How do you use a bent axle on a Pinewood Derby car? We recommend installing axles with a 1.5° bend for the front of the car and 2.5° bend for the rear. The axles heads are marked in the direction of the bend.
How do you install axles in a pinewood derby car?
properly insert your axles in a pinewood derby car. The Pro Axle Guide is designed to straightly and correctly install axles into BSA Pinewood Derby cars where the slot is required. The Pro Axle Guide has two distinct features. Number one, a CNC machine ridge to line up in the slot of the block.
How do I measure the gap on my pinewood derby car?
2. Turn your pinewood derby car over and place the tool on the bottom of the car with the ridge in the axle slot and the gap gauge snug against the car body. If your car has shallow axle slots, turn the tool over so the flat side is against the bottom of the car.
How do you install axles?
We recommend installing axles with a 1.5° bend for the front of the car and 2.5° bend for the rear.The axles heads are marked in the direction of the bend. Install the axles with the mark straight up. The alignment procedure requires turning the axles while they are in the car slot. We recommend our axle pliers for this procedure.
How do you straighten the front wheels on a car?
If both front wheels are next to the car body, rotate the left axle slightly clockwise and the right axle slightly counter-clockwise until the car rolls straight. If both front wheels are next to the axle heads, rotate both front axles slightly clockwise until the car rolls straight.
Where do you put the bent axles on a pinewood derby car?
We recommend installing axles with a 1.5° bend for the front of the car and 2.5° bend for the rear. The axles heads are marked in the direction of the bend. Install the axles with the mark straight up.
Are Bent axles legal in pinewood derby?
Axles may be bent or inserted to cant the wheels. 4. Axles may be positioned to allow one wheel to NOT touch the track via adjustment, bent axle or placement as long as this DOES NOT violate any other specifications.
How do you straighten a pinewood derby axle?
Pinewood Derby Racer's tip: To accurately bend an axle for alignment or for a raised wheel, insert the axle into the Axle Press with the head extended 3/8 inch from the tool. Place the Axle Press in a clamp or vise. Gently tap the axle with a hammer until the desired bend is achieved.
Does BSA allow bent axles?
Wheels and Axles Rules Official BSA wheels must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded.
How do you make a Pinewood Derby car go faster?
5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car's SpeedPut all of your weight in the back. ... Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point. ... Spend a fair amount of time on axle prep. ... Make sure your wheels are ready. ... Finally, once your wheels are mounted, check their alignment.
Can you glue axles on Pinewood Derby car?
For pinewood derby cars, white glue works fine for gluing wood to wood (such as adding wood accessories) and for repairing chips or cracks in the wood. It can also be used for holding the axles in place.
How do you use Derby Worx pro axle bender?
Usage InstructionsMake a dot on the axle head with the Sharpie. ... Measure 3/8” or . ... Loosen the knurled thumb screw and lift the clamp cap. ... Using your 3/32″ hex key, loosen the set screw in the spring collar and slide it to the mark for the desired degree of bend and tighten.More items...
How do you use a Pinewood Derby alignment tool?
2:082:44How To Space Wheels And Align Axle Nails - Pinewood Racing CarYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOver your axle slots with the gauge flush against the side of your car body. With the wheel inMoreOver your axle slots with the gauge flush against the side of your car body. With the wheel in position place the tip of your axle into your axle slot. And press firmly into position with your thumb.
Are heavier Pinewood Derby cars faster?
Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow. In general, it's best to place weight to the rear of your car because a heavier rear increases speed.
How long should a Pinewood Derby wheel spin?
around 20 secondsHow long should pinewood derby wheels spin? A long spinning wheel has less friction so the longer a wheel spins, the better. A good wheels will spin for around 20 seconds but the spin time can vary with the type of wheel, lubricant and with the amount of force used to start the spin.
Why is my Pinewood Derby car slow?
Alignment - Make your derby car go straight. This may seem like an afterthought to many, but if your Pinewood Racer doesn't go straight, the wheels will rub against the track, causing it to slow down. Remember, friction is your enemy. Weight - It is vital to have your Pinewood Derby car weigh the proper amount.
What is a canted axle?
The term “canted” means setting an object at an angle. Thus, “canted axles” are axles which are attached to the car at an angle. Sometimes this is done accidentally, but usually car builders cant axles in an attempt to reduce the amount of contact between the wheel tread and the track.
Can a Pinewood Derby car have 3 wheels?
Cars can run with 3 wheels touching the track, but the 4th must be installed.
What is the best aerodynamic shape for a Pinewood Derby car?
simple wedgeBut aerodynamics rule the day, and the best shape is a simple wedge. Just like a spoiler on the rear of a sports car, the wedge shape allows as much air to flow over the top of the car without hinderance while keeping the car pinned to the track.
Can you put weights on the bottom of a Pinewood Derby car?
The weight should not extend past the rear of the car. Glue bottom weights to the bottom of the block to bring the total weight (including wheels and axles) to 5 oz. Install some of the weight behind the rear axle and the rest in front of the axle. The weight can be broken apart with pliers.
Camber Bent Angled Steer Pinewood Derby Axles (Canted)
Camber wheels / axles are an advance technique. There will be a great amount of detail in ensuring that you get the most out of this technique. You will easily add an additional 2-3 hours of build time. The only reason you should bend an axle is so that you can tune your car. If you plan on just slapping on the wheels and axles. DO NOT bend axles.
What are the Best Angles for bend Pinewood Derby Axles?
When choosing your angle of bend, you have 2 master choices. 1.5 or 2.5 degrees. 1.5 degree bend will have a larger tolerance level of tuning. However, depending on your car block, sometimes it is necessary to use a 2.5 degree bend. As your angle increases, your ability to fine tune decreases.
What is the best part of the Pinewood Derby?
The best part of pinewood derby is designing a unique, cool car that you can call your own. Don't worry about aerodynamics because it is almost insignificant. We identify dozens of other speed tips in Winning Pinewood Derby Secrets that rank far above aerodynamics.
What to do if your wheel is bad?
If you have a bad wheel and you don't have time to replace it, Raise that Wheel so it doesn't touch the track. Since it doesn't touch the track, it won't have any negative affect on your car's speed.
What is camber on a car?
What is Camber and why do you care?#N#Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the top of the wheel from true vertical. If the top of the wheel is tilted inward, it has a Negative Camber. If the top of the wheel is Tilted Outward, it has a Positive Camber. If the wheel is straight up and down on a true vertical line, the Camber is measured at Zero (0°).#N#If Camber is not zero, your wheels are not resting flat on the track and therefore could ride inward or outward on the axle. Zero camber will allow your wheels to stay centered on the axle, keeping it from creating drag by hitting the nail head or car body.#N#To measure camber, with your car on a flat surface, place the PRO Alignment Tool against a wheel and check that the wheel is perfectly flat against the tool. If not, you have camber and you need to adjust your axles until camber is zero.#N#Once again, a perfectly straight axle slot, drilled with the PRO Body Tool will eliminate camber. Alternately, our Precision Drilled Block eliminates camber.
What happens if you put your wheels too far out of the car?
If wheels are too far out from the car body, the car wobbles from sliding left or right on the axles. If the wheels are too close, they rub against the car body slowing your car down like ABS brakes.
How to use a gap gauge on a pinewood derby?
1. Rotate the gap gauge until it is perpendicular to the body of the tool. Tighten the screw. The gap gauge can permanently remain in this position unless you wish to store the tool in the zip lock bag. 2. Turn your pinewood derby car over and place the tool on the bottom of the car with the ridge in the axle slot and ...
What is a pro axle guide?
The Pro Axle Guide is designed to straightly and correctly install axles into BSA Pinewood Derby cars where the slot is required . The Pro Axle Guide has two distinct features. Number one, a CNC machine ridge to line up in the slot of the block. And number two, a laser cut stainless steel tab designed for correctly spacing the wheels from the body.
What is the tab on a car?
Once the car is ready for final essembly, the tab is used as your wheel spacer to set the spacing between the wheel and the body. Insert the axle to the wheel and firmly insert the wheel until the axle is installed snugly and will no longer go in. Once the tool is removed, proper wheel spacing has been set.
robo4881 Rail Runner
My son and I are building his car for his derby in February. I am also thinking of building another to send in to the NPWDRL. The last 3 years I have built the cars with canted rears and the bent front axle. I have a block that was drilled by DD4H with the drilled reverse cant in the front I got last year but didn't use.
Mojo Racing National Contender Pro Racer
You still need a bent front. The canted drill on the front end would allow you to use less bend in the axle. That will make it easier to tune... you can turn your axle more and not have it JUMP from 3" to 6".
robo4881 Rail Runner
You still need a bent front. The canted drill on the front end would allow you to use less bend in the axle. That will make it easier to tune... you can turn your axle more and not have it JUMP from 3" to 6".
robo4881 Rail Runner
Ok thanks I was planning on using a bent axle of I sent a car in. As far as using the plug and play for a scout race, do you think it would be ok to just run the straight? I got the staight axles when I ordered them.
Rat Pack Racing District Champion
My grandsons car won pack and districts in 2015 with one of John's plug and play blocks and a straight axle. It Ran 3.0033 sec. on a pretty good 42 ft. practice track. Thats not a bad time for a scout car.
robo4881 Rail Runner
My grandsons car won pack and districts in 2015 with one of John's plug and play blocks and a straight axle. It Ran 3.0033 sec. on a pretty good 42 ft. practice track. Thats not a bad time for a scout car.
Mojo Racing National Contender Pro Racer
Just when I think I got some of this stuff figured out I get brought back down to earth Lol.
What to do if your wheel is bad?
If you have a bad wheel and you don't have time to replace it, Raise that Wheel so it doesn't touch the track. Since it doesn't touch the track, it won't have any negative affect on your car's speed.
How does riding a rail help a car?
Riding the rail stabilizes the car as it runs down the rail, which allows you to bias the center of gravity further back. So instead of COG being 1.25" in front of the rear axle, you can get away with 1" or even a little less. Moving COG further back converts more potential energy to kinetic energy. Basically, your car goes faster, longer.
