Re: How to use aluminum wheel sets?
I have bought every set the make (12 in total) they ship anywhere. “Experienced” is not right, i would say EXPERTS only. Although the results are worth it. If you are planning to get them, consither the following:
-They are completely useless as they arrive, holes in the wheels are not big ehough, no axis, unpainted covers.
-Must use a 56 drill bit to enlarge hole on aluminum wheels.
-Completely rebuilt the axis. You will need a steel rod of about the same caliber as the drill bit, both avalable at hobby shops. This is because to start the axis on the cars is made of a cheap material that bends easily, you will probaly bend it when removing the original wheels. Also, since the original wheels and gear are pressure locked, the axis has some spikes to provide this locking. Thus if you make the holes on the wheels big enough to fit the original axis with the spikes and all, the wheels will be loose fitting and impossible to align correctly.
-The axis you make will be shorter. Even if you could file away the spikes and not bend the original axis in the process of dissasambling it, you would still need to cut it about a milimmeter or two. Trust me, its better to get a replacement steel rod at the hobby shop. Get your car and go to the shop, see which caliber fits ok. Get the drill bit too.
-Do not enlarge the hole on the wheels so much that the new rod is loose, it will be impossible to align. It must be snug.
-You will get one wheel with an extension, the other 3 without, this wheel should go on the back oppsite to the gears, tha is on the other side. If you look at your bit from the top with the front wheels facing away from you, then it is the right side. this extension is to compensate for the distance, ie the axis is no symmetirc.
-When you have the new rods gears and wheels ready, glue it all toghether with very little 5 minute Epoxy. And when I say very little, I mean almost nothing, a drop on the top of a tooth pick. I have found that its better to glue the gear to the wheel and then put the rod through. You can use a little bit more Epoxy to glue the wheel to the gear, but remember, not to much. If you can see it, its to much, wipe it off quickly. It is very important that no excess glue be on the axis and the wheels, especially where they come into contact whith the car.
-Finish installing all wheels before you put the covers on. Test the car, forward, backward, turns, everything.
-It is VERY IMPORTANT that the tires not be pressed all the way in, in fact, they should leave a small part of the wheel (hairline, not more) facing inside the car uncovered. Otherwise the steering will be funky and maybe the rear wheels won?t turn. Try all operations firs without the tires, then install them.
-If the car drives funny probably you installed the tires crooked.
-Once you havew the car running and tested without the body, put the body on. Now the car won?t run, steer funny or other problems. to fix this you must either file away or cut the parts of the body that come into contact with the tires. This happens becuase the tires are MUCH WIDER!!! The cars as pictures in bitcharg.de will not run becuase their bodies have not been modded.
-Truck bodies are easier to mod. Car bodies require a lot of material to be removed.
-When you are done, if the car looks to ugly due to the huge frontal wheel wells to accomodate the tires, its off to the shop again, for some modelling putty to mod the body to make the wells wider, like a real race car.
It will take you a while, but here are some pics of what you?ll get, the Accord is not finished yet, still have to mod the body, the BB runs like a Charm, completely finished.