Oh..... we wish it were THAT easy to give answers!
Karts are NOT a science, they are a Black Art! There are almost NO.... 'do THIS and THIS and This' answers!
1) Track rods come in all sizes. Buy he length that you need!
2) You need the length that lets you set EXACTLY the 'tracking (toe in/out) that you want while STILL having plenty of 'thread' INSIDE (outside) the track rod for SAFETY (about 5 FULL TURNS of gripping thread is a pretty good target). You also need to be able to adjust the tracking ENOUGH to let you go as far as you'd ever need INWARD (toe out). So..... The ideal would be you be able to have HALF the thread of the track rod end in the track rod when PERFECTLY adjusted. That will allow you (at least 5 full turns INWARD and 5 full turns OUTWARD) on each end, if you can GET More.... go for that!
3) One end of the track rod SHOULD be left hand thread
4) If it's a Zip... call Zips and get them to post you the RIGHT track rods... they'll know the length.... or they should! They to CAN be different lengths and that may WELL be DESIGNED that way!
5) The 'right' hole in the stub axle 'drag arm' is the one which make you FASTEST for those conditions! Conditions change and driving style are different. That's why they HAVE more than one hole, to suit those changes as needed. Thus there CAN be no 'RIGHT' hole..... only the 'right hole' for YOU on that day!
6) You need to see what each of the holes DO! They alter the DIFFERENCE between the amount each wheel turns when on full lock. Think about it. The inside wheel on a corner needs to point MORE inwards than the OUTSIDE wheel does because they are following a DIFFERENT CURVE (think of the inside and outside lanes on your old-schools running tracks, the INSIDE lane is always MUCH tighter). Think it through and you'll see that some corners are MUCH 'tighter' than others, thus you can never get the angle RIGHT... all you can do is make the best compromise for the track on that day.
This BEST way to see the effect is to send 'son' out, then send him to get the coffee. Change the 'holes' on the drag arms, re-track the kart and then send him out again WITHOUT TELLING HIM WHAT YOU HAVE CHANGED! Then ask him to tell you how the handling has CHANGED! If he CAN'T tell you and you can't see the improvement/slowing on the stop watch... then you are not ready to worry about these adjustments as yet! If you TELL him what you expect him to feel, you can BET he'll report EXACTLY that change.... even if he didn't feel it!
The theory and practice of setting the front 'perfectly' on a kart is probably the KEY to karting! I'm in my 50th year and I STILL struggle! Good luck.... it's the BLACKEST of black arts!
Best advice?
1) Test it
2) change it
3) test again
4) WRITE DOWN ALL THE DATA IN A BOOK
5) compare
6) decide
7) RACE!
Ian
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stub axle settings by 'cadetdad66' (01 Jun 2009 @ 20:46)
