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December 2008

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HOT TIPS

Most of us have our own collections of tips we’ve discovered, either accidentally or intentionally, that have helped simplify repairs, improved appearance or boosted performance for our RC vehicles. In every issue of RC Driver we present ideas that have been submitted by readers who wanted to share their tips for the benefit of other hobbyists. Now those great ideas will be shared on RCdriver.com. Each week the list will be updated with tips from previous issues. If you have a tip that you want to share just email it to davidb@rcdriver.com with TIPS as the subject. Be sure to pick up your copy of RC Driver for brand new tips! Subscribe here.

This week's tip # 35. Click here.

26. Air Blast
Andrew Crouse
We can’t all haul an air compressor with us when we go to the track or out to play, so it’s lucky that there’s a convenient substitute: a can of pressurized air. You can buy one wherever computer supplies are sold. Keep a couple in your pit box to blast the hard-to-reach areas on your vehicle for on-site cleaning.

28. Pit Area Floor Mats
Marco Moreno
A pit mat is great to protect your work surface and catch screws and small parts, and they don’t have to cost much. Inexpensive automotive rubber floor mats make great pit mats. You’ll find everything from a plain mat to one with a favorite cartoon character.

30. Keep it Dry
Richie
Water… it’s a blast to bash through but can wreak havoc on your electronics. To combat this enemy, use hot glue to seal everywhere moisture can enter your receiver or speed control. It’s easy to apply and easy to remove when necessary.

32. Pull-Starter Limit Reminder
Scott Mulek
A common problem among nitro newbies is that they yank the pull-starter cord too far and break the spring mechanism that pulls the cord back into the case. Quick short pulls are all that is required. Before you ever start your new nitro engine, pull the starter cord out about 8 inches or so. Use a red marker to mark the cord right where it exits the case, and then let it retract. Use this mark as a guide until you get a feel for how far to pull the cord.

34. Friction-Free
Greg Bird
When metal rubs metal, it causes friction, and friction causes wear. To avoid both, use dry graphite lube on areas that must be free of binding—drive cups and dogbones, for example. The lube comes in an easy-to-use needle applicator to get into tight spaces. Keep one in your pit box and one on your workbench.

25. Wall-Charger Safety
Bill Boston
Many rechargeable receiver packs and other batteries can be charged using a simple wall charger. To avoid charging them for longer than the recommended time, set an everyday timer that’s commonly used to turn lights on and off to turn the charger off at the appropriate time. Be there to monitor the process, just in case.

27. Micro-shock reload
Max Shively
Your Team Losi Micro vehicle has pretty soft shocks because there isn’t any damping. To stiffen your rides, use small zip-ties (as shown) for preload adjustment.

29. Slick Siphoning
Mike Morris Sr.
When your shock-oil bottle is empty, clean it and attach 6 to 7 inches of fuel line to its tip. Then squeeze the bottle and put the fuel line into your fuel tank. Relax your hold on the bottle, and the fuel left in the bottom of the tank will be sucked into it. There’s no excuse to dump the leftover fuel on the ground.

31. Hinge Pin Quickie
Shannon Berry
If you happen to damage a hingepin and don’t have any spares in your pit box, just find an old wire clothes hanger. Bend an “L” on one end, insert it through the arm, bend it again and cut it off. If the hanger is too narrow in diameter, try making a sleeve out of a section of antenna tube. It may not be a permanent fix, but it will at least get you by until you can get a new hingepin.

33. Gem of a Cleaning Tool
Joshua Ibroa
Cleaning your diffs or other small parts is much easier if you have a simple jewelry cleaning cup like the one shown here. It comes with a basket that makes simple work of lowering small parts into the cleaner and lifting them out. Many also include a small brush that works well for getting old grease and grime out of crevices.

35. Cutting-Edge Solution
Toby T. Gee
A quick paint job doesn’t have to mean a boring one. With masking film, a little imagination and a set of inexpensive craft scissors, you can create interesting designs that will look as if you spent days cutting them by hand. Several designs are available wherever craft supplies are sold.

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