greenhorn
Head in the Pine
I feel the need, the need, for SPEED!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by greenhorn on Mar 14, 2006 8:58:26 GMT -6
Hi All,
I appreciate all the tips on this board and the answers to my past questions. We sent in our first car for this month's race, but it's going to be a disaster. The afternoon after shipping our car, my son was feeling guilty and came to me and admitted he didn't do the things that were his tasks to do on the car. Too many to list, and it doesn't matter at this point anyway. Hopefully this will be a learning experience about responsibility and teamwork. During aligning our wheels, we had to remove one front wheel several times which made the slot a bit loose. I think we got it aligned fairly well, but the boy didn't glue it in place. Let's say it's bad enough that we are now just hoping the wheels stay on!
But, it did bring up a couple questions. Some of you mention that you make changes from race to race. I assume you're pulling the axles and then whatever. It seems to me that the super glue my son was going to use would make the axles permanently fixed to the car. Does anyone/everyone glue their axles so they stay put? If so, what kind of glue? Can the axles then be removed somehow? If so, how?
Is there a tool to help pull the axle out of the car without damaging anything? During alignment or after gluing? I can't imagine just using pliers as they could damage the axle head and I don't want to pull on the wheel for fear of damaging it. I can say that I don't think my finger nails will ever be the same after pulling the axles several times during alignment.
Please help!
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Post by RAIL HUGGER on Mar 14, 2006 9:25:40 GMT -6
GREENHORN, I MYSELF AM A ROOKIE HERE SO THIS IS NOT VETERAN ADVICE BUT I'LL TRY. I USE HOLES RATHER THAN SLOTS AND I ALSO USE NAILS W/O POINTS,THE POINTS TEND TO CAUSE THE TIP TO BE LARGER THAN THE NAIL PLUS THEY CAN SCRATCH WHEEL BORE.I MARK MY AXLES SO I CAN GET THEM BACK (CLOSE) TO WHERE THEY WERE. AS FAR AS REMOVAL I TRY TO APPLY A STRAIGHT PULL WHEN REMOVING. JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
" RAILHUGGER"
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greenhorn
Head in the Pine
I feel the need, the need, for SPEED!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by greenhorn on Mar 14, 2006 10:17:08 GMT -6
Thanks Rail Hugger,
We've started a new car and it has holes instead of slots. I filed the point end of the axles to remove the bulges caused by putting the point on the nail so it does not enlarge the hole. I don't have any other type of axle.
But even then, after removing the axle from the hole during alignment a few times, the fit has loosened. It's easier on my finger nails, but I'm afraid the axles won't stay in secure. So I thought some kind of glue that can later be undone might help.
When you pull the axles, do you pull on the wheel or the axle head? Do you use some kind of tool or your finger nails on the axle head like I've been doing?
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Post by Buckeye on Mar 14, 2006 10:22:29 GMT -6
I noticed that Stan Pope suggested water in the holes to cause the wood to expand and tighten up the holes.
I pull on the wheel. I don't want to damage the axle head.
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Post by builderjim on Mar 14, 2006 10:26:15 GMT -6
Greenhorn,
Get yourself a old pair of needlenose pliers and at either the autopart store or walmart they sell the rubber dip stuff that would normally go on the handle part of the tool. Just dip the tooth end into this stuff and then you have a set of pliers that won't marr up the axle head.
As far as the holes or axle slots getting larger, shims of chrome tape work well to get them tight. If you are using slots, I try to use just a low temp hot glue gun to make sure they stay in plan. I like the low temp cause it sets up faster.
J
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greenhorn
Head in the Pine
I feel the need, the need, for SPEED!!!
Posts: 132
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Post by greenhorn on Mar 14, 2006 10:30:33 GMT -6
Thanks, Buckeye. Water might be my answer. Aren't you worried about damaging the wheel hub when pulling on the wheel?
Thanks, Builder Jim. Those are excellent ideas. I may stop by Wally World (what we call Wal Mart) on my way home this evening.
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Post by patmanruls on Mar 14, 2006 12:58:39 GMT -6
I will not pull the wheel... have broken them before. I found a very small pry bar that fits between the coned hub and the body. I will use that to 'break' the seating, then pull out with pliers.
I like the idea of coating the tips of the pliers. I was at Sears a couple of weeks ago looking for a pre-made pair like you described. This is also where I found the small pry bar.
Pat EFC
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Post by builderjim on Mar 14, 2006 14:14:38 GMT -6
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Post by Smokinjoesracing on Mar 14, 2006 14:39:39 GMT -6
Greenhorn, Get yourself a old pair of needlenose pliers and at either the autopart store or walmart they sell the rubber dip stuff that would normally go on the handle part of the tool. Just dip the tooth end into this stuff and then you have a set of pliers that won't marr up the axle head. Jim, It is if we were seperated from birth ;D. We do the same thing. I firmly hold the wood around the axle with my thumb and forefinger and give it a twist with the coated pliers. That breaks the seal from the glue. I drill a very small hole on the bottom of the car about 1/4 inch in that leads into the drilled axle hole. After I drill it I blow into the axle hole like a flute to get the dust out. Once I am ready to ship or go to the races, I place a drop or two of crazy glue into that hole. It holds the axle just fine. When we are done I give it a gentle twist with the rubber coated pliers and gently pull it out for a good soaking in de-natured alchohol and re-polishing. They get faster with time.
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Post by patmanruls on Mar 14, 2006 15:17:17 GMT -6
Greenhorn, Get yourself a old pair of needlenose pliers and at either the autopart store or walmart they sell the rubber dip stuff that would normally go on the handle part of the tool. Just dip the tooth end into this stuff and then you have a set of pliers that won't marr up the axle head. I blow into the axle hole like a flute to get the dust out. This is a "G" rated board... consider this your first reminder... hehe
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Post by builderjim on Mar 14, 2006 15:47:39 GMT -6
Greenhorn, Get yourself a old pair of needlenose pliers and at either the autopart store or walmart they sell the rubber dip stuff that would normally go on the handle part of the tool. Just dip the tooth end into this stuff and then you have a set of pliers that won't marr up the axle head. Jim, It is if we were seperated from birth ;D. We do the same thing. I firmly hold the wood around the axle with my thumb and forefinger and give it a twist with the coated pliers. That breaks the seal from the glue. I drill a very small hole on the bottom of the car about 1/4 inch in that leads into the drilled axle hole. After I drill it I blow into the axle hole like a flute to get the dust out. Once I am ready to ship or go to the races, I place a drop or two of crazy glue into that hole. It holds the axle just fine. When we are done I give it a gentle twist with the rubber coated pliers and gently pull it out for a good soaking in de-natured alchohol and re-polishing. They get faster with time. I heard that. Your description of everything from the hole underneath to the polishing is exactly how I've done things, time allowed of course. The only difference is I don't like the crazy glue stuff, I use hot glue. I had a bad experience with it recently involving a tube of the stuff splitting open and the glue squirting me on the upper lip. I know I need to shut up sometimes but that is what i call over doing it. ;D Jim
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Post by patmanruls on Mar 14, 2006 15:52:28 GMT -6
two words..
Geeks...
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Post by builderjim on Mar 14, 2006 16:35:25 GMT -6
Ummmm.. that's only one word if I can count correctly. Maybe that's your problem with these cars, you seem to be cutting everything in half. ;D
J
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Post by Smokinjoesracing on Mar 14, 2006 16:55:27 GMT -6
It must be true what they say...Five out of every three people have trouble with fractions.
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Post by Buckeye on Mar 14, 2006 17:09:33 GMT -6
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Post by Smokinjoesracing on Mar 14, 2006 17:11:07 GMT -6
These are the same guys that will be up until 2 AM Sunday morning waiting for the results. ...keeping you company. ;D
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Post by Buckeye on Mar 14, 2006 17:14:29 GMT -6
Company is good!
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Post by patmanruls on Mar 14, 2006 21:11:48 GMT -6
It must be true what they say...Five out of every three people have trouble with fractions. I assemble that remark...
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Post by slkrnsntracing on Mar 14, 2006 21:21:01 GMT -6
Do any of you guys ever use Gorilla Glue?
I use it a lot. I think it works pretty well on axles.
You can't beat it for repairing wood when you drop or break your car.
Phil
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Post by builderjim on Mar 14, 2006 21:45:15 GMT -6
that's stuff is inhumane... to think that they kill perfectly good gorillas to make that stuff. let them be i say.
Now You're gonna not only have C.R.A.P.S. after you but also the Animal Rights Activists are gonna be looking for you.
Good luck with that.
Jim
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