Post by docjobe on Oct 4, 2006 10:11:37 GMT -6
Hi Guys 
I'll kick off this thread if you don't mind.
I like the suggestion about how to start with "what's in the box".
Over the many years of being involved in BSA racing, I always tried to push for innovation and creativity by allowing a bunch of stuff if it was based on only "what's in the box".
For Cub cars, using pure stock axles out of the box, you could deburr/polish but not turn down under 0.086". A good eye can tell if its a non-BSA axle. For wheels out of the box, just allow fairly deep mold mark cleanup, keeping a flat tread (parallel to axle) width at least > 0.275" and wheel dia at least >1.150". A go/no go gauge was used on wheels and axles if needed. Thus we had a level playing field obtainable with ordinary household tools.
For parent's cars, called Semi-Pro, only axles from the box could be turned down and modified. Some were, down to 0.030", and quick quench heat treating doubled their strength. And the BSA wheels could be modified re the bore and diameter. Epoxy bores or solvent welding were used by some to reduce bore size. Also it is fairly easy to make a mold using a couple of spring-loaded aluminum cylinders with a suitable turned depression(s). Put a BSA wheel in the center under spring pressure and bake like a cake in the oven and you can end of with a 2" diameter RS type wheel in 20 minutes. Use a polished 0.030" drill bit shaft in the center if you want a really small bore. You can turn or trim the remolded wheel OD down to 1" if you wish.
The point is many parents could figure out how to do neat things like this because they were limited to only box materials. And the Cub youngster could learn a bunch watching and assisting. I am not sure how much they learn if they would just see a package where wheels arrive in the mail, essentially untouched by human hand but rather by a robot-like CNC machine from a professional machine shop. But I guess that aspect is OK if we work keep it strictly in WIRL type activities and don't let the robots replace all the benefits of just "using what's in the box".
So, in a nostalgic sense, I suppose I miss the old days.
So perhaps I need to start thinking more "outside the box" myself. 
???
Regards
Doc
I'll kick off this thread if you don't mind.
I like the suggestion about how to start with "what's in the box".
Over the many years of being involved in BSA racing, I always tried to push for innovation and creativity by allowing a bunch of stuff if it was based on only "what's in the box".
For Cub cars, using pure stock axles out of the box, you could deburr/polish but not turn down under 0.086". A good eye can tell if its a non-BSA axle. For wheels out of the box, just allow fairly deep mold mark cleanup, keeping a flat tread (parallel to axle) width at least > 0.275" and wheel dia at least >1.150". A go/no go gauge was used on wheels and axles if needed. Thus we had a level playing field obtainable with ordinary household tools.
For parent's cars, called Semi-Pro, only axles from the box could be turned down and modified. Some were, down to 0.030", and quick quench heat treating doubled their strength. And the BSA wheels could be modified re the bore and diameter. Epoxy bores or solvent welding were used by some to reduce bore size. Also it is fairly easy to make a mold using a couple of spring-loaded aluminum cylinders with a suitable turned depression(s). Put a BSA wheel in the center under spring pressure and bake like a cake in the oven and you can end of with a 2" diameter RS type wheel in 20 minutes. Use a polished 0.030" drill bit shaft in the center if you want a really small bore. You can turn or trim the remolded wheel OD down to 1" if you wish.
The point is many parents could figure out how to do neat things like this because they were limited to only box materials. And the Cub youngster could learn a bunch watching and assisting. I am not sure how much they learn if they would just see a package where wheels arrive in the mail, essentially untouched by human hand but rather by a robot-like CNC machine from a professional machine shop. But I guess that aspect is OK if we work keep it strictly in WIRL type activities and don't let the robots replace all the benefits of just "using what's in the box".
So, in a nostalgic sense, I suppose I miss the old days.
So perhaps I need to start thinking more "outside the box" myself. 
???Regards
Doc
Romans 12:9 NLT