41 replies to this topic

[CoastalAngler1]

Need more training...got some 18ga. silicone wire, put some on my 4.5 parma car.  How do you get the thing to self-center??

 

[Samiam]

Check THIS out.
 
That wire looks way bigger than what a 16D needs. What gauge is it?

[Tim Neja]

You don't need to carry that much wire either!! Shorten it way up--why carry all that extra weight and resistance??  

This is Bryan Warmack's car – note how short the wires are with a simple "kink" in them. They will return the guide perfectly and you don't carry ANY extra weight or wire length!! Simple and affective.  

And yes, order your wire from a slot track. It needs to have "stiff" insulation so it will have some "return" flex to it!!

[Guy Spaulding]

Your wire looks like some I bought from China off eBay.
 
It is only 18ga, but it has very thick insulation that helps make the wire so soft, it doesn't make good slot car lead wire.  (I learned the hard way.)
 
Your wiring layout will work great for centering if you use different wire.

[Tex]

I've tried many methods, failed and succeeded with every method. Some are just talented that way.

[CoastalAngler1]

Fleabay strikes again  the wires are less than desirable    Thanks Guy and Tim, sweet post Sam!

 

My local track wire is not like I see here, got it on a flexi GT-1, guide doesn't snap well either.  

 

I want to make my own and they are gonna snap straight - What's the best wire?

[Jason Holmes]

I use S7, TQ, or Alpha, all 20 grams.
 
Jason

[Danny Zona]

[Danny Zona]

I recommend TQ lead wire. Don't worry about how I have thin wire. (I'm a weight freak. Ha-ha).

I'm just showing you how I set-up the guide to self-center. It's just another option.

[Pablo]

Charlie,

They will never self-center when they are binding on something like yours are on the uprights. Not sure but it looks like they may be touching the underside of the axle also. Your California loops are too big and need to be shifted closer to the flag. Some guys like a lot of strong spring back but I prefer gentle. Ask yourself how badly do you want your flag to be trying to center itself in the middle of a corner?

I saw a case where a guy using really stiff wires with lots of strong spring back couldn't come through the donut. As soon I switched him to softer wires with gentler spring back, he was punching the donut no problemo. I like the Buena Park tweaked wire method like Tim showed, I also like cheater's California loops on his Champion TurboFlex chassis blueprinting tome. Like DZ said, there are many ways to do it and sometimes with different cars you have to just trial and error it until you find what works.  
Different methods are all going to require different angles where the wires are soldered onto the clips.
 
Also, if your rotating surfaces are not faced and clean, flag and nut threads not straight, your rotation won't be free and no amount of wire tweaking is going to work.   

[CoastalAngler1]

Thanks very much for this input - I'm gonna get a bunch of new lead wire and learn this!
 
Aha - gentle spring back for punching the donut!
Love those California loops and the Warmack Kink (BPR rocks!)
We even got a weight-freak, 'weigh-in' (fishing term), DZ's Kelly Sticker looks sweet.
 
Does wire color make a difference? 
 
Slick 7, TQ, and Alpha wire - what guage? I'd like to get three feet of each? to learn/test/perfect!

[Pablo]

20 or 22 gauge.

[Bill from NH]

Charlie, unless buying it per foot off a large spool, buy a 10' package, it'll be cheaper in the long run.
 
For color, I like black, it goes with most everything else.

Weight conscious people ought to keep stickers off their cars.

[CoastalAngler1]

Got it, 10' of 20 gauge...
 
Great advice, Pablo... removed the guide - what a dirty, worn, piece of junk. 600 wet on the tounge, 600 wet on new washers, new nut, new guide, rotates freely, sweet!
 
Ah-ha! One side snapped after changing the loops so they clear the uprights, one side touching axle causing other side to be stubborn.  After fiddling more, the darn thing doesn't snap... more fiddling... must be the twist on each end prior to soldering? Start at the guide, then twist loop then solder at motor? Any advice?  
 
(Yes, I'll get new wire but I'm trying to goat herd this one temporarily for tonight.)
 

[Pablo]

I repeat:  Your loops are too big and need to be shifted closer to the flag.

Also, try this: remove a clip, rotate it 360 degrees, re-install it. If it works, fine. If not, remove clip again, rotate 720 degrees in other direction, re-install. Sometimes that helps.

[Pablo]

Charlie, if you really want strong self centering, try it like this wing car.  If they won't snap back with this method, you need to start firing some of your goats. 

[CoastalAngler1]

OK, this wire is junk... fiddled and fiddled... can get them to snap for a minute then they lose their happiness... good enough for tonight, thanks again - I WILL get the skills soon, but not with this lame silicone wire...  

[Danny Zona]

I also tend to like the clear TQ wire. It is easy to see if there is a break or tear in the wire.

As for the sticker. I do add a tenth of a gram with it. But it does serve a purpose. It keeps the wire from possibly falling through the chassi and rubbing the track. :-)

[CoastalAngler1]

Redneck Engineered.  Works fine for tonight.  Darn wires and darn rookie. 
 

[Bill from NH]

Danny, I saw those light Slick 7 fronts with the .047 axle, I couldn't resist the jab about the sticker.

 

Charlie, you might have solved the situation. I like your idea.

[Samiam]

Casey Scott has some nice wire available.
 
White 20 AWG leadwire

[Zippity]

What he said.

[Gator Bob]

Charlie,
 
Keep in mind that the lead wires can be used as a tuning tool but the idea behind self centering is to make the car easier for marshals to get the car back in the slot quickly.
 
IMO, There is nothing wrong with the red and black Parma wire.
 
FWIW: I use -
 
Pro Slot, Ferret, RTR stiff, TQ (not 18awg), basic Parma, and the Alpha clone wire from Casey is VG, too. 
 
Ferret blue is my 'go to' wire...

[CoastalAngler1]

Easy for marshalling - BIG 10-4.  That's why I'm trying to fix this ongoing problem I've had (notice past tense).
 
Gonna get some of Casey's wire... and TQ clear 20awg... and someday when I grow up I want to be Blue Gatorwired. 

[slotcarone]

Charlie,

You have to make sure the guide is turning freely or you are wasting your time. The nut has to be on straight, too. You can also put very thin oil on the guide and this helps a lot.