better steering for dual cell speedsters?

jedclampit · #1 04-21-2003, 01:43 PM

ordered up some sus. springs just to see what the outcome will be, but this board with all its experimental wisdom, needs to figure out how to shore up the steering slop for the high speed mod'ers. My dual cell has got tons of rear traction and stock front with two steering springs doubled up on its steering rack, car is still able to turn too sharply for high speed turns resulting in spin outs, some of this is simply caused by a very short wheelbase, but most of it is the softness of the steering springs allowing too sharp a radius before it counter acts.

I need either a strong spring or perhaps a rubber band going around the steering rack to keep the wheels centered, problem with rubber band idea would be no micro adjusting I suppose.

Anyone have a great handling dual cell? goes where you aim it and turns when you want it to? Otherwise I need to throttle this thing down with the potentiometer mod or something.

thanks for any replies and peace out!

sessiz10 · #2 04-21-2003, 02:17 PM

I just let off the throttle before a turn.

jedclampit · #3 04-21-2003, 02:36 PM

ya me too then rear wheels lock up and then I get major spin out going into a turn, need to be able to keep the gas on.

I think this may simply be the one limitation of these little cars as proportional steering just isn't possible, I wonder if the power that runs to the steering coils from the PCB would be sufficient to run a motor instead, A motor geared to teeth placed onto the steering rack somehow, forget the whole electro magnetic controll system. then you would be able to kind of have proportional steering eh? this sounds crazy in an area with limited space, do you understand what I'm even talking about?

Buzzbait · #4 04-21-2003, 02:37 PM

Get a booster Bit or an MS Pro. I just let off the booster button shortly before the turn. Boosters aren't all that great, out of the box with a slow motor, but are enormously handy when you go dual cell.

jedclampit · #5 04-21-2003, 02:42 PM

Ya I've heard of that, there's also a way to just tune the power to motor down via a 20 ohm potentiometer, saw a thread about that in the bit science forum, sorry i can't reference it exactly. then you are looking at ordering a $1 dollar part for $10 with the shipping though. I'm cheap, all cars have been bought for and average of $9 including shipping on Ebay.

you're right though the booster cars are perfect dual cell candidates, just can't find any cheap rides.

sessiz10 · #6 04-21-2003, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jedclampit
ya me too then rear wheels lock up and then I get major spin out going into a turn, need to be able to keep the gas on.

I think this may simply be the one limitation of these little cars as proportional steering just isn't possible, I wonder if the power that runs to the steering coils from the PCB would be sufficient to run a motor instead, A motor geared to teeth placed onto the steering rack somehow, forget the whole electro magnetic controll system. then you would be able to kind of have proportional steering eh? this sounds crazy in an area with limited space, do you understand what I'm even talking about?

Actually there are some micro rc's out there that come with this type of steering. 1 type is made by a company called mga and toys r us has a couple made by kidriffic (?). The ones I've seen come with a hardwired motor, and a slow one at that. The turning radius was real wide and i'm pretty sure that at higher speeds you would get the same spinout. I try to correct the car from spinning out by some "Negative Steering(tm)"

. Sorta like with a real car going into a tail slide where you turn the wheel into the direction of the slide, if you get what I mean. You could also mod the wheels by using some grippier or wider wheels. The tomy pullback wheels are perfect racing treads.

bdebde · #7 04-21-2003, 11:15 PM

I have lots of dual cell cars. I find the one thing that helps is very hard tires in front, I like the hard ribbed tires from the microsizer tire sets. Something else I have tried with good success is to reduce the steering throw (less travel). This is especially good with very torquey cars, as it will turn at full speed (very wide) or you can let off throttle and back on to whip the back end around for sharper turns. The easiest way to do this is with the rare earth magnets from radio shack (#64-1895). They are half as thick as the stock magnet, so it takes two (2 in a pack) to replace the stock magnet. What I do is use three of these magnets (1.5 times as thick as stock) in place of the stock magnet. It reduces the travel slightly because the magnets will hit the coils before the linkage hits the steering stops. Just make sure to get the magnets perfectly centered (may take several test fits) before using superglue to glue them to the steering arm. I have also done the same thing by adjusting coil width (allows finer adjustment) but it is harder than the magnet swap. Oh, you will need to buy two of the magnet part #'s listed above, they come 2 in pack. Steering is also improved (more magnets), as far as response. I also used this mod with a full size front wheel mod on a Microsizer, no dremmeling for tire clearance. Try it, it works great!

#8 04-22-2003, 06:12 AM

That's a good idea!
I'll have to try that one on mine.

I did suspension springs and dual steering returns, but I was defaulting to the throttle trick to try to reduce flipping.
I flatly refuse to put an underwing or nerf bars on my car!
(Of course those guys aren't flipping!) lol

Buzzbait · #9 04-22-2003, 07:54 AM

Awesome tip on the magnets!!! I'll give that a try this week. I made up one of Strider's rug runners last weekend, and desperately need something to strengthen and shorten the steering. Those Radio Shack magnets could just be the trick I need. Thanks.

mad driver · #10 04-22-2003, 10:41 AM

i used the stabilizer bars in the tune up set set b/c you have got 3 they let u tune your steering for more understeer they work real good wive dual cell cars.

bdebde · #11 04-22-2003, 08:18 PM

Yeah, those red stabilizer bars do seem to limit the steering some too.

If you really need to limit steering (like 3 or 4 cell drag car) you can try 2 of the stock steering magnets. I have not tried this, but it looks like it reduces the steering about the same as what I have in my drag car (with thicker coil).

#12 04-22-2003, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sessiz10
I try to correct the car from spinning out by some "Negative Steering(tm)" . Sorta like with a real car going into a tail slide where you turn the wheel into the direction of the slide, if you get what I mean.

I think its called a drift

How do springs work on a single cell?