Carpet Track w/jumps setup needed for FT B4

[Bob_Zahn]

Recently got back into 2wd offroad here in Canada and looking for a good setup for carpet track with big jumps. Most of the track is setup with rollers, table top and a big triple jump. Traction is very high but I learned very quickly that getting a good balance is not an easy task.

I have joined the group of racers already running Schumacher minipins (not spikes) in rear (yellow) and stagger rib fronts (yellow). I have been on the track for one club race and was having a problem getting a balanced car that would actually steer.

Looking for a setup to start with that will get me close.

Thanks in advance

[Bob_Zahn]

Any suggestions at all?

I found this on Petit R/C and it looks like a good place to start.

Front:
35 wt, #2 piston, silver spring, middle on tower, outer on arm
1-A link with one washer, 25 deg blocks -1 camber

Rear
35 wt, #2 piston, silver spring, inside on tower, outside on arm, 1-B link with no washers, 2 deg antisquat, -1 camber.

Ride height set low with front arms below level and rear dogbones at level or slighly below level.

Setup recommended no foam inserts in front stagger ribs. My tires currently have foam and I will need to test with and without as removing the foam inserts in the fronts may give me some additional steering I'm missing now.

Also would changing from Yellow to Blue rear tires be something that you do on carpet tracks on your side of the pond?

[blue_pinky]

In terms of tyres on indoor carpet (Primatrack carpet in the UK, not sure if that's the same everywhere or not?), I've always run minipins or minispikes all round...and always yellows, with inserts all round.

I've always found mini spikes are more forgiving if your setup/driving isn't so polished. When the setup is good and driving is more practiced mini pins are my first choice for 2wd, as they tend to be more grippy.

That's the general theory on mixed carpet/polish offroad tracks I'm running on anyway.

Never tried stagger ribs so can't really comment on those.

From memory running the oil slightly lighter in the rear is another option...on my X6 I use 35wt front and 30wt rear...which is what I used in the B4 before that as well I think. I do remember that I was always trying to dial the steering out rather than increasing it on the B4...and often cut off the inner and outer rows of minipins to tune the steering response with new tyres.

Can't really remember the other setup details I ran, I'm sure someone will be able to help out better than me on that...but ride height sounds about right from memory....maybe a touch higher depending on the track style. Have a chat with the other guys at the club your running at, no doubt they'll be able help out too.

Not sure what the current thinking is on weights with a B4 and lipo...I always ran a strip of lead over the battery and a small amount in the front and rear bulkheads to help with the balance/grip.

Hope it helps!

[Buggy Driver]

Is it the Fastcats track? Looks quite familiar to our "winter tracks" over here.
If you need more steering, you could try:

- front shocks on inner hole on the a-arm > way more low speed steering

Should do it. And/ or try:

- slicing the Staggers, so each rib becomes two > a bit more steering
- take well worn rear tires and cut the inner and outer row of pins > easier rotation > more steering
- batteries in front and put about 30 - 40 gr around the servo > tames down initial steering a tad, but way more on-power steering (check ride height again afterwards, not too low)

The rest seems fine so far. Just use the Staggers the next time without inserts and no blue Minipins. They work, but yellows are better.

There´s more you could do, but try these things first.

[GRIFF55]

I ran a similar setup at the players meeting just gon. Only #1 rear piston and 30wt.1 deg antisquat too. The car also had rymart racing front and rear bulkheads. Yellow minipins on the front also, but these are an easy thing to swap and feel differences.

[Bob_Zahn]

Originally Posted by Buggy Driver

Is it the Fastcats track? Looks quite familiar to our "winter tracks" over here.
If you need more steering, you could try:

- front shocks on inner hole on the a-arm > way more low speed steering

Should do it. And/ or try:

- slicing the Staggers, so each rib becomes two > a bit more steering
- take well worn rear tires and cut the inner and outer row of pins > easier rotation > more steering
- batteries in front and put about 30 - 40 gr around the servo > tames down initial steering a tad, but way more on-power steering (check ride height again afterwards, not too low)

The rest seems fine so far. Just use the Staggers the next time without inserts and no blue Minipins. They work, but yellows are better.

There´s more you could do, but try these things first.

These suggestions all sound practical and I will print them out to bring with me on the next practise night or club race. It is indeed the Fastcats track and glad to hear there are tracks in the UK that are similar.

I would love to borrow some setups from the locals but the Amain is currently dominated by RB5's with one or two B4's mixed in. I have no doubt I will get it close but nice to hear other's suggestions too.

Thanks again

[MiCk B.]

Try Lee Martins set-up from the Petit race. That's what I'm running here on a carpet track, can't fault the car.

MiCk B. :-)

[Bob_Zahn]

Originally Posted by MiCk B.

Try Lee Martins set-up from the Petit race. That's what I'm running here on a carpet track, can't fault the car.

MiCk B. :-)

Another driver at our track appears to be running similar setup to Lee's Petit-RC race setup. I will confirm when I go to the track next week.

I will try it if I can't get anywhere with the first setup I'm trying with the stagger ribs.

[Bob_Zahn]

I ran my car last night at the indoor carpet track (Fastcats.ca) and was very pleased with the handling and lap times. The scheduled club race was changed to practise only due to the owner and track announcer being ill. This was much preferred to me as it gave me a chance to get a bunch of runs in and get used to the car and find the elusive setup.

I was able to tune my car and reduce lap times throughout most of the night. I was turning laps in the low 16 second range when I first got there and was in the low 15's before I went home with an odd lap at 15.0 or 14.9. Laptimes are announced on a speaker as cars cross the line and I only heard of one other car hitting the 14.9 laps and he is considered one of the fastest at the track. Needless to say I was pleased.

I just need another week or two to get consisten and shake off more rust after a long hiatus from 2wd offroad. (11 years)

Here is the setup I finished with


Front
35 wt, #2 piston, no limiters, silver spring
inside on tower, inside on arm
1-A camber link w/ 1 washer
-1.5 camber
no toe in/out
25 degree blocks
spindles down
3 bump steer washers on spindles
ride height slighly lower than level

Rear
30 wt, #2 piston, no limiters, grey springs
inside on tower, outside on arm
1-B camber w/ 0 washers
-1 camber
2 degree antisquat
dogbones level or slightly lower

Tires
Schumacher stagger rib yellow
Schumacher minipin yellow (inside and outside spikes removed)

Tekin RS w/10.5
geared 25/75
Reedy 5000mah 35C to the front
JR Sport 126MG servo
Spektrum Micro receiver and Transponder mounted on right side.

1/4 oz in each rear triangle
1/4 oz in each front triangle
1/4 oz next to battery compartment just behind front triangles


I adjusted the throttle profile on the RS so it was smoother and I also increased the drag brake to the 3rd light. I hope to have my Tekin Hotwire for my next night so I can change from Dual Mode to sensored only mode.

I will submit another update next week.

[Bob_Zahn]

I ran again yesterday as the local track had a Christmas Trophy race.

I had a rough go of it in qualifying for the first two rounds. Broke front tower before the race in Q1 but it kept together for a decent run. In second qualifier the front screw on the FT axles backed off and wheel fell off. Car was pushing during practise and through first two rounds despite some changes to setup but for the third round I made a few adjustments and put the car in the A main. I qualified ninth out of nine cars but I was in.

For the start of the main all the cars snaked around the track for two laps without incident. I was near 8th place on lap 2 and bobbled over the roller jump. But I got some compusure and started picking up speed on the pack.

Then a car crashed and I was able to pass. Next lap a bunch of cars wrecked and I passed them. Then the TQ wrecked and I passed him as well. This put me all the way up to 4th position with the TQ behind me but unable to make up any ground. Then he wrecked again and I was running smooth consistent laps that allowed me to nearly catch 2nd and 3rd place.

Near the end of the race the leader missed a jump and fell back to 3rd and was right in front of me. He got loose on a kicker jump and I bumped him from behind with no where to go. I had 3rd place after that but the announcer thought I made a rough pass so I let him go a few corners later. The horn went and I maintained 4th spot! I turned the 2nd fastest lap in the final with the eventual race winner turning 2/100ths of a second faster lap.

The car was much much better and I now have some much needed confidence that I can indeed run with the local fast group. After 11 year layoff from 2wd 1/10th scale I was able to shake off the rust a little faster than I could have hoped.

I'm looking forward to the next club race in early January to continue evolving my setup and my driving!!!

Here is the setup:

Front
35 wt, #2 piston, silver spring, 0.090 limiters
inside tower, inside arm
1-A camber link w/ 2 washers
-1 camber, no toe in/out
25 degree block, spindles middle, 0.60 bump steer
ball studs in rear position on steering rack
20mm ride height
Schumacher stagger rib yellow

Rear
30 wt, #2 piston, grey spring, 0.090 limiters
middle tower, outside arm
1-B camber link w/ 0 washers
-1 camber
2 deg. antisquat
21 mm ride height
Schumacher minispike yellow (spikes removed inside and outside row)

Misc:
1/4 ounce in triangles in front and rear
1/4 ounce beside battery each side
1/4 ounce on servo

Tekin RS w/10.5
Gear: 25/75
Reedy 5000mah 35C lipo

[mikeyscott]

Linters are they inside or outside the shocks. Assuming outside as I need to order some before petit