Pit tips

Radio Control Car Action, Apr 2002

HINTS, TRICKS, TIPS AND IDEAS FROM READERS LIKE YOU

CLEANING WITHOUT A COMPRESSOR

If you don't have access to an air compressor, the narrow areas of your electric off-road vehicle can be difficult to clean thoroughly. There is a less expensive way to get the grime out of those grooves. After you've knocked all the loose dirt off your chassis, use one of the miniature vacuums designed for computer keyboards. These battery-powered units cost less than $15, and they work great on your pit-box drawers, too.

CASEY TAFT

Lincoln, NE

CLEAN HANDS

Keep surgical gloves at your workbench; it only costs a few bucks for a box of 50, and they'll save you loads of scrubbing time at the sink. Remove the gloves by their cuff so that they turn inside out and keep the crud on the inside.

STEVEN HALL

Brewster, NY

MICRO-TIRE GLUE

High-traction surfaces can unbead soft-compound tires from micro RC cars. Apply an adhesive spray such as 3M 77 to the bead of the rim before you put the tire on it. The tire will stay on until you're ready to remove it.

GIANNI BARDELLA

Bryant, AZ

FLARED TUBING CONNECTORS

The fuel line can slip off plastic fuel-tank connections, especially if the tubing is old. For a more secure connection, remove the fuel tank and wash it out thoroughly. Place a hot soldering iron into the tank connectors and lightly touch and press downward on the edges of the connectors to create a slight flare in the plastic. Make sure that the ends are not restricted after you've heated them; if they are, you may need to drill them out.

CURTIS BROOKS

North Las Vegas, NV

SHOCK-SPRING COVER

Putting balloons over shock springs to keep out dirt isn't a new idea, but this tip makes doing the job much easier. Put the spring inside a clean, empty plastic soda bottle. Stretch the neck of a balloon around the bottle's opening, and squeeze the bottle to partially inflate the balloon. Then turn the bottle over, and let the spring drop into the balloon. Snip off the closed end of the balloon, fold the ends inside the spring, and reinstall it on vour vehicle.

MICHAEL LAMBERT

Apple Grove, WV

INTERFERENCE SHIELD

Many new electronic devices such as cell phones and automatic toll passes are packaged in a special plastic that blocks electromagnetic pulses. This material is ideal for wrapping your receiver to shield it from radio interference, and it looks cool, too.

ROBERT LOPEZ

Bronx, NY

TEMPORARY TRACK LAYOUT

If you want to try a temporary raceway before you commit to fixed barriers, use sidewalk chalk to sketch out a layout. Attach the chalk to a length of PVC pipe and drag it behind you to quickly draw your layout.

ROBBIE SELLERS

Rock Hill, SC

SERVO TEMPLATE

Because of the many steering-servo sizes used for oval and pan-type chassis, you often have to drill your own mounting holes. To do this accurately, first mark your servo-mounting holes on a piece of scrap Lexan, and then use the Lexan as a template to mark the holes on the chassis.

NED NEWMAN

Trenton, NJ

CAP COLLECTION

Auto-parts stores offer variety packs of vacuum-line caps, and they truly are a multipurpose pit-box addition. These rubber stoppers of different sizes are perfect for covering car openings such as glow plugs, antenna tubes, exhaust stingers, carb inlets, etc.

SCOTT BEACHY

Chandler, AZ

OUCHLESS BODY CLIPS

Pushing body clips out of their posts can be hard on your finger. Make clip removal painless by using a pair of needle-nose pliers to bend your clips as shown. The bent "leg" is much more comfortable to push on.

PETER DIDAGINN

Athens, NY