EditCox Models 1:32 Slot Car Tune-up Tips
As with real racing cars, the difference between winning and losing is usually the time spent preparing the car. Below are a few things to look for and once you become familiar with this you'll be able to add improvements of your own. Every driver has his own driving style and as such, the hints listed below are merely to show you how to get the maximum performance from your Cox Racing Car.
- The tires supplied with Cox Models slot car kits are formulated from a soft rubber compound, and will give you maximum traction. It is a good idea to remove the sharp edges with a piece of sandpaper since this will insure you the best possible traction. The best possible tires won't do you any good at all unless they're mounted on the wheels straight. It would be a good idea to bond the tires to the wheels using contact cement or epoxy. This will prevent the tires from moving on the wheels. You might try lightly sanding the running surface of the rear tires with the motor going after the car is assembled. This is necessary, especially on smooth track surfaces such as found on home track sets, to allow tires to "bite" and allow the car to corner properly. But, under no circumstances should you cause the motor to get hot. Remember, the only contact your car has with the road surface is through the tires, so the better the tires, the better the overall performance of the car.
- Gear adjustment is very important since the gears transmit the power from the motor to the rear wheels. Watch that the gears are not too deep in mesh as this will cause excess friction and friction is lost power. If the gears are too loose they will wear very quickly and will have to be replaced. After running your car for a long time you may want to adjust the gears to run deeper in mesh. If the gear mesh is correct, the gears will last many trouble free hours.
- Lubrication is important but it is equally important not to over-do it. One drop of light oil on all of the bearings once an hour is sufficient. Also wipe the chassis off when re-oiling. This will help to prevent dirt and grime from ruining the moving parts. An oily chassis collects dust and dirt very quickly, so try to keep your car clean.
- Be sure the braid is not pulled down too far or it will cause excess friction and also cause guide blade to be lifted out of the slot. Try and keep the contact braid adjusted as close as possible to the top of the guide. This will insure your car the maximum performance and least amount of friction from the front end.