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Two coats of glue are better than one
2008-02-19 21:08:00
It's great that many RTR vehicles have glued tires, but it's also a good idea to run a second bead of CA between the tire and rim. Let the glue dry before you run your vehicle. By doing this, you'll ensure that the tires stay bonded to the rims even during hours of running
More About: Coats

Weighted crawler tires
2008-02-19 21:06:00
You can improve your rock crawler's performance by adding weight to the front wheels. Doing so will reduce the risk of rollovers on steep inclines and will help keep the front tires on the ground. Pick up stick-on weights (available at most hobby shops), and stick them to the insides of the front wheels using the adhesive backing
More About: Tires , Crawler

Measure accurately
2008-02-19 21:02:00
To accurately measure shock and turnbuckle lengths, spring preload, tire diameters and other critical components, you need an inexpensive set of calipers. They're also great for measuring the lengths of screws

Increased fuel capacity
2008-02-14 20:21:00
If you compete at events that do not strictly enforce fuel-capacity rules and you'd like to increase your nitro vehicle's run time, install two fuel filters and an extra-long piece of fuel tubing between the fuel tank and the carburetor. You'll gain a minute or wo of run time
More About: Fuel

Super-secure outdrives
2008-02-14 20:18:00
It isn't unusual to lose the drive pins in a buggy's center CV driveshafts when the setscrew that holds them loosens. Here's a way to avoid this: slide heat-shrink tubing over the outdrives to prevent the pins from sliding out if the setscrew loosens. As a further precaution, put heavy-duty liquid thread-lock on the setscrews
More About: Super , Secure

Heat-resistant body
2008-02-14 20:16:00
Some nitro vehicles have tightly fitting bodies that rub against the tuned pipe. The pipe's extreme heat can melt or deform the body. To prevent this from happening, stick a couple of layers of aluminum tape on the body in the area of the pipe
More About: Body , Heat

More power for your EZ-Start
2008-02-14 20:12:00
Replace the stock Tamiya-style plug on your EZ-Start system (and battery pack) with high-quality Deans connectors, and you'll notice a little more starting power
More About: Power

No-crimp servo wires
2008-02-14 20:10:00
Most sealed radio boxes have an opening through which the servo wires go, but on some models, the opening is so small that the wires get crimped when you close the radio-box lid. To remedy this, enlarge the opening with a hobby knife or a Dremel tool with a rotary sanding bit

Cotton-swab grease applicator
2008-02-10 19:34:00
Use a cotton swab to grease your vehicle's rotating parts. A swab will allow you to apply grease lightly and evenly, and you'll make less mess.
More About: Cotton , Grease

No-fuss buggy wing mounting
2008-02-10 19:31:00
Most 1⁄8-scale buggies have nylon wings that are secured to the wing mounts with screws and locknuts. The locknuts fit inside slots on each wing mount, but they fall out easily, and that makes installing the wing a hassle. Glue the locknuts inside the wing mounts with Shoe-Goo, and they'll never fall out again
More About: Wing , Fuss

Code red wrenches
2008-02-10 19:30:00
If your hex wrenches are unlabeled (or you wore the labels off after a bunch of bench sessions), and you keep grabbing the wrong wrench, just wrap a band of colored plastic tape around each handle so that you can easily tell which wrench is which. The tape also comes in handy for labeling spark-plug wires on your full-size car, stereo and TV cables you name it
More About: Code

Better body-post holes
2008-02-10 19:28:00
The round rear body-post holes on many truggy bodies take a lot of abuse, and they tend to crack when the truck lands on its rear end. Make the holes oval so there is a little room for the body to flex during an impact. Doing so will make your body last much longer
More About: Body , Post , Holes

Trash it
2008-02-10 19:25:00
Nitro vehicles can get really messy after a day of racing, and tossing a dirty car in your trunk or back seat can leave permanent stains on the carpet and upholstery. Place your car or truck in a garbage bag after you've finished racing for the day. The garbage bag will prevent dirt, oil and other grime from spilling out in your car. Eight-gallon bags fit everything from for 1⁄10 trucks to 1⁄8 buggies; use 13-gallon bags for larger monster trucks and truggies
More About: Trash

Homemade Micro-T steering & camber links
2008-02-08 10:56:00
If you break a steering or camber link on your Losi Micro -T and your hobby shop doesn't have a replacement part, you can easily make one with a scrap piece of Lexan. (...)
More About: Links

Long-wheelbase Mini-T
2008-02-08 10:54:00
You can lengthen your Mini -T's wheelbase more than 1?2 inch by flipping the front suspension arms over so they are swept outward instead of inward. (...)
More About: Long

Super-secure RC18T body mounting
2008-02-08 10:52:00
If you don't want to make body-post holes in your RC18T's body, or you're just tired of using body clips, you can secure the body to the chassis with Velcro instead. (...)
More About: Body , Super , Secure

Free transmitter tote
2008-02-08 10:51:00
Don't throw away the box that your radio system came in; use it for safely storing the radio while you travel to and from the track
More About: Free , Tote , Transmitter

Micro-T Preload
2008-02-08 10:49:00
Add more preload to your Team Losi Micro -T's rear shock springs with small zip-ties. Use the thinnest zip-ties you can find, and attach them to the shock bodies above the springs. (...)

Tiny E-clip Catch
2008-02-07 03:58:00
The tiny E-clips used to secure the wheels to the Losi Micro-T often fly off and get lost when you try to remove them for maintenance. (...)
More About: Clip , Tiny , Catch

Battery-Tray Grab Handle
2008-02-07 03:57:00
Many JR Racing and Futaba radio systems have 8-cell battery trays that can be difficult to remove. (...)
More About: Battery , Grab , Tray , Handle

Easy to Remove Deans connector
2008-02-07 03:55:00
Deans connectors work great, but they can be a pain to pull apart after you've run your car or truck. (...)
More About: Easy

Free Indoor Micro-T Jump
2008-02-07 03:54:00
With a little trimming, you can make a great indoor jump ramp complete with the Team Losi logo from the box that the Micro -T comes in. All you need are scissors, tape and a little creativity
More About: Free , Jump

Convenient Charge Jack
2008-02-07 03:51:00
You can make a convenient charge jack by soldering a male battery connector to your receiver battery pack. (...)
More About: Charge , Jack

Broken Antenna Fix
2008-02-03 16:38:00
If your antenna tube has snapped in half, you can fix it by sliding an extra antenna cap over the broken ends of the antenna as shown. (...)
More About: Antenna , Broken

Plumbers' Tape Leaky shock fix
2008-02-03 16:37:00
If the oil leaks out of your shocks between the threads in the cap, put a strip of plumbers. Teflon tape around the threads on the shock body before you thread the cap on. (...)
More About: Shock

Body-Clip Magnet
2008-02-03 16:34:00
Attach a magnet to the inside of your vehicle's body with glue or tape. You'll be able to remove the clips and then place them on the roof; the magnet will prevent them from getting lost
More About: Body , Clip , Magnet

Easier RC18T shock-seal installation
2008-02-03 16:33:00
The O-ring seals fit tightly inside the RC18T's shocks, and pushing them into the shock bodies can deform them and cause binding. (...)
More About: Shock , Seal

Easy paint-overspray removal
2008-02-03 16:30:00
Acetone-free nail-polish remover works well to remove overspray, and it does not harm or cloud Lexan. When you paint a body, you can also use it to remove paint from any sections you've messed up
More About: Easy , Paint