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Is it legal to polish Pinewood Derby axles?
Because pinewood derby car kits all use nails, which have many surface imperfections that have to be removed so the car can roll, all rule sets allow filing, sanding and polishing the nails. Six stated that narrowing or putting grooves in axles was prohibited.
Should I bake my pinewood derby block?
Should I bake the pinewood derby block? The short answer is no, do not bake the block. The idea behind baking the block is to remove moisture which will make the block lighter. Baking might remove more moisture but the block will quickly re-absorb the moisture after it is out of the oven and cooled down.
How does a trailer axle get bent?
They are easily bent during an uncontrolled skid or collision. Fortunately, replacing the axle is not necessary unless it is extensively damaged. With welding skills and attention to detail, axle repair is possible.
How much bend should a trailer axle have?
Expert Reply: While trailer axles do feature an upward bend like you are describing, there isn’t a particular amount/measurement that is standard across the board. This bend in the axle is designed so that it will straighten under a trailer’s loaded capacity.
What causes a trailer axle to bend?
The reason axles have an upward arc to them is so that when a load is placed on them they straighten out and your tires run evenly. When the inside of the tread on your tires wears on the inside that is a good indication that you are overloading the axle which is causing it to bend down too much.
How can I make my derby wheels faster?
5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Speed Put 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.
What size are Pinewood Derby axles?
Pinewood derby axles are one inch long, 0.087 inch diameter zinc plated steel nails. The minimal axle treatment is the removal of the burrs and crimp marks with a file, followed by sanding and polishing. When it is allowed by the rules, the axle shaft can be cut with grooved and the head tapered.
What do you use to polish Pinewood Derby axles?
Use polishing compound from the auto supply store to polish the wheels and axles. One easy way to do this is to clamp the axles back in the drill and let the drill spin the axle while you polish it.
How heavy is a Pinewood Derby block?
The standard pinewood derby block is approximately 7.0 inches long by 1.75 inches wide by 1.25 inches tall. It has a typical density of 0.0138 lbs/in3. The block is supplied unsanded with grooves cut on the bottom side to accept the axles. The blocks weigh approximately 3.4 ounces.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels. 8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow.
What is the best shape for a Pinewood Derby car?
But 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.
Where should the center of gravity be on a Pinewood Derby car?
Center of gravity placement should be between 1⁄2″ – 1″ in front of the rear axle. This is true for all wheel base types. Whether you are using a standard wheelbase or an extended wheelbase.
Should trailer axles have a bend in them?
Should Trailer Axle Be Bowed Down in Middle A trailer axle should actually be bowed upwards in the middle and not downwards. When the trailer is loaded with your boat, that upward bow will flatten out and your tires will make even contact with the ground.
How do you tell if a axle is bent on a trailer?
Assuming your tires are in good shape without any bulges the easiest way to determine if you have a bent spindle is to take a straight edge that is longer than the tire and lay it across the tire parallel with your trailer frame and then measure the distance from the frame to the straight edge in front and back of the.
How do you fix a bent axle?
In most cases a bent axle cannot be repaired and must be replaced. A bad axle will lead to other damage to your vehicle down the line. So it’s critical that the axle be in great condition to avoid other costly repairs.
Do all trailer axles have camber?
Both Sprung axles and Torsion axles typically are built with a slight positive camber but custom axles can be specified with or without camber. A trailer that runs long distances without a load may be better without axle camber.
What causes trailer tires to bow out?
When the trailer is loaded, the axle will straighten out so the tires make even contact with the pavement. If the trailer is overloaded, the axle and spindles will bow the wrong way, causing the inside edge of the tire to have most of the contact with the pavement.
What happens if your axle is bent?
A badly bent axle will quickly cause damage to CV joints, and it’s possible to damage your wheel hubs, bearings and other components. It can also damage the mounting flange where it attaches to the differential (in a rear-wheel drive vehicle), and possibly cause internal damage to the differential gearing.
