Comments on: Wider wheelbase, faster Hot Wheels http://www.redlinederby.com/2009/10/wider-wheelbase-faster-hot-wheels/ Toy cars. Real Racing. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:26:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Charlie http://www.redlinederby.com/2009/10/wider-wheelbase-faster-hot-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Charlie Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:04 +0000 http://www.redlinederby.com/?p=163#comment-86 I actually haven't found a spring yet that I think would work well. My big concern is avoiding generating friction. I'm going to talk to the folks in the mechanical lab where I work, and see what they suggest, in terms of very small, light-tension springs. I'm also having trouble with axles. Straight pins and hat pins are too small. -- Charlie I actually haven’t found a spring yet that I think would work well. My big concern is avoiding generating friction. I’m going to talk to the folks in the mechanical lab where I work, and see what they suggest, in terms of very small, light-tension springs.

I’m also having trouble with axles. Straight pins and hat pins are too small.

— Charlie

]]> By: Brian http://www.redlinederby.com/2009/10/wider-wheelbase-faster-hot-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Brian Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:19:52 +0000 http://www.redlinederby.com/?p=163#comment-20 Wow, good idea with the spring, Charlie. I never thought of a tiny spring to keep the tires forced out. Where do you find such tiny springs? I've used glue and even JB Kwik on the axle between the wheel and the chassis and it worked relatively well. A small bead of solder might do the trick too. I haven't really invested that too far yet. I'm not sure what would produce the least amount of friction. Since the bead of solder is round in theory there isn't much of the solder touching the wheel. Plastic would probably work but I'm not sure what/how to get that in place. Now you have me spring shopping! Take some photos and share your results in the forum. Wow, good idea with the spring, Charlie. I never thought of a tiny spring to keep the tires forced out. Where do you find such tiny springs?

I’ve used glue and even JB Kwik on the axle between the wheel and the chassis and it worked relatively well. A small bead of solder might do the trick too. I haven’t really invested that too far yet.

I’m not sure what would produce the least amount of friction. Since the bead of solder is round in theory there isn’t much of the solder touching the wheel. Plastic would probably work but I’m not sure what/how to get that in place.

Now you have me spring shopping! Take some photos and share your results in the forum.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.redlinederby.com/2009/10/wider-wheelbase-faster-hot-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Charlie Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:49:05 +0000 http://www.redlinederby.com/?p=163#comment-19 I've followed your articles on "hot rodding" Hot Wheels car with interest, since three of kids in my neighborood come over to my house to play with their cars. These 8- to 10-year-olds are ulra-competitive about who has the fastest car from week to week. Your suggestion to fix he axle in place sounds good. I wonder if this performance effect could be improved further by putting a very light, very small spring between the body of the car and the wheel. Obviously, we don't want the spring to be so strong that it causes any appreciable friction, but if it keeps the wheels in the best postion, I would think it would help improve performance. Putting a plastic bead between the body and the wheel on the axle would have th same effect, with less friction, but of course, there is no way take the wheels off the axle. With a spring, I can just lift it open and twist it in to place. I'll give this a try when I can find a suitable set of springs. I might also try making my own axles from straight pins. That way, I could choose the size of the bead, and get the wheels as far to the outside as possible. The difficult part would be mounting my four axles (I'd need to use one pin per wheel) so that they were straight. I’ve followed your articles on “hot rodding” Hot Wheels car with interest, since three of kids in my neighborood come over to my house to play with their cars. These 8- to 10-year-olds are ulra-competitive about who has the fastest car from week to week.

Your suggestion to fix he axle in place sounds good. I wonder if this performance effect could be improved further by putting a very light, very small spring between the body of the car and the wheel. Obviously, we don’t want the spring to be so strong that it causes any appreciable friction, but if it keeps the wheels in the best postion, I would think it would help improve performance.

Putting a plastic bead between the body and the wheel on the axle would have th same effect, with less friction, but of course, there is no way take the wheels off the axle. With a spring, I can just lift it open and twist it in to place. I’ll give this a try when I can find a suitable set of springs. I might also try making my own axles from straight pins. That way, I could choose the size of the bead, and get the wheels as far to the outside as possible. The difficult part would be mounting my four axles (I’d need to use one pin per wheel) so that they were straight.

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