DRAG TRACKS - Slot Car Timer

model40fan Tuesday, 1/6/2015

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Its here... both start and finish units are 10 3/4" wide x 8 3/4" long 8" tall...

The lane sensors are adjustable as they are on rails, 2" to 7" plus...

The unit on / off switch on the starter "leg"... also an on / off switch for the sound...

It has a sports / pro switch,  sportsman and pro-start tree options...

Reset switch in the center on top of the starter... [2]  + or - switches...?

 Includes ; 1 AC converter, connection on the starter tower...and 2 long phone cables ...

 TO RACE ...  press the ok button, 4 second delay before the tree starts...

 Times flash till you hit the reset [ok] button...

Flyer says it works with pinewood derby... gotta work for us...

If you use the "JEGGS" link delta 6 listed you may get one for $69.99 shipped...

Sensors are moved inboard to a 2" lane center to lane center...



Discussion

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so...hows it work? all good? any test runs on the new system yet?


  • -8 monday night , -1 last night.. gonna have to see if the gridiron is willing... — model40fan
  • understood...mother nature rules... — Traction-Event
  • plastic snaps when you look at it when it's below zero... done that ! — model40fan
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model40fan 1/7/15

The track starter support is becoming a challenge as our cars are only 1.30" tall..

 The sensors are about 4" above the track surface...

Xmas tree hangs 3/4" lower than the sensors...

Tree is 3/8" wider than the space between lanes with 2" lane centers...

Gotta keep clearance for the PVC framework and the drop pin's guts...

Booklet says Cars must be 4 1/2" behind the sensors... we'll see when testing...

Warmed up...Back down to the shop !

xxxx

I had to narrow the starter's plate to fit between the starter tower legs...

I had to raise the track surface hoping to keep the sensors as accurate as possible...

Still need to separate the lanes a little to let trucks clear the tree...

Narrowed the PVC support stand ;

New stand with the timing tower ;

From the bleachers, note the adjustments over each lane they are for hi-lo sensor settings, when I saw these is when I added the 1.5" spacer under the track ;

press the center chrome pin on top, 4 second delay, xmas tree starts, you launch, it times the total, and each reaction time...

.     .     .

Finish line unit, 1.5" spacer/ raised track surface, note the track anchors for each lane... the 1/4" x 20 bolts welded to the rear of the base are to slide Mc Ds straws onto for mounting a track banner or just flags...

 

With track installed ;




  • Need one for the finish line too... hey, its gonna be cold all week ! — model40fan
  • The finishing time seems to be only to 100th of a second and will it work with out being adjusted? I am skilless....lol. — Stroller
  • there is some work to build a support stand, the rig is fairly simple, no problem for a carpenter... — model40fan
  • I will build one out of wood. No welding skills..LoL — Stroller
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model40fan 1/7/15

the rig comes with a couple cards of white dot stickers, says sensors don't pick up dark cars well...  bummer...

hoodless hot rods with exposed engines  ? ?


  • white artist tape on the hood or roof would help and it peels off without leaving a mark. — Stroller
  • that the problem... i don't run many hoods... — model40fan
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model40fan 1/7/15

One of our racers is also stepping up to snag a DT  Slot Car Timing Tower set...

Posts the Total time, minus the posted re-action time = the car's times...

He's gonna use wood... thought I would post some measurements in case it helps...

The starter "pin" holes, starter handle and track anchor holes won't be needed on the finish line unit... 

Starter and finish line units are the same size...10 3/4" W x 8 3/4"L x 8" T,

 The 1 3/4" spacer / riser I use brings the track surface closer to the sensors for more precise times... The lower "notched" triangles are to keep the starter from sliding downhill, with clearance for the phone jacks... Finish line doesn't need them... 

 The rectangular track anchors and their spacers, to the left, are to be welded, screwed or velcro-ed to the finish line's base to anchor the track lanes keeping them centered under the sensors...this set only uses overhead sensors...Because slotcar track is black I think this set will work best on black or blackened track, for contrast...

 Check the height and width of the xmas tree so a truck doesn't strike it... I spaced the lane centers out 1/4" just in case...

 


Have you tried out your new rig yet, Smitty?

Just curious how it's working.

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model40fan 1/8/15

Plastic toy... brittle when cold...

 If Dadvbal is able to meet me at the gridiron on Sunday I may give it a shot there...  Just finishing up the track anchors on the finish line unit...

 COLD ... 8* at 1pm... and I don't like to wear gloves when I work, 15 minutes at a time today...



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Stroller 1/9/15

Mine gets here on Tuesday.  :>)


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Stroller 1/13/15

Do I need black track to make this thing work?.....aaaarrgghh!!!!!!!



  • nope a "big" black sharpie will do the trick and not gum up the track like paint... — model40fan
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Stroller 1/13/15

Finally figure out how to calibrate thing.  It is a bit tricky.  Might be a bit easier if the towers were more than 18 inches apart....


  • CALIBRATE it ?... bummer — model40fan
  • Yeah I actually broke down and read the instructions...lol — Stroller
  • i read them, guy is a worse spella than me ! — model40fan
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model40fan 1/14/15

Had the sheet metal shop bend me a couple 1.5" track risers to make the sensors closer to the track... my home mades were heavy and took an hour to weld up... the newbies were $3.00 and took 3 minutes each... have straight edges all around...

with the finish line ;



  • any racers need one i will draw up a print for your sheet metal shop... — model40fan
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model40fan 1/15/15

The $3.00, bent on a brake, riser's re-enforcement strips and the Inards;

The outards ;


Pins up, ready to press the knurled brass button  ;

Press the button, the cars are released, auto re-setting ;


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72_Chevy_C10 1/15/15

Do these timers go down to .01 (like the regular Drag Tracks), or do they go down to .001?


  • regular drag tracks, but hey losing by a hundreth of a second is bad enough, a thousandth of a second hurts... — model40fan
  • Oh, okay. I figured that it was the same set-up! — 72_Chevy_C10

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