A little Advice On Set Up

Brian Degulis · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:24 am Post subject:

OK I'm confused. To remove castor would the top of the spindle need to go toward the front of the kart or the rear? It would seem to me in order to add lift the top of the spindle would have to be moved toward the rear?

I can't find any ID on the axle but it does apear thicker in comparision to othe 40 MM axles I've seen. I would think a measurment of wall thickness should would ID it.

Brian

Michael Taksa · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:26 am Post subject:

Top forward to remove caster, decrease the angle. To fix the hop you need to decrease the lift, not the other way around, hop is cause by too much lift of the inside tire. And remember, in most cases changing caster chenges toe and camber.

Brian Degulis · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:35 am Post subject:

Ok removing caster creates less lift I understand that but how would reducing lift cure a hop? I was under the impression the hop was because it wasn't breaking free enough in other words breaking and grabbing.

Brian

Michael Taksa · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:37 am Post subject:

Not enough lift equals a slide, just enough lift equals perfect line through the corner, too much lift causes the "breaking free" and then grabbing and starting the whole process all over again.

Dan Haynes · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:54 am Post subject:

Here is a little analogy I heard before...sorry to whoever I stole this from. Take a pencil eraser and lay it down almost flat. It will slide pretty easily. The more you stand it straight up and down the more resistance you get. At a certain point it will start to 'hop'. Each subsequent hop creates an even bigger hop.

It sounds like you need less lift. A harder axle might help but try the front end settings first.
_________________
Blaise Haynes
#3 Arrow X1-CIK
TaG
Cook Racing Engines Parilla Leopard

Matt Dixon · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject:

After front end changes if it still happens, borrow some large rear hubs. It they improve the handling then change to a harder axle and go back to the smaller hubs.
_________________
Matt Dixon
94y Energy Corse/Swedetech

Brian Degulis · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:22 am Post subject:

OK I understand and will try removing caster. If to much grip is the problem then why would removing the rear torsion bar improve eliminate some of the hop?

Brian

Michael Pagano · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 3:27 pm Post subject:

Almost never run a rear torsion bar. it adds lot of grip. which makes it hop. maybe use it in the rain in some situations.

Brian Degulis · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject:

So the torsion bar stiffens the chassis and adds grip. Now it's all making sense. You guys are giving me an education THANKS!!!!

Brian

Barry Hastings · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:14 pm Post subject:

is the kart "hopping" or kinda "flopping" I once had this same issue that i couldn't adjust out. One day i broke down in one of the corners i was having a problem with and i got to watch the other guys on the track. What i learned from that observation was the guys who didnt have the "hop" and another that was. It was that the "hop" was actually a "flop" and the guy who had it was coasting and the kart just wasn't happy, the guy who didn't have problems was on the gas. not a lot just enough to keep the kart from "flopping". Next time i drove, i worked with trailing on the gas and THAT particular problem went away.

Something to try.

Brian Degulis · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:31 pm Post subject:

Well adjusting the castor and shorter rear hubs solved the problem in fact it made a huge diffrence everywhere on the track. I'm working on another kart now with a similiar problem hopefully the same solutions will work. I'm now understanding that HP is only part of the equation and how important handling realy is.

Thanks for your help guys!!!!!

Brian

Ken Schilling · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 1345

Michael Taksa · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:24 pm Post subject:

Nah!!!!! You guys have it wrong, if someone passes you they have better motor:)

Brian Degulis · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:58 pm Post subject:

I still have a lot to learn but it surprised me how much faster I got with a well balanced chassis and how much less fatique there is when you get the momentum and flow going.

Brian