Pit tips

Radio Control Car Action, Dec 2002

QUICK BRUSH REMOVAL

For faster brush changes, cut open the eyelet on the brush lead. Now, you can simply loosen the screw and slide out the eyelet to replace the brush instead of having to remove the screw entirely.

Eric Weber San Diego, CA

DIRT-RESISTANT MOTOR To keep the endbell of your motor free from dirt, wrap "Corban" (an elastic bandage material) around the end of the motor. It sticks to itself and comes in cool colors.

Kenny Dormer Houston, TX

EXACT PRELOAD MEASURING

If your shocks have collars to adjust preload, try this for exact measuring. Use a sedan ride-height gauge, hold it between the collar and the top of the shock, and take the reading off the gauge. Then hold the gauge up to the other shocks, and adjust them to match the first reading. [email]

Lenny Zeldo

REFURBISHED GLOW-IGNITER If your glow igniter does not hold onto the glow plug tightly, try this.

Place some solder on the outside of each of the brass tabs. This will allow the steel sleeve to tighten the tabs against the plug and hold the igniter more securely.

Marty Stewart Lawrence, KS

MESS-FREE TIRE GLUING

A cleaner way to glue tires is to install the tire on the rim but leave the edge out of the rim's groove. Apply a little slow-setting CA to the rim, then work the tire into the groove. The slow-curing CA will give you enough time to properly seat the tire.

Bill Brice Riverside, CA

COLD-WEATHER NITRO STARTING

In cold weather, the engine of a nitro-powered vehicle may be difficult to start. Place a tire warmer over the head of the engine. When the temperature comes up, the engine will start much more easily.

Henry Meyers

Billings, MT

EASIER HINGE-PIN INSTALLATION

Installing hinge pins can be difficult because the holes need to be perfectly aligned. Insert a rod that's the same size as the hinge pin into one end, and then push the hinge pin through from the opposite end, pushing the rod out as you go through.

Bryan Lloyd Mesquite, AZ

NEATER WIRING

This simple tip will make the wiring on your chassis look more professional. Use a screwdriver to wrap one of the wire leads tightly around the shaft. Slide out the screwdriver, and the wire will be nicely coiled for a neater look.

Robert Rudd Indianapolis, IN

MAGNETIC ASSISTANCE

To magnetize your screwdriver, pass it over a motor a few times in one direction only. Now, when you need to install a screw into a deep recess, it will stay on the tip of your screwdriver and won't fall off.

Charles Jarrett Laurel, MD

REASSEMBLING GUIDE

Before you disassemble complex parts of your car, use a piece of cardboard to draw the outline of the assembly you are working on. Put holes in the drawing to indicate the screw layout. As you remove the various screws, place them in the holes in the drawing as a guide for reassembly.

Pat Finch Augusta, GA