35 replies to this topic

[Pablo]

What brand flag sander block is this? I forgot where I bought it.

 

Such a neat tool for more than just flags

 

[Matt Sheldon]

Looks like R-Geo, but may be a little longer than his.

[racerchaser96]

Dumb question but why would you sand your guide flag?

[Cheater]

See this THREAD and it should be clear.

[racerchaser96]

Great article, here is another question while we are on the topic of guide flags.

I was looking at my car braids off, so I could work on my flag and noticed the angle of my flag. It's not level. Should I bend it up in the front

[Zippity]

.... Should I bend it up in the front?

 
Yes, definitely - about 2 or 3 degrees.  

[Pablo]

Your photo doesn't show if there are rear wheels on, so it would be impossible to guess what angle you need.
Basically, with all four wheels on and the car as it will run on the track, yes, it should have a very slight upwards tilt.
Level is OK and as the rear tires wear it introduces a slight up tilt.
 
But this is all dependent on the attitude of your chassis.

Example, a Retro car that needs to clear 15 thou forward and 50 thou in rear with flag off the block and all four wheels touching the block, needs about 2 degrees up tilt of the flag.
 
I don't disagree with Zippity, but 2-3 degrees may be excessive for a chassis designed to run level.
Duffy's (RIP) "Turning Man" Retro tongue has a built in 2 degree tilt, and that is for 15/50 slope on Retro chassis.
 
But a chassis that runs level, basically needs the flag level, or slightly up. To complicate things even further, some flag posts aren't 90 degrees upright. Your Parma white probably is.
 
The next tutorial you want to read is Cheater Wells' Champion T-Flex chassis tome - it explains all this in detail:

T-Flex Tome

[racerchaser96]

Thank you to both of you guys,

[Matt Sheldon]

Another thing to consider is that some guide flags (Red Fox for an example) have an engineered degree of angle or kick of about 3 degrees, but I have seen many as much as 5 degrees. As much as I am a RedFox guide fanatic, you will have too much angle if you use an angled guide tongue and an angled guide.

[Pablo]

Thanks ( ) for pointing that out, Matt.

[Upfront slot cars]

Which Red Fox guide flags are pre angled ? New one to me

[Pablo]

I know some of them are not at 90 degrees; I've seen them.

Which ones ? I don't know if there are specific ones having a built in angle or not.

I suggest sending Matt S a PM, sounds like he would know.

[MSwiss]

When they first came out,(2007 or 2008?) that was advertised as a feature.

Unless they have changed the tooling, they should all have the angle.

[Brian Cochrane]

One thing to keep in mind is that a guide flag is a molded part that is mass produced.So even if you use the same brand over and over,it doesn't mean they are all exactly the same.They are molded in many different molds and also if a plastic part such as a guide flag or even a plastic gear isn't left in the mold long enough to properly cool or cure it may be slightly distorted or misshaped.That is why you need to spend some time smoothing and deburring certain plastic parts in order to get maximum results from them.

[Brian Cochrane]

Sorry,I should have read the guide flag post before I started typing....

[MSwiss]

I looked at some I have in stock.

 

At least one looks like the post is angled.

 

Some, it's hard to tell.

 

There's not enough room in there to get a real good measurement.

 

You would need an optical comparator.

 

If it is indeed angled, how do you get your guide nut on without a lot of slop?

[Pablo]

You could use your Guide flag sander to compensate

Me, I'll stick with Parma "The Blade" flags, Koford drilled aluminum nuts, and Koford spacers.

[Upfront slot cars]

Exactly my point mike Swiss. That's all I use is red fox ! I have never noticed one that is angled and if it was it would be too sloppy. I do agree with you Pablo on the nuts and spacers.

[MSwiss]

When the Red Fox came out, my flat track was new, and I was 100% convinced they were an advantage on it, whether it be on Retro or stamped chassis, cars.\

 

I got away from them when I started racing periodically, on the Gerding King, at Mid-America, in our area retro series.

 

Lots of guides broke on that track, and it seemed, most were Red Fox.

 

I went with Parma, because with being real easy to thread, I assumed they were the most pliable, and had more give, before they would snap.

 

Any guides ever snap at Tracy's?

[Mr. M]

I ran through all the guides out there one night and was amazed at the difference. At least on the track I was on, Red Fox ruled. It was faster and more consistent.

[James Grandi]

I've only run red fox guides a few times on retro cars, most of my stuff is Parma and the occasional Cahoza - but I did use Red Fox all the time when I was running group 10/flexi style racing. They were fast, but brittle.

These days I stick to those 1 or 2 guides and focus on how I prep them. I've noticed many racers thread theirs all the way down to the bottom of the post. I find when I've done this, I end up with a pretty big amount of wiggle room in relation to the post and guide tongue. I only thread down as far as I need - the remainder is left alone

[Upfront slot cars]

I have never had one break yet. But I do know will Brinkley broke a red fox last Friday night leading the race. I also nailed a few cars that came off right in front of me down the front straight. My guide was fine.

[Brinkley47]

I have broke several red fox guides. The guide break usually only happens when I am leading the race though. If I am running 5th, someone could hit the guide with a hammer and no damage. I am still trying to find the science behind that one. 

[CoastalAngler1]

3 words...Parma Cut Down

[JohnnySlotcar]

Remember the Jet Guides in the 80's? Numbered 1-6, each on a little different and everyone "in the know" would cherry pick the #3"s!!!