and then adjust them so that both the front shafts and
the rear shafts are the same length as each other before you
finally assemble the shocks.
To help free up the bearings try soaking them in motor
cleaner and spinning them on a shaft to remove excess
grease, that is used in the manufacturing. Then re-oil them
with some light bearing oil.
Another tip to make the bearings run even freer you can
remove the inside (the non-visible when fitted in the car)
shield. Make sure you leave the shield on the side that is
exposed, it helps keep dirt out and increases
the life of the bearings.
Although the build quality is very good it is always worth
checking that no
shims are needed in any of the wishbones etc. to remove any
sloop.
Another simple tip is to pre-tap the threads into the
plastic carefully, this will help to make sure you do not
snap a screw or strip the head.
Racing Tips.
Tuning Tips
Understeer.
1) Shorten the front camber link.
2) Lower front camber link.
3) Raise the outside of the front camber link on the caster
block.
4) Move the batteries forward.
5)Shorten the rear camber link on the shock tower.
6) If the understeer is on the way in, decrease front
rake/kick up this will load up the front on deceleration
into the corner.
7) If on the way out, increase the front camber for more
steering out of the corner, this will also give less into
the corner.
Oversteer.
1) Lengthen the front camber link.
2) Raise front camber link.
3) Lower the outside of the front camber link on the caster
block.
4) Move the batteries back.
5) Lengthen the rear camber link on the shock tower.
6) If the oversteer is on the way in, increase front
rake/kick up this will lessen the load on the front on
deceleration into the corner.
7) If on the way out, decrease the front camber for less
steering out of the corner, this will also give more into
the corner.
Bad on the rough:
1) Lengthen the wheelbase.
If the car is grounding out badly try:
1) Harder springs.
2) Thicker oils.
3) Increase the pack i.e. go from an orange piston to a red
piston (smaller piston holes = more pack). If this makes the
car feel too stiff in roll, you can at the same time lower
the weight of the oil, by 5 to 10 weight, this will still
make the car stiffer initially but still have a soft feel
once moving.
Raise the car slightly.If the car is bouncing of the bumps
or not riding them:
1) Softer springs.
2) lighter oils.
3) Decrease the pack i.e. go from an orange piston to a blue
piston (bigger piston holes = less pack). If this makes the
car feel too soft in roll, you can at the same time increase
the weight of the oil, by 5 to 10 weight, this will still
make the car feel softer initially but will still have a
stiffer feel once moving.
4) Increase the rear squat if the car is kicking up.
Poor rear traction.
1) Put less rear squat on the car.
2) Move the batteries back.
3) Decrease the pack i.e. go from an orange piston to a blue
piston (bigger piston holes = less pack). If this makes the
car feel to soft in roll, you can at the same time increase
the weight of the oil, by 5 to 10 weight, this will still
make the car feel softer initially but will still have a
stiffer feel once moving.
4) Make the rear camber link longer on the shock tower.
5) Loosen the slipper clutch if it is just wheel spinning.
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