RB5 front wheel options

[RogerM]

I am seriously looking at getting an RB5 but I am wondering about spares availability.

Whilst I am happy ot keep a stock of the suspension components which might need to be changed track time but my biggest concern is wheels!!!!

No I know that there is a conversion to run B4 rears but what about fronts?

has anybody looked at fitting LOSI wheels on there (obviosuly with an adapted spindle)? Anybody else make wheels other than Kyosho that are a direct fit? Anything else been adapted to fit?

If the answer to the above turns out to be totally negative I might look at making the LOSI wheels fit (assuming that their offset isn't too different that is) ...... anybody interested in these axles if I make some up?

[jim76]

i've been running an RB5 for about 5 months. To be honest spares aren't a problem. The lazer is a very popular club car so most LHS have a kyosho account. Plus the spares are pretty cheap for the popular items like wishbones, hubs etc.

i haven't tried any different front wheels, and i'm not aware of any adapters like the rear. The rear adapters were pretty expensive from what i recall, so unless you have loads of B4 rims it's not really worth it, just get a few sets and some acetone!

on the plus side it is a great car. really solid fell to it, if a little heavy. titanium turnbuckles and screws will help lose some weight, but not essential. Just put as much lead in the nose as you can fit, at least 30g.

[Martin-Barbour]

"Just put as much lead in the nose as you can fit, at least 30g"

Oh man, you're so right, I've got 35g squeezed up there...

Actually, reading those two sentances together makes me feel a little ill.... :eh?:

On a serious note, I've got a ton of Kyosho wheels with used tyres which you're welcome to. They're all 4WD so the rears will be fine, you'll have to acetone the fronts to put proper 2WD tyres on.

They're a collection of BB Spikes, BB Pins and Schumacher Mini Spikes.... I can probably sell you at least 5 full sets without even feeling the pinch...

I would also recommend titanium turnbuckles and the Atomic Carbon shock towers...

That ZX5 of mine is still for sale, it's up on eBay now if your friend's still thinking about getting one...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130173166051&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=003

Cheers

Mart

[jim76]

unfortunately the RB5 fronts are different to the ZX5 fronts.

[RogerM]

In the west mids it seems that Kyosho isn't all that popular so shops don't keep the spares as they may never sell them!

Dom @ DC Racing has told me that getting spares is no problem, just that they have to make a relatively sizable order to Kyosho Europe so an odd part here and there may take some time. Dom does keep some Kyosho spares but I'd rather order what I need in batches and not rely on trackside support.

As for wheels I do have quite a few B4 rims about and as Kyosho wheels aren't going to be available at every trackside I's like to try and make something easier to obtain.

Shame really as everything I can find out about the car suggests it will suit me far more than the B4.

[Moose]

there is an option avalible to mount the asso b4 wheels

[jim76]

microtech and DMS carry Kyosho spares. They usually have pretty much everything in stock. microtech are particularly good as their site shows the stock level unlike other sites.
don't let the wheels put you off, just get a bulk batch of 9-10 fronts (maybe negotiate a discount) and as long as you stay on top of stripping the old tyres you can always take a couple of bare wheel sets to each meeting to glue up tyres on.

[Jez]

..lazer fronts fit ok although a little wider,but meens u can run 4wd tyres if needed.i did this at 1st round schumacher series at worksop and qualiyied b4.didnt think bad considering im an f5.also i sell zx5 front rims at 3.50 compared to rb5 ones at 4.50.got some ballistic buggy white 5 spoke rims @3.99 a pair,front and rear.fronts are 1mm wider than rb5 ones.can send picture via mobile as havent got a clue how 2 work this computer thingy.also got rb5 n zx5 shells,spares.most stuff a quid p/p.call 6.30to23.00 mon 2 sat,sunday usually racing at batley.will call back or reply to txts.;)

[caneye]

1. wow .. 30g in the front? what's the main difference u've found?
i've mounted 10g in the front .. err .. can't say there's an improvement of any form. :p


2. i've got some 2wd tire on lazer front rims too. the lazer rim fits rb5 without an issue. but being slightly wider, it means the tires will be stretched a tad more resulting in a different carcass profile.

[Martin-Barbour]

The lazer rims are indeed wider, just don't use it all...

I also stretched the carcass when I mounted my first set of fronts on the kit supplied RB5 fronts which were 28mm wide. I then got lots of strange looks at my first race meeting....

Just about everybody at my club does what I'm about to describe below, so don't shoot me down...

The 4WD front rims have 4 ribs, two at the outer edges and a further two approx 7mm closer to the centre of the rim which make for 2 thin groves at the outside and one wider groove in the middle.

Simply mount the outer edge of the carcass in the outer groove and the inner edge of the carcass against the inner edge of the 2nd (not 3rd) groove. This leaves the 3rd groove on the inside of the rim exposed and looks a little odd at first until you remember that everone else's 2WD at the club looks the same.... (in my case anyway)
This gives the carcass the correct profile (I believe).

Sounds like a hack but using good tyre glue I haven't had a problem yet (and yes, I've not been doing it very long but there you go...)

If you intend to keep using that rim for 2WD fronts you can then dremel or cut away the exposed 3rd groove to make a more convential looking 2WD front.

I'll be honest and say that I didn't even know you could get 2WD front rims, I've only ever seen ZX5 sized front and rear rims for sale...but then I haven't been looking very hard...

WRT weight in the front, I found understeer to be a problem out of the box, now it's not so much or a problem....