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Re: Perfect weigth distribution?
Posted by 'itpro' on 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:10

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itproJoined: August 2001
Total Posts: 6
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Left/Right weight balance is not so important! Why? Because TRACKS aren't equally balanced, left/right either!

Take ther simplest clockwise track, a circle!That has 360 degres more right hand corners than left. Now add 4 straights (like at Indianapolis), it still has 360 more right then left. Now add a 90 degree LEFT...... and you'll need 90 degree RIGHT to join it up again! That's STLL 360 mpre right than left. In fact, no matter WHAT you add, it'll STILL be 360 more right than left. If you doubt me, build your track ou5 of Scalextric parts and count it!

Only one type of track defeats this: the classis 'Figure of Eight' track like Suzuka..... but they are RARE!

So, if the TRACK isn't equal left/right..... who says the CHASSIS should be? You may know that, on American Oval tracks, they run the car quite differently on the left than on the right!

The easy test is to check the temp of your front two tyres. On clockwise tracks, the front LEFT will run HOTTER than the front RIGHT. Think it through and you'll see why!

However, front/rear is a different matter.

It's more usually quoted as being BETWEEN 40%:60% and 45%:55%. Usually you more more weight FORWARD in the wet, thus the 45%:55% is often used in THOSE conditions with the 40%:60% being in the dry..... but that is NOT a hard and fast rule, more of a guide!

Obviously, you CAN buy wonderfully complex and EXPENSIVE corner weighting scales...... if you are BONKERS..... or you can go to Argos, Tescos, Lidl (etc.) and buy four CHEAP bathroom scale sets for as little as Ł9 each. Strictly, you COULD just buy two and place two planks across them!

Obviously, they will NOT be perfect..... and most particulrly, the floor of you garage will NOT be FLAT of SMOOTH and that will compromise even the MOST expensive systems! BUT, if you randomise the direction of the kart and exchange the scales around the kart and take the AVERAGE of those measurements, you'll get pretty close!

If you are a pedant of a 'techy', you adjust the scales with a sheaf of paper. Make a larger stiff plywood board the size of your kart. Place THAT on the scales. Mark thecentre of the board. Place some weight (full buckets of water?) ON the centre and then use a spirit level to set the scales level by put sheets of your paper UNDER each scale until you plywood is level. Then check the nuck of water weighs the SAMEW on each coner of your board. You can now see if it's pretty close!
While he's still learning, 43%:57% will be CLOSE enough. If you can, set it up for DRY conditions (40%:60%) with the holes and bolts available for the 45%:55% for when it rains.

All those holes will weaklen the seat BUT.... simply steel or Ally plate the OUTSIDE of the sides of the seat with pop-rivets and drill the holes through THAT! That's lengthen the 'life' of the seat and make the kid safer, too!

Fional thing to note. Get you7 lad suited and helmeted. The get him sit in the kart on those scales! Note the weight distribution. Now get him to kmove his head FAR left and then FAR right, noting the the shnges in weight distribution! You'll be shocked! That's another reason to to worry about left/right distribution.

Finally, get him to lean forward and backward in the seat and note THAT change, too. Now you will see how you can DYNAMICALLY change the weight distribution while he's DRIVING. Lean FOREWARD to remove understeer in the wet and BACKWARD to get GRIP!

Ian

Message Thread:

Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (15 Aug 2012 @ 10:17)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'd-i-y71' (15 Aug 2012 @ 14:35)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Traxtar' (15 Aug 2012 @ 16:08)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Brasic' (15 Aug 2012 @ 22:43)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'buzzinrussell' (15 Aug 2012 @ 23:11)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (16 Aug 2012 @ 12:37)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Chris34' (16 Aug 2012 @ 15:38)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'BFD' (16 Aug 2012 @ 17:46)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'michaelg36' (16 Aug 2012 @ 23:34)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'BFD' (17 Aug 2012 @ 6:51)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (17 Aug 2012 @ 7:59)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'PoppaAl' (17 Aug 2012 @ 9:09)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Thebrick' (17 Aug 2012 @ 10:26)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Danlee' (17 Aug 2012 @ 11:31)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Chris34' (17 Aug 2012 @ 12:32)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'Traxtar' (17 Aug 2012 @ 12:53)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'd-i-y71' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:02)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:10)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:35)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'd-i-y71' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:53)

Errrr...... well...... by 'itpro' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:04)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'RedDragonRacing' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:25)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'michaelg36' (17 Aug 2012 @ 13:53)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'BFD' (17 Aug 2012 @ 14:24)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'itpro' (17 Aug 2012 @ 14:41)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'itpro' (17 Aug 2012 @ 14:52)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'RedDragonRacing' (17 Aug 2012 @ 20:35)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'BFD' (17 Aug 2012 @ 21:05)

Red... by 'itpro' (18 Aug 2012 @ 0:57)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'RedDragonRacing' (20 Aug 2012 @ 9:50)

Re: BFD by 'Attack2001' (18 Aug 2012 @ 2:11)

Re: BFD by 'BFD' (18 Aug 2012 @ 18:55)

Re: BFD by 'Aquila' (19 Aug 2012 @ 22:01)

Re: BFD by 'BFD' (19 Aug 2012 @ 22:38)

Re: BFD by 'BFD' (19 Aug 2012 @ 23:27)

Come on BFD.......... by 'itpro' (21 Aug 2012 @ 0:05)

Re: BFD by 'Aquila' (20 Aug 2012 @ 10:30)

Red.... by 'itpro' (17 Aug 2012 @ 14:36)

Re: Red.... by 'RedDragonRacing' (17 Aug 2012 @ 20:11)

re: itpro. wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong by 'BFD' (17 Aug 2012 @ 21:18)

re: itpro. wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong by 'itpro' (18 Aug 2012 @ 0:40)

re: itpro. wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong by 'richpudd2003' (19 Aug 2012 @ 23:51)

OK Red... I apologise for the idiots, though! by 'itpro' (18 Aug 2012 @ 0:34)

Re: Classic! by 'PoppaAl' (18 Aug 2012 @ 10:09)

Re: OK Red... I apologise for the idiots, though! by 'markmorton' (18 Aug 2012 @ 17:38)

Re: OK Red... I apologise for the idiots, though! by 'RedDragonRacing' (20 Aug 2012 @ 9:57)

Re: Red.... by 'RedDragonRacing' (27 Aug 2012 @ 9:58)

Re: Red.... by 'John' (28 Aug 2012 @ 8:14)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (30 Aug 2012 @ 1:46)

Re: Red.... by 'BFD' (30 Aug 2012 @ 6:48)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (30 Aug 2012 @ 17:42)

Re: Red.... by 'BFD' (30 Aug 2012 @ 20:57)

Re: Red.... by 'BFD' (30 Aug 2012 @ 21:04)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (31 Aug 2012 @ 0:48)

Re: Red.... by 'BFD' (31 Aug 2012 @ 7:15)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (31 Aug 2012 @ 11:37)

Re: Red.... by 'BFD' (31 Aug 2012 @ 18:24)

Re: Red.... by 'Aquila' (31 Aug 2012 @ 18:28)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (02 Sep 2012 @ 1:14)

Re: Red.... by 'Traxtar' (02 Sep 2012 @ 20:19)

Re: Red.... by 'BFD' (02 Sep 2012 @ 22:14)

Re: Red.... by 'Traxtar' (02 Sep 2012 @ 22:24)

Traxtar..... by 'itpro' (03 Sep 2012 @ 1:36)

Re: Traxtar..... by 'BFD' (03 Sep 2012 @ 7:51)

Re: Traxtar..... by 'sawf' (03 Sep 2012 @ 10:28)

Re: Red.... by 'PaulMRotax' (31 Aug 2012 @ 7:58)

Re: Red.... by 'John' (31 Aug 2012 @ 8:37)

Re: Red.... by 'PaulMRotax' (31 Aug 2012 @ 11:19)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (31 Aug 2012 @ 11:31)

Re: Red.... by 'PaulMRotax' (31 Aug 2012 @ 11:35)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (31 Aug 2012 @ 11:39)

Re: Red.... by 'PaulMRotax' (31 Aug 2012 @ 11:51)

Re: Red.... by 'itpro' (31 Aug 2012 @ 12:27)

Re: Red.... by 'PaulMRotax' (31 Aug 2012 @ 12:30)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'NJB' (23 Aug 2012 @ 17:11)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'RedDragonRacing' (27 Aug 2012 @ 9:47)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'Andy99' (30 Aug 2012 @ 9:56)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'RedDragonRacing' (30 Aug 2012 @ 10:26)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'Liam' (21 Aug 2012 @ 14:18)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'itpro' (21 Aug 2012 @ 15:57)

Re: Errrr...... well...... by 'Liam' (21 Aug 2012 @ 20:54)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'SimonS' (18 Aug 2012 @ 12:13)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (20 Aug 2012 @ 9:36)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'itpro' (20 Aug 2012 @ 10:43)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'SimonS' (21 Aug 2012 @ 1:49)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'itpro' (21 Aug 2012 @ 2:20)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'd-i-y71' (21 Aug 2012 @ 12:53)

Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'RedDragonRacing' (21 Aug 2012 @ 13:18)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'itpro' (21 Aug 2012 @ 16:42)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'Liam' (21 Aug 2012 @ 20:43)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'itpro' (21 Aug 2012 @ 20:51)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'Liam' (21 Aug 2012 @ 21:08)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'Traxtar' (21 Aug 2012 @ 22:49)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'Liam' (21 Aug 2012 @ 23:56)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'richpudd2003' (22 Aug 2012 @ 0:36)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'Liam' (22 Aug 2012 @ 2:09)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'itpro' (22 Aug 2012 @ 10:34)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'richpudd2003' (22 Aug 2012 @ 11:47)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'Traxtar' (22 Aug 2012 @ 12:20)

Re: Is wheel lift only from turn-in till apex? by 'RedDragonRacing' (22 Aug 2012 @ 10:37)

Re: Possibly better video to highlight steer angle by 'NikG' (22 Aug 2012 @ 15:16)

Re: Possibly better video to highlight steer angle by 'Traxtar' (22 Aug 2012 @ 15:23)

Re: Possibly better video to highlight steer angle by 'NikG' (22 Aug 2012 @ 15:38)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'd-i-y71' (20 Aug 2012 @ 12:40)

Perfect weigth distribution? by 'RedDragonRacing' (20 Aug 2012 @ 10:03)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'itpro' << You are here!

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'RedDragonRacing' (21 Aug 2012 @ 12:27)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'itpro' (21 Aug 2012 @ 16:02)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'Traxtar' (21 Aug 2012 @ 17:21)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'BFD' (21 Aug 2012 @ 18:53)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'Farrang' (21 Aug 2012 @ 19:16)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'RedDragonRacing' (22 Aug 2012 @ 10:51)

Re: Perfect weigth distribution? by 'Aquila' (21 Aug 2012 @ 22:09)

good to see a lively debate.... by 'NJB' (22 Aug 2012 @ 8:07)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'itpro' (22 Aug 2012 @ 10:37)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'BFD' (22 Aug 2012 @ 18:01)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'EtheT' (24 Aug 2012 @ 15:55)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'BFD' (24 Aug 2012 @ 17:28)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'richpudd2003' (24 Aug 2012 @ 18:03)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'BFD' (24 Aug 2012 @ 23:08)

Re: good to see a lively debate.... by 'Traxtar' (25 Aug 2012 @ 0:46)

Re: Lifting inside wheel - beginner's guide by 'RedDragonRacing' (01 Oct 2012 @ 15:49)

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