Caster SK10 Pro. Any other Casterites out there?

[SamRCRacing]

Hi,

When I ran my Caster, I managed to bend the rear top deck twice in 3 months without any cuts. I don't think they are as solid as you think.

Sam

[discothesnake]

I agree Jim. If you hit something hard at high speeds (indoor especially) the alloy will bend or twist. You need to appreciate the speed these cars travel at compared to when you were racing. (No disrespect intended)

Dave

[V6Jim]

Yeah, they are quick!

The mods I've done should have no effect with a head on collision. If the unmodified one bent on impact, then so will this! It certainly ain't any stronger! In the event of a chassis catastrophe I have plenty spare bits! I just love experimenting!

You there on Sunday Dave?

Jimmy

[discothesnake]

Yeah i will be there Jimmy. Looking forward to it.

See you there.

Dave

[V6Jim]

So, first meeting with the Caster is over and it was a bit 'patchy' to say the least!

First - handling. I spent all of the heats fighting horrible, unpredictable oversteer. I tried changing tyres and lowering the car to no avail.

Second - the slipper. The standard slipper is not good. I needed some slip at this track, and the car ran OK for a while. However, the problem is that the slipper overheats and melts the spur center. The spur then wobbles and the pinion shreds it. It was probably set up with too much slip, but it still shouldn't just melt. I went through three in 5 races! B Final for me!

I cured the oversteer be refilling the front shocks with fresh 45wt oil. It ran well in the first final. Won it comfortably despite running the last lap and a half with another shreiking spur! AAARGH!

Got some really good laps and a bit of a better rhythm during this final which has heartened me a bit. The car has potential. I was still nearly a second a lap off he A final winners pace - more work to be done!

Jimmy

[KennyClark]

It was a bit of a disaster Jimmy!

[orinoco]

Jimmy, I've found a link to the sure fire solutions to most of the Caster's many foibles.

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113083
and
http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112927.

If these methods are followed, most if not all of the SK10's weaknesses are cured and you can concentrate on enjoying the race weekends.

Please take this in the manner intended. Lol.

Col.

[V6Jim]

Originally Posted by orinoco

Jimmy, I've found a link to the sure fire solutions to most of the Caster's many foibles.

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113083
and
http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112927.

If these methods are followed, most if not all of the SK10's weaknesses are cured and you can concentrate on enjoying the race weekends.

Please take this in the manner intended. Lol.

Col.

Those links are to some sale items!?

Kenny,

If I had managed to nail the handling earlier and the slipper was more of a slipper and less of a self destruct mechanism I could have a reasonable day! (If's and but's )

I have ordered the new slipper for it which seems to address most of the problems - it has different internals and an external adjuster - yay!

I understand what you were saying on the day about running a car that nobody else has. It does seem daft. I could easily just get a B44.1 and go racing, but that has never been the way I did things. Always looking for something odd to try with a mission to get it sorted.

The importers are very helpful and are keen to help promote the car, so we'll stick with it and see how it goes. I love a challenge!

Jimmy

[discothesnake]

Hi Jimmy, that was a shame what happened yesterday. I know what your saying about driving a car that's different to everyone else. I was always a bit like that with the yokomo hence why I have a B44.1 too.

The only thing I see is that by using a car of poorer quality you may sicken yourself if you keep on having failures and DNF's.

Dave

[V6Jim]

Originally Posted by discothesnake

Hi Jimmy, that was a shame what happened yesterday. I know what your saying about driving a car that's different to everyone else. I was always a bit like that with the yokomo hence why I have a B44.1 too.

The only thing I see is that by using a car of poorer quality you may sicken yourself if you keep on having failures and DNF's.

Dave

You're right, Dave, parts of the car are a bit dodgy! The slipper for example!

In the past, the Caster has been dogged by poor quality components, but it is slowly improving. It used to have crummy ball diffs - it now has superb geared diffs. Similar improvements have taken place throughout the car. New 13mm big bore shocks have just been introduced too.

Jimmy

[orinoco]

Sorry Jimmy, just my warped sense of humour.
Seriously though, at some sections of the track your car was really quick so if you can get the handling and reliability sorted out it might be a good fast car.
As Dave says, I hope you don't get sickened of it before you've really got started. I get the impression that you wont give in until you get it working to your liking though.

[V6Jim]

Originally Posted by orinoco

Sorry Jimmy, just my warped sense of humour.
Seriously though, at some sections of the track your car was really quick so if you can get the handling and reliability sorted out it might be a good fast car.
As Dave says, I hope you don't get sickened of it before you've really got started. I get the impression that you wont give in until you get it working to your liking though.

Ahhh! Good one. Right. If I was going mainstream, I would most likely go Kyosho. Lovely looking thing. Dear though!

Jimmy

[orinoco]

Very

[V6Jim]

Got the new slipper this morning from Answer RC! Fitted it in about two minutes. It is a much better built thing than the old one. Green slipper pads and much thicker pressure plates. Most importantly, it has an external slip adjuster which means I can adjust the slip in about 10 seconds!

Happy Days!

Slipper.jpg

[V6Jim]

Going to be giving the Caster a good thrashing tomorrow. Setting up a makeshift track at work and going to spend 2 - 3 hours pounding round and round....

Hopefully get the new slipper set up perfectly and put some miles on my thumbs!

Jimmy

[V6Jim]

Set up a wee track on a mixture of tarmac, concrete and gravel. Surface was wet with some puddles. Tried to set up the new Caster slipper, but found that even with the tension nut fully out I was getting no slip.

I ran the car for about 10mins anyway. It ran well, but I'm having trouble keeping it from swapping ends under power - very tail happy!
Checked the motor temperature and found it barely warm. I changed the 18t pinion for a 22t. Big jump, I realise, but it's all I had!

Ran the car again and noticed it to be a lot more drivable. Bigger pinion - softer power. I also noticed that the slipper had started to work! Another 10mins without incident and checked the motor again. Still cool.

Swapped out the LiPo and then ran it for another 10mins. Excellent. Concentrated on just driving it and started to get a bit of a rhythm.

Good day - Buggy Bonding!

Jimmy

[V6Jim]

Took delivery of a new servo yesterday. I was pretty sure that the Alturn servo I had was a bit rubbish, so I splashed out and bought a Hobbyking HK47111DMG from the UK branch of HK. What a fantastic range of stuff they have at pretty seriously cheap prices. This one was $37. (£24)

This servo is quite highly regarded in the US, so I thought I'd try it. Here's the blurb:

The HK Mi Series servos represent the next break through in high precision servo technology. Using Magnetic Induction, rather than a potentiometer, for an unsurpassed level of accuracy and performance.
Specs:
Voltage: 4.8v / 6v
Speed: 0.08sec / 60deg (4.8v) - 0.07sec / 60deg (6v)
Torque: 9.70kg.cm (4.8v) - 11.8kg.com (6v)
Size: 40.2mm x 20.1mm x 39.2mm
Weight: 61g
Gear Train: Full Titanium Alloy
Motor: Coreless

Mi : Magnetic Induction, uses a Magnetic Rotary Encoder in place of a traditional potentiometer (invented in 1877). Magnetic Rotary encoders have a longer life and suffer less wear.

Super fast, torquey, quiet and smooth. Well, I say 'quiet' it actually runs quietly, but when at rest it chitters away like a chipmunk!

Anyway, it's light years better than the Alturn.

Doing a bit of diff oil experimenting. I'm changing the rear 3K oil for 7K oil. I think that may make it better under full power.

Jimmy

[KennyClark]

Never heard of that brand of servo Jimmy.
Going from 3K up to 7K will make the rear of the car feel loose when on the power unless you are running on a high grip surface.

[V6Jim]

Originally Posted by KennyClark

Going from 3K up to 7K will make the rear of the car feel loose when on the power unless you are running on a high grip surface.

Rats.

The Yanks are starting to go to a higher viscosity rear diff oil with some success. This was because the Associated team drivers are now running their rear ball diffs tighter than the fronts. I'll try it and see what happens...


Jimmy

[KennyClark]

What oil are you running in the front diff?
A lighter oil in the front will make the car more aggressive to drive.
I think 10K in the front is a good starting point.