Gearbox and Pit Tips


Pit Tips: Even Wear [March 2012]

Pit Tips: Even Wear [March 2012]

Even Wear: Tires on a 4WD car or truck will wear unevenly if left on the same corner of the car for too long.  If you run the same compound tread for all four tires, rotate your tires to get more life from them. Matt Weinstein – Black Forrest, CO For more Pit Tips, check […]
Pit Tips: Keep It Cool [February 2012]

Pit Tips: Keep It Cool [February 2012]

Keep It Cool: The cooling head on a nitro motor will work better if it is clean, so I use a pipe cleaner to clean the dirt out of the fins as part of my weekly maintenance. Paul Hun – Columbia, SC For more Pit Tips, check out page 28 in this month’s issue of […]

Pit Tips: Foam Trim [January 2012]

Pit Tips: Foam Trim [January 2012]

Foam Trim: When assembling a new set of tires, I trim the foam so that it keeps the bead on the wheel exposed for easy gluing. If you don’t, the foam will get between the tire and wheel and bulge it out slightly. Morgan Jassen – Lompoc, CA For more Pit Tips, check out page 30 […]
Traxxas connectors….not just for batteries

Traxxas connectors….not just for batteries

A lot of people have speaker boxes in the back of their full-size vehicle and that makes it hard to use that space for anything else when you need it. You can solve that problem by installing Traxxas connectors in line with the speaker wires. They are high flow connectors so they won’t disrupt the […]

Battery-Tray Grab Handle

Battery-Tray Grab Handle

Many JR Racing and Futaba radio systems have 8-cell battery trays that can be difficult to remove. Make a grab handle out of a piece of electrical tape, and attach it to the battery tray to make it easier to remove.
Thread lock your tools

Thread lock your tools

Everyone knows you should thread-lock the screws that thread into metal in nitro cars. but what about the screws that hold your wrench tips in place? To keep your wrenches tight and prevent wear to the setscrew and shafts, apply medium-strength thread-lock to the setscrews.

LiPo-Powered Starter Box

LiPo-Powered Starter Box

Larry Demarco >> Chicago, IL
If you're looking for a little extra engine-cranking power, replace the NiMH batteries in your starter box with high-capacity LiPo batteries. You'll need to invest in a Li-poly charger to charge the batteries, but it is well worth the cost because the batteries provide more voltage, and they do not discharge when not in use. Just remember to disconnect the batteries before storing the starter box.
Rim reminders

Rim reminders

After tires, inserts and rims are all glued together, there often isn't a way to tell your various combos apart. When you finish putting a set together, write the insert's firmness, the tire's compound and the offset of the rim on each rim. This is a 53-compound tire with a medium insert on a 2mm offset rim.

Fuel line: not just for fuel

Fuel line: not just for fuel

Even if you drive an electric car, always keep fuel line in your toolbox. Besides its intended use, fuel line can be cut to any length to make bushings, spacers and wire insulators, and it can be used for many quick-fix remedies at the track.
Easy De-Chrome

Easy De-Chrome

If you want your tires to stick securely to chrome rims, you must thoroughly remove the rims' shiny surfaces (unless you have the latest Pro-Line chrome rims). Use an eye dropper or a rolled scrap of Lexan to funnel a little lacquer thinner around the rim. This will soften the chrome plating enough for you to wipe it away. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

Easy-to-make diff ball container

Easy-to-make diff ball container

A short piece of fuel tubing with a screw on each end makes a perfect container to store 5/64 to 3/32-inch diff balls. Squeeze some diff fluid inside the tubing before you insert the diff balls, and then you’ll be able to squeeze out one lubed diff ball at a time for easier diff building.
Greasy plug

Greasy plug

Installing a new glow plug can be a real pain if the gasket keeps falling off. To hold the gasket in place, dab a tiny bit of grease or a drop of after-run oil onto the gasket.
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