6 replies to this topic

[Kenny]

G'Day All,
I'm only freshly back into this after many a years break.
I thought traction magnets were a great innovation (yes, that many years)
But, I just took the magnets out of what was previously a fairly doughy car, and with a bit of ballast/no magnets, wow,what a difference. It's a bit down on lap times, but heaps quicker on the straights and slides like wow. A lot more fun to drive.
My question is, just how much ballast (gramms) is acceptable/allowable or is it a personal thing?
I don't wish to overdo it to the point the cars are a cinch to drive.
I invested $3.20 in coin as ballast in this car, but with bits of sheet lead instead, the digital chip will fit.
I imagine where in the car is up to me to work out, but how much??
Thanks in advance
John

[Mohawkk]

Hi Thirdz,

I'm sure there is already a thread on this as I remember reading about this the other day. now if only i can remember where
someone should know

Cheers
Kai

Edit- Try this
http://www.auslot.com/forums/index.php?sho...l=how+much+lead

Edited by Mohawkk, 25 May 2010 - 09:09 AM.

[kalbfellp]

The amount depends on the track design,surface and voltage you are running on.

We run cars down here that weight from 70 grams to 120 grams.

The very light cars have NC1 type motors,the heavy weight cars usually are powered by 25,000 rpm motors. Our track are all 12 volt regulated supplies and are tight tracks with straights mostly less than 10 ft long.

[gref]

lately I have been trying to tune with minimal weight, focusing more on gluing and truing. a well tuned car shouldn't need much weight and yes it depends on track surface and volts.

[rick1776]

kalbfellp, on May 25 2010, 04:41 PM, said:

We run cars down here that weight from 70 grams to 120 grams.

Ya had me choking on me wheatbix Phil. I thought you guys started out with a billet of lead and carved the minimum amount away, just enough to fit a motor and wheels.

[dangermouse]

Hi thirdz

here is another discussion on this topic
http://www.auslot.co...?showtopic=9185

if you don't have a source of lead to use - most folks either - buy lead made for golf clubs (costs $$) or buy lead flashing from hardware store (cost $$) of befriend there local tyre shop and get used lead weights for free (cost )

I bought a set of digital jewellers scales from eBay less than $10 and the measure in tenths of a gram
I put about 10-20g in

though I am with Gref sometimes fixing other things works as well - ie tyres sometimes I have put weight in and then played around with the tyres and I take the weight out and the car drives better..

cheers
DM

[Kenny]

Thanks for that,
Now I'm getting new wheel weights from the tyre shop for free ( bet I pay for them later)
I'm going to buy a set of small scales
We will limit the weights on groups of similar cars for similar performance
But, while I was playing with ballast and magnets, I put two magnets longitudinally, one each, on the exteme outer side of one car chassis about mid-way, and it is really good to drive, kind of non-mag with magnets, as it slides to the point where the magnet grabs and stops you spinning out, sometimes.
Cheers
John