Search found 196 matches

by davem
Fri Mar 29, 2013 8:39 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Awana wheel prep, questons
Replies: 5
Views: 6027

Re: Awana wheel prep, questons

I have found the best bore prep for Awana wheels is to burnish graphite in with a paper rod. Slooowww speed using a hand drill. Plastic is very soft and easy to deform. I have tried micro mesh, and plastic polish, and waxing...all three individually and in combo...with krytox. The graphite burnishin...
by davem
Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:26 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: 2012 car-1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
Replies: 10
Views: 15541

Re: 2012 car-1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

Just too cool.
Thanks for putting a big smile on the face of a guy whose first car was a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner
by davem
Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:34 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Graphite selection/testing?
Replies: 25
Views: 19273

Re: Graphite selection/testing?

Some of my tests http://www.derbytalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4912&p=45337&hilit=max#p45337" target="_blank The track has a lot to do with which lubes work best. Oils (Krytox) show better performance at higher temps / speeds. High pitch (read that as faster) tracks help them. ...
by davem
Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:23 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Oil versus graphite on 32 foot wood track.
Replies: 12
Views: 9023

Re: Oil versus graphite on 32 foot wood track.

I have always shimmed the DFW for Rail Riding. Don't like bending the axles for several reasons. It takes Patience, and a good supply of wax paper - but you can simply keep adding shims until you get the desired effect w/o bending the axle. I typically fold wax paper in half, then in half again - so...
by davem
Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:35 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Bore prep
Replies: 130
Views: 210422

Re: Bore prep

Sporty asked why not do the test with both the same first process ? Well - I had the rod burnished set of wheels from last years car. I was really testing to see what had the greater effect - fine bore polishing vs. bore burnishing with a graphite-moly rod. My conclusion last year - was that rod bur...
by davem
Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:01 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Bore prep
Replies: 130
Views: 210422

Re: Bore prep

Stand said Questions: 1. Did you assure that axle orientation did not factor into result? 2. What was the degree of polish of the axles? More polished than the bores? less? The reason for question #1 is to eliminate other likely causes for the result. The reason for question #2 are based on a hypoth...
by davem
Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:29 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Bore prep
Replies: 130
Views: 210422

Re: Bore prep

Some test results...and not what I expected. Test was conducted with same car, same axles - but 2 different sets of wheels. The car was raised wheel Rail Rider. Rears canted -3.5 deg, DFW canted +2.5 deg. Track was Piantaodsi Freedom Aluminum - 48 foot. Wheel Sets 1. Derby Works lightened Awana whee...
by davem
Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:49 pm
Forum: Commercial
Topic: LEDs on Microwizard K3 Timers
Replies: 4
Views: 9577

Re: LEDs on Microwizard K3 Timers

Thanks all.

MicroWiz tech support did confirm they were infrared and turn on when the unit is powered.

"Those LED's are infrared and they are on. You can see the infrared LED's glow in the viewfinder of a cellphone camera."
by davem
Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:26 pm
Forum: Commercial
Topic: LEDs on Microwizard K3 Timers
Replies: 4
Views: 9577

LEDs on Microwizard K3 Timers

I was about to make an LED light bar for our K3 Microwizard timer... And noticed that the K3 actually has LEDs under the timing bar. One for each lane / timer panel. THey look like they are to shine light towards the sensors. BUT - I cannot get them to turn on. The Microwiz s/w doesn't offer that as...
by davem
Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:37 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Bore prep
Replies: 130
Views: 210422

Re: Bore prep

Trying this process this year - and it is working very well so far. Question on burnishing graphite. I've tested the micro-mesh polishing on two wheels. 1. burnished graphite in with a rod - and can definitely tell the bore surface is affected by the rod 2. burnished graphite in with fluffy pipe cle...
by davem
Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:10 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Awana Grand Prix Format
Replies: 16
Views: 29064

Re: Awana Grand Prix Format

Randy - great tip on the white LED light bar.
Any advice on where to get them?
Quicky internet search ended me up in Germany!
by davem
Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:50 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Krytox application
Replies: 8
Views: 8331

Re: Krytox application

I am a Krytox fan. Have used it for years - even talked to the engineers who make it to figure out why it performs better at higher temps. Great for younger kids - doesn't make a mess, and very forgiving to appy...and re-apply. But - I have found through testing that Krytox cannot outperform good gr...
by davem
Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:42 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Two axle holes and a graphite tube
Replies: 8
Views: 8066

Re: Two axle holes and a graphite tube

There is such a thing as raising the wheel too high.
I prefer 1/16th.

More than that and you can risk the raised wheel getting caught on the center rail.
(Painful Lesson Learned)
by davem
Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:39 am
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: Points vs. Times Scoring
Replies: 37
Views: 65431

Re: Points vs. Times Scoring

So here are 2 questions. 1. Point scoring - finals round. If there is a tie for 7th place (this year we had a 3 way tie for the last slot in a 7 car finals round) is it better to eliminate 1 or run the 8? The dilemma - explain the tie break rules to the 8th car vs. having a more accurate finals roun...
by davem
Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:20 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Bore prep
Replies: 130
Views: 210422

Re: Bore prep

Anyone have test times using this bore prep process?

"One test is worth a thousand opinions." - Werner von Braun