tapkoote

I'm new to this, just got my hpi buggy rolling
hit the gas and it spins ** out a lot
futaba 2.4 radio, have slowed the steering down to 50%
50 weight in rear shocks and a spacer to limit travel
I'm not getting the body roll like I was(Tires rubbing etc.)
but even out on the street it's loopy
I used the standard 4 degree spacers in the rear
medium Hostile slicks on rear and tarmacs on front
I read somewhere some guys lock up their rear dif
if thats the answer how?
this thing is just for parking lot cruising
thanks for any help
tap

RAMTech-HBF-LSF

The easiest way to test a diff locker is put silly putty in the diff. If you like how that works, you can get an aluminum diff locker.

proanti1

My Feedback: (2)

Locking the rear diff is going to make it spin even worse...

bbuzzard

My Feedback: (5)

You are going to need to get those rear tires soft...

badboy2

My Feedback: (13)

thats the challenge of running 2wd..and yes you need to find out which tire is suited for the surface you run on.

phmaximus

Problary doesn't help having slowed steering too

tapkoote

My thought was that it happens so quick there's no way i can catch it, and twitchy steering was the trouble, it does handle better when it's straight.
guess I'll try sticky tires
at the drag strip some of the guys used to soak their tires to soften them up
lighter fluid i think, you guys ever tried it?
tap

bbuzzard

My Feedback: (5)

Usually, i just takes some time to warm up the tires...I typically, spin mine out while holding the car in place on the ground. Once you get some smoke going, then they are starting to warm up

tapkoote

funny you'd say that, this first time it spun, it was nose to the rockery so i lit em up
shortly after that it looped around and hit the curb hard enough to end the day.
tap

Foxy

Return the steering settings to normal, it's better to get used to responding quickly to its directional whims and simply countersteering. The HPI Baja is a very spinny car, what can I tell ya lol. Try an FG MT, you'll be banging your head on a wall, it's hard to keep them going straight, let alone get round a corner! Get used to it!

Shabbernigdo

i used 0 degree hubs on the street and they seem to work better then the 2 or 4 degree hubs. mabey its all in my head.

tapkoote

You may have something there,will give it a try.
thanks tap

a little editing here: now that I have the wheel off, I find 2 degree spacers,it apears last xmas when I put this together, i wavered from the instructions
think I'll go with the 4 degree and see what happens
tap

NOVAMEGA

I'd say set it up to have a slight "under steer " by changing the diff (lighter oil in the diff) and shock oil. Then as u become more familiar with it retune for better performance

mentorman

My Feedback: (2)

I agree, I use mine mostly off road, but the 4 degree hubs were no good, I think I went to 2 or 3 degree ( i dont remember ) and increased the rear neagative camber, ( tops of the tires in ) and it was so much better.

Onno

Put toe-out on the front to make it go straight on throttle and toe in on the rear.
Dif as open (no resistance) as possible.

tapkoote

Is there any advantage to running the shorter frame on the street?
tap

bbuzzard

My Feedback: (5)

Not really...just tighter turning radius.

tapkoote

THINK I'M GETTING A HANDLE ON IT
Yesterday I was on pavement, till the brake arm on the cam cam off.
Tarmacs front and rear, toe in, in front it launches and runs straight
Put the dirt busters on the rear and went to grass today, this thing is cool.
Glad i got this HPI for the first rc car.
I'm busting up the body pretty good learning, but it's glass/ easy to fix and I've got the mold for another.
Spent about 1/2 hour, till an exhaust bolt came out,it lands on it's feet 1/2 the time.
Think I'll shoot some vid tomorrow if it doesn't rain.
Wish ther was a dirt oval around here.
SHORT TEST OF THE DRIVER CAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36no8...1&feature=plcp
tap

Onno

In that vid you have toe in on the front, the opposite of what you should do.

Try the other way will help you loads.

tapkoote

Onno
you mentioned that before, I didn't address it because I hadn't read up on it then.
I didi read some basic alignment tutorials.
I started out with toe out in front, from what I read toe in will make it run straighter at speed and turn quicker.
Being old it takes longer to get my thought all the way down to my hand, thats probably why the car wandered all over the place. And spun out.
The way it's set up now it runs great on the grass, once i get used to driving a rc car, I'll get it back on pavement.
I do see some guys running tires that are worn on the in side.
Thanks anyway
tap
after looking at that vid I see what you mean it looks awful
but thats a fisheye camera (wide angle) it exaggerates the close up picture.
The toe in is about 1/8 inch, I'm going to cut that in half

mike_humphreys

A good place to start for measuring the front toe out is to get it between 5-10mm wider at the forward part of the front wheels.

i.e draw a horizontal line across the wheel nut then looking from the top measure it level with the wheel nut.

ratpower396

i was going to say that the tarmacs would be better on the rear than the slicks especially if you have tarmacs on the front. The front will grab before the slicks on the rear..Wider slicks like fg f1 tires would also be better on the rear but would require an adaptor to use fg square hub wheels..

tapkoote

Lets update again