83 replies to this topic

[willy wonka]

Are these triggers available yet?

[Jim Difalco]

Everything should be available by the middle of November.

[The Sawdust Man]

Jim,

Any update on the status of your new designed controller/handle?

Regards,

Bob

 

[Jim Difalco]

Bob, the injection moulds are about to be made, unfortunately that takes about a month. It now looks like the first week of December before I may have them available.

 

Finalizing the design to get little details corrected for the mould has taken much longer than I had anticipated. Very frustrating.

[Shiggy]

Bob, the injection moulds are about to be made, unfortunately that takes about a month. It now looks like the first week of December before I may have them available.
 
Finalizing the design to get little details corrected for the mould has taken much longer than I had anticipated. Very frustrating.

Better to be frustrated now than frustrated after the molds and first run are made.

[Eddie Fleming]

The two prototypes Jim had at Fast Eddie's last month looked great.

[Tim Wood]

Can I use these handles and triggers on a third eye  controller as well as my Difalco. 

 Thanks, Tim

[Jim Difalco]

Tim, yes you can. Any controller based on the Parma, JK or Red Fox handle will drop right into my handle.

 

You also will not have to worry about your controller moving around inside the handle. Most other controllers are just sandwiched between the two handles. With the new mounting system I am using the controller frame is first bolted to the rear handle, then the front handle is added. This will make the controller feel very solid in your hand. When I get my new frame design in I will post some pictures.

[Jim Difalco]

Here are some pictures of my new frame and how it and other brand controllers will mount in the handles.

 

The new frames now have a circuit on them as I will eliminate the skinny white wire from my wiper arm. The wiper arm circuit will now be connected through the ball bearings and trigger pin to the frame.

 

To mount any controller you just thread short screws into the rear handle (this way you will never loose them). Lay the controller over the posts, add washers and tighten the hex standoffs down. The front handle is secured with 2 short screws up top and the usual screw and nut on the bottom post.

 

This mounting system was used on my original controllers in the very early 1990's. Hand cutting the posts was difficult and inaccurate. I switched to holding the frame down with one screw after seeing one of Henry Vervorn's controllers.

 

 

 

[Raymond Van Campenhout]

Wow, really well thought over, can't wait to hold one in my hands !

[Bucky]

What's the status on availability of the new triggers and handles?

[Jim Difalco]

Aaron, just got pre-production samples of the handles and triggers to inspect for any issues. I am having a couple things tweaked and then the mold needs to be polished for a super smooth surface. This will take about a week then the handles and triggers can start to be made and shipped.

 

Thanks for your interest. I guess my timeline was too optimistic. 

 

I will post here as soon as they are in stock.

[Jim Difalco]

Finally, I will have a short production run of handles available by Jan 27. At that time I will post pictures of the handles, triggers and new trigger hardware.

 

If you are going to the NASRA warm up race in Texas Jan 17-19 you can see the new handle and curved trigger on PA Watson's controller. The mold was not polished so the handles have have some minor blemishes and a dull finish but otherwise they are extremely close to the production version.

 

PA has been using my controllers for decades so I thought it was appropriate for him to have the first real set of handles to show.

[Jim Difalco]

Finally! Triggers and hardware are pictured below. They will be available in quantity in 2-3 weeks.

 

Trigger features:

 

1) triggers will be reinforced with fiberglass so they will not flex during use.

 

2) the pivot holes are designed for a press fit for ball bearings. Taking all this slop out keeps the wiper button planted on the wiper bands. Any side force exerted on the trigger when racing will not lift the wiper button off the bands since the bearings are not sliding around in the trigger pivot hole.

 

3) the spring hole on the trigger has been moved closer to the pivot. Now a stock Parma spring will feel softer when pulled because it is stretched less over the bands but have virtually the same tension at the rest position for good brake contact.

 

4) no more wiper arm wire. The wiper arm now connects to a ring washer under the ball bearings to transfer this connection to the trigger pin and new frame.

 

5) a new thinner (.012" versus .016") wiper arm will act more like a spring and maintain better wiper button tension.

 

6) the triggers are available in traditional flat, curved and 2 finger design. Unlike other triggers the geometry between the wiper arm, pivot and power contact area is the same as a Parma trigger so your wiper button will end up in the same location.

 

7) The triggers can replace any Parma, JK or Red Fox trigger. You can just transfer over your old wiper arm and hardware to your new trigger.

 

Part numbers and pricing will be available in a couple weeks. The triggers and handles will also

be available in bulk for other manufacturers. Thanks for your interest.

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[Jim Difalco]

Finally! Handles, in limited quantities, are also here.

 

Handle features:

 

1) colors will be clear, black, blue and possibly a silver for the first production run.

 

2) controller frames are first screwed to the rear handle and secured with washers and hex standoffs. This design makes the controller handles very rigid in your hand. Then the front handle can be added with 3 screws and a nut.

 

3) the handles will fit any controller now using a Parma, JK or Red Fox handle with minimal or no modification. This includes Parma turbo frames. All screws and washers needed to adapt your controller to my handle are included. Added washers are also included for some European controllers using 2mm instead of 3/32" frames.

 

4) the horizontal openings can be easily cut out for direct access to the wiper bands for cleaning and lubricating.

 

5) alignment tabs on both sides keep the handles aligned within .002". Even without screws the handles are resistant to twisting and flexing in your hand.

 

6) the bottom of the handle has been extended 5/8" for adult sized hands.

 

7) super smooth finish is devoid of ridges and logos for easy painting or vynyl wrap application.

 

I will post the part number and price for the clear handle in a few days. Thanks for your interest.

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[Shiggy]

Jim, will the new frame be available at the same time? And is it retrofitable?

[blkdout76]

Will we be able to send in our previous Dr30+ models to be upgraded to this all new design?

[Jim Difalco]

Shiggy, your old frame will fit the new handles but there is no real reason to upgrade. Maybe you mean something different from what I am thinking?

 

Gary, HD30? What parts do you want to upgrade? The new handles will fit your old controller. The trigger assembly will also be available to retrofit as well. Yes, you can send your controller in for upgrade to my new parts when the triggers are available. As usual with any repair you will get a free tune up and controller adjustment.

[Phil Beukema]

Delete

[blkdout76]

Sorry Jim....yes HD30+ is what I have.

[Jim Difalco]

Thats ok. Just a slip of the lip. Mine is an HD30 because of the 30 bands. DR just happened to use the same number.

[Shiggy]

Shiggy, your old frame will fit the new handles but there is no real reason to upgrade. Maybe you mean something different from what I am thinking?

I am thinking about eliminating the wiper arm wire. More about the elegance of it than necessary function.

[Jim Difalco]

A limited number of handles are shipping to distributors tomorrow. The clear handle is part DD850 @ $16 retail. Hardware is included to fit almost any controller and frame out there.

[John Gorski]

Just tested the new Difalco 5/8 longer handle & double finger trigger. For those who use 2 fingers

to race this trigger gives you a great feel & more comfortable finger grip I really liked it. long

over do. Handle has a nice feel it did need to be longer than Parmas. Handle also blocks & covers the board

so it doesnt ever touch your fingers. Also the back of handle has a more comfortable spot to place your thumb

curve of the plastic feels more comfortable. Theres also a lighter spring available. I give it an A+.

Nice to have something new that makes a difference worth the upgrade! 

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[Terry Tawney]

Where do we go to find checked two distr not in stock