Improve top speed and ultimate grip of your slot car by making it smoother

Improve top speed and ultimate grip of your slot car by making it smoother - Smoother is Faster

Рет қаралды 54,505

Күн бұрын

This has got to be one of the best things I learnt to do a few years ago that made my cars so much faster and more consistent. I even do this when I am racing SlotIt, NSR, Scalextric, ScaleAuto and other models cars. You need a special tool, but there are quite a few available. Good quality grinding of axles and setting the tool up correctly is very important to getting the best results.
Here are some links to tools and equipment used in the video...
** ROTARY TOOLS **
Proxxon Rotary Tool (Collet version) - amzn.to/3fXLVRn
Proxxon Rotary Tool (3 Jaw Chuck version) - amzn.to/37yT9qC
Proxxon Rotary Tool with adjustable multi-unit power supply - amzn.to/3jIeYJW
Proxxon Micromot fixed speed with power supply (EU Only) - amzn.to/3sE8L5P
Proxxon Micromot adjustable speed without power supply (EU Only) - amzn.to/3yaUMp9
Parkside Rotary Tool (UK ONLY - Battery Powered) - amzn.to/3fYoaJ4 (I have 4 of these myself and they are excellent)
(I have 4 of these myself and they are excellent)
** GRINDING **
EZE-LAP DIAMOND HONE SET (UK Only) - amzn.to/3BVyDxA
EZE-LAP DIAMOND HONE SET (US Only) - amzn.to/3z1S7hT
**SLOT CAR DISTRIBUTORS AND MANUFACTURERS**
Dave Harvey at Won O Won - www.won-o-won.co.uk
S&K Slot Racing Products - / skslotracingproducts
Facebook: / cleavetech.co.uk
Instagram: / cleavetech
Web: www.cleavetech.co.uk/
Email: cleavetech.james@gmail.com
Slotblog: slotblog.net/forum/506-tech-ti...

Пікірлер: 78

@lancelot1953 3 ай бұрын

Hi CleaveTech - absolutely brilliant! As an old mechanical engineer from the sixties (yes, I am that old!), every bit of balance adjustment could make difference between a "win" or a "loss". A lot of our mods on the muscle cars of the era were done with "hands-on" work like you are demonstrating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with a younger generation and a few older guys like me, Ciao, L (FoMoCo engineer, retired).

@angelodagnolo984 8 ай бұрын

Put a test dial indicator on it lol I love your dedication to slot car racing it's a great hobby. I still have my cars from when I was 8 and that's 54 years ago. I LOVE THESE LITTLE MARVELS 😉

@herbnusbaum9480 Жыл бұрын

excellent product!

@hyster16t Жыл бұрын

Very good info 👌🏻

@randywilson6536 2 жыл бұрын

Since I received my balancer from you it’s been fun and very professional tool ! You keep up the great work , ✌️

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Randy. I am glad you enjoy using it. Thanks for great comment.

@randywilson6536 2 жыл бұрын

I have received my balance tool today and it’s sweet ! Thank you very much ✌️

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it arrived safely. Have fun 👍🏻

@randywilson6536 2 жыл бұрын

@@CleaveTech thanks

@billyfran1 Жыл бұрын

Wish I had seen this when I was racing!

@modelracecar 2 жыл бұрын

I was so impressed I drew one up and printed one for myself. One thing I found is the ground points on the axle need to be dead centre.

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Great job 👍🏻. The key things are to make sure you use a ceramic or glass surface at one end to reduce friction and, as you say, use an axle with very accurately ground points.

@aquaticthumb5193 10 ай бұрын

If it will balance those wobbly tires. I think you have a winner. As for those of us whom think the magnet might clock the axil. I would think the orientation of the flux should reduce or eliminate this issue (poles at the flats of disc). One could test for clocking by switching ends of axil.

@lindseyangell986 8 ай бұрын

James, Please advise us with the Inline Crown Gear Jig for drilling the Aluminum centered Crown Gear…

@randywilson6536 2 жыл бұрын

Hey there ! We here in Michigan are waiting for you and your buddies to start a nice Hobby Shop there are many empty buildings , and I’m sure you will very popular and will have many customers ✌️

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Let’s hope someone or a group of racers in Michigan can get enough funds together to have a raceway there 🤞

@thehawkman14 10 ай бұрын

Great and informative video. How can I purchase one of these balancers?

@youknoweverything7643 4 ай бұрын

To make your ho mega g pmus cars better and faster is literally gel claw tires if running plastic afx track especially if its a two lane with no room to slide and the car keeps de slottting unlike 4 lane where the car can slide and not debslot. I do everything in this video and man my ho cars are screaming now i just got a few tjey cars and a few especially the ford gt40 mkii short chassis mega g us car all these tips maxe that car stick better and not deslot as easy as it would when it was box stock that balancing device makrs a huge difference as well

@maxheadroom7687 2 жыл бұрын

Really interesting video, would you not true the tyres to correct size/roundness before going through this? Love your balance jig, might have to get one😎Subscribed👍🇦🇺😎

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Max. Well spotted. The tyres were prepared on someone else’s tyre truer that obviously had a bent shaft. I didn’t check them before filming! Just drop me an email cleavetech.james@gmail.com if you want to purchase anything.

@THEFALCON58 6 ай бұрын

Would be nice to have my own Balancer James where may I get one Please.???

@ianosborne1306 9 ай бұрын

Can i use this on my 1/64th HO AFX cars axels???

@modelracecar 2 жыл бұрын

Hi James, I really enjoyed this video. Just a small point but the foam tyre you were balancing wasn't running true and would affect the balance.

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Well spotted. You are totally right. It really shows up well on the camera. The tyre was not taken down to the correct size for racing so I would normally spot those sort of things on my final balance before racing, but I will investigate further as to why it appears out of true at this stage 👍🏻

@lindseyangell986 11 ай бұрын

Where can I purchase this balancer?

@ACCOUNTANTB 6 ай бұрын

Shure it makes less vibration....but im not quite shure if this transmit to a real benefict..once the tires actually absorvs parts of this vibrations....if Motor RPM is so hi....bigger than 70K....shure it does a difference.Theres much things to consider besides only what vibrations does badly into it

@markf5437 2 жыл бұрын

I would like to be able to balance my hubs and gear assemblies , have you any available that I could purchase one , The one you have made looks great , many thanks mark.

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Mark. Thanks for watching. Send me an email cleavetech.james@gmail.com and we can sort out an order.

@dmh1367 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Where can I purchase the balancer set up? I live in the USA do you ship there?

@CleaveTech Жыл бұрын

Hi David. I sell the balancer and I can ship to the USA. Send me an email cleavetech.james@gmail.com

@AlainJannuzzi Жыл бұрын

If you use a chamfered shaft on your car, the balancer shaft must be chamfered as well. Greetings from Brazil

@CleaveTech Жыл бұрын

Hi Alain. Are you referring to an axle with flats for the grub screws? If you are, then I totally agree. I need to do a short video on how to setup the balancer correctly and mention a few things about matching the axle to the one you use in the car.

@RVJimD Жыл бұрын

I have noticed that my balancer has a “heavy” side. This is with nothing mounted on the shaft, just the shaft by itself seeks to a specific spot. The friction is really low and the shaft will turn very freely but always stops in the same position. I have check the shaft and it is straight and true. The ground points at each end are fine. It simply seems as if there is enough magnetic field at work on the steel shaft that it pulls it to a north/south orientation. Has anyone else found this problem or come up with a solution? Thanks for any feedback. Jim

@CleaveTech Жыл бұрын

Hi Jim. I think if the friction is low enough the axle will always settle in one place no matter what you do. The density of the axle can even vary along its length which could cause one part of the axle to be heavier than another. If you spin the axle and can’t see it move and it spins for a long time then you have set your balancer up as well as you possibly can. The only other thing you could do is to reduce the magnet field by using weaker magnets or moving them further from the points but you then run the risk of not supporting the axle enough. Thanks for the excellent comment and watching the videos 👍🏻.

@randywilson6536 2 жыл бұрын

Would you make a video on turning a analog car into a digital car ? Or am I going to have to turn my digital track into a analog track ? Thanks

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

I have raced digital a couple of times but I still prefer the “feeling” of an analogue setup. I totally understand how digital racing allows multiple people to race together on tracks that would otherwise not be possible to race on, but analogue cars seem so much more responsive and pure. I will definitely consider a video on digitising a track and cars though. Good idea 👍🏻

@lesmay3745 2 жыл бұрын

Hi James, I got some really nasty strobing at about 22 mins, after a sped up section

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Les. I have now mentioned that in the description and I am working on fixing it.

@slotsoffunwith1345 2 жыл бұрын

So I wasn't seeing things

@miners_treasures 7 ай бұрын

I never use hollow grub (set) screws because I feel it compromises reliability. Perhaps if I grind the bottom flat reliability would go up as to say it would not loosen off the axle during a race when tightening down.

@user-ju8po9sy2m 2 ай бұрын

I've never had a problem with the hollow screws, even on stuff like group27 wing cars. The key is to use an axle with flat spots machined into them.

@miners_treasures 2 ай бұрын

@user-ju8po9sy2m I prefer the completely round axles so I don't have to hunt the flats during a race.

@user-ju8po9sy2m 2 ай бұрын

@miners_treasures that's understandable but if you tighten the screws enough so that they drag on the axle ahead of time it makes it easy to find the flats because the wheel or gear will get loose once the set screw is over the flat.

@dantecant 2 жыл бұрын

Where can I get a 1/32 shaft with shape points.

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Dante. I will supply the 1/32 shaft with the balancing tool. I can also supply the shafts separate. Email me via the link in the description. Thanks.

@Rafa_tm Жыл бұрын

What's the best way to grind an axle to get those precise sharp points?

@CleaveTech Жыл бұрын

Haha, if I told you how I achieved the super accurate points then people would not need to buy any of my balancers and axles 😉

@slotsoffunwith1345 2 жыл бұрын

Take my money NOW. I so want a balancer

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

They will be available soon 👍🏻

@jameslewis5163 Жыл бұрын

I have a question True tire before balancing Or balance first

@CleaveTech Жыл бұрын

Good question. If I am preparing for a race, I would make sure the hubs are balanced fairly well before gluing on the tyres (balance achieved by shortening the set screw). Then I would glue and true the tyres to a size slightly larger than I think I would be using for the race. I would then balance them again using bits of tape but maybe not spend so much time getting them perfect at this stage. I could then try the tyres and practice with them. If I am going to use them for the race, I would then true them to the ideal size and rebalance them as good as I can get 👍🏻

@salvatoreperagine1707 2 жыл бұрын

How and where can I get one of those? Are they available in the United States ?

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Salvatore. I can ship to the USA. I am in the process of making a batch of them and they will be ready soon. Send me a message/order request via Facebook or email. My details are in the video description.

@Carfunmostly 2 жыл бұрын

Why does there need to be a point on the end that isn't touching the glass?

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

It concentrates the magnetic field and allows that end of the axle to also spin true.

@jesusmartinezmaillo2014 3 күн бұрын

How do I buy the product? II am from Spain

@CleaveTech 3 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching. Send me an email and we can sort out what you want 👍🏻 CleaveTech.james@gmail.com

@ronthornton2583 2 жыл бұрын

So what was the point of the colour coding on one end of the axle? I don't think you explained your reasoning ☺

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

The colour coding was for two reasons… 1) to make it easy to identify which axle size is which 2) so that you always use the same end of the axle when balancing to ensure consistency

@ronthornton2583 2 жыл бұрын

@@CleaveTech Thanks, that was my thinking too, but I just wanted to be sure.

@johnosborne1009 2 жыл бұрын

How much will this unit cost American money

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

I don’t have a final price yet but it will come with one axle of your choice (2mm, 3mm, 3/32” or 1/8”). Additional axles will obviously cost a little more.

@metalmicky 2 жыл бұрын

Wouldn’t a grub screw in the opposite face serve the same purpose ?

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it would help the balance but can also cause the wheel/gear to run out of true as it can pivot on the two grub screws rather than be seated on the axle.

@jasoncoburn8166 2 жыл бұрын

Where can I get a tool like this in America ?

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jason. I am happy to ship this tool to America. When I have finalised a supply of quality axles at the correct sizes I will be selling this tool.

@jasoncoburn8166 2 жыл бұрын

@@CleaveTech plz post a link or contact info.

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

@@jasoncoburn8166 , my email and contact information are at the end of the description of all my videos. Send me a message or email and I will make sure one is reserved for you 👍🏻

@JoevsRc Жыл бұрын

Are you selling this Balancer?

@CleaveTech Жыл бұрын

Yes I am. Please email cleavetech.james@gmail.com and I will get back to you.

@HartRaver 2 жыл бұрын

.stl for the balancing tool ?

@jmcleave 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Tommy. As I intend to sell the balancer as a CleaveTech product I will not be publishing the .stl file.

@markschaffer167 2 жыл бұрын

Do you sell these ???

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Mark. Yes I do. Just drop me a message via my CleaveTech Facebook page or send me an email. My contact details are in the video description. cleavetech.james@gmail.com

@InYourDreams-Andia 2 жыл бұрын

You did nothing for balancing..this whole video. To balance properly, add a counter weight opposite the heavy point. Like another grub screw etc. Shaving grub screws is too ridiculous.

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

Adding a counter weight is what I did to balance the hub and tyre assembly. Reducing rotating mass where possible has a positive effect on performance. Adding more weight is not what you want to do if it can be avoided. What is the point of having a grub screw that is longer than the thread it engages with?

@InYourDreams-Andia 2 жыл бұрын

@@CleaveTech car wheels IRL, digital balancing.. Finds the heavy spot (valve/tyre etc) then calculates the counter weight needed.. Places in exact spot. I thought you'd add a weight (or another grub screw oposite) before you start shaving. Tolerances are small, but clearly noticeable in your clever design. Your channel is great btw, as is your tech, fascinating stuff. 🤟

@CleaveTech 2 жыл бұрын

@@InYourDreams-Andia , thank you for watching and commenting. I suppose with real car wheels you can’t start removing material from the alloy wheels. I wouldn’t want to add another grub screw because that can cause the gear to pivot on the two grub screws and not run true.