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Sunstone
New Member
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
 Posted - 24 June 2008 : 13:20:37
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Hi All
I've had my Hyper 7 PBS for about 2 years now and have watched it sitting on my garage shelf for too long.
When I first got it I immediately looked for the local club which gave me a nice intro into off-road racing. Great fun it was...even won a race on my 2nd outing by being the slowest competitor !! the other faster more experienced (or not so) couldnt manage to stay on the track...anyway the club ceased to exist and so went my interest..well almost.
Anyway, I'll stop boring you...got a question. I'm looking to clean my baby up and perhaps look to upgrade some of the parts.
when racing..do you guys recommend using metal parts for the suspension arms etc ??? or do plastic parts work because of their cheapness ??
Can any of you guys recommend some basic upgrades that would help my PBS be more competitive ?
btw... I love the website. the vids and photos are great !! a great club website. I'm kind of moving to the area hopefully in the next 6 months and would love to have a track to give my PBS a runout on...think you would find me with the Tuesday night newbie group. I could do with some lessons.
Cheers
Steve
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 24 June 2008 : 14:32:01
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Hi Steve,
Welcome to the forum..and hopefully to our track in the near future.
I reckon if you're a relative beginner your car doesn't need any upgraded parts, just a reliable engine that'll do 5 to 10 minutes racing, half decent radio gear and a driver that knows how to control it.
I run a hyper 7 as well - BUT - like you, despite several years of practice with the same car, still run a consistent last. To date I have only replaced what's broke - basically two sets of clutch bearings and a clutch bell, a body shell, an exhaust bracket and rubber connectors - the only upgrade I did was to the brakes (because it was cheap) - oh! and loads of tyres!
Clean it up, lube it and get it on a track and see what snaps - you'd be hard pressed to break it if you're running at the back of the pack - I know because that's what I've found. The plastic suspension arms work well because they flex a bit, metal ones will bend or snap - if they make them super strong, something else would give.
Set up is supposedly everything, but I'm still trying to figure that out too! I run mine pretty much as the book said when I built it....I'm just glad to finish a 5 minute heat, I just go racing for the laugh. |
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Sunstone
New Member
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 24 June 2008 : 22:08:44
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Hey there Grasshopper
Cheers for the reply and the Welcome !
No fears..when I finally get to moving closer...you will no longer have to be at the back of the pack !! the Sunstone moonbuggy will be sniffing along the edge of the track trying to find its way around 
I have missed the buzz (no not the engine sound.. ) but the whole off-road buggy thrashing experience, thoroughly enjoyed my short moments and looking forward to getting my hands dirty once more !!
I'm quite happy to stick with the plastic bits if thats the best route for a novice...and cheapest...sounds good to me.
I'm glad you mentioned the radio gear, quite lost with this one. I'd upgraded the battery pack on the car and boy did this make a hell of a difference on the steering reaction but as for the radio side of things its pretty stock radio gear.
Any recommendations ?
Are the lads (n lasses) willing to make allowances with a beginner ? ....do I sound scared ?? its cos I am...
Cheers |
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casbuster
Junior Member
United Kingdom
174 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 07:52:22
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Hi sunstone the best radio at the moment is spectrum that means no changing cystsls as it works on 2.4 gig thats what most of us use plus it has a wider span then the 27 or 40 meg sets. The drivers at the track are a good bunch and if you ask they will allways help you out as we was all newbies at one time .I have not been racing long and i think i am doing well if you do come and race just get a couple of spares for the car like lower wishbones and steering knuckals the cnc ones are the better ones as they are stronger then the cast ones and carry a few clutch bearings and a spare clutch shoes .Look forword to meeting you and racing but remember that its fun and if you do well its a bonus.
cheers carl |
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Sunstone
New Member
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 08:46:28
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Cheers Carl for the info.
Would you say Tuesday nights are best for getting back into it again ? I believe these are beginner or practise meetings ??
i'm very tempted to drive the 60 or so miles !!
cheers |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 15:47:37
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Thursday nights are for beginners / practice / bashing and have a fluctuating attendance.
If your buggy runs reliably, you can make it go forwards left and right then you can race. My suggestion would be be to come to a Tuesday meeting along with all your gear and just sign up and be a pace car like me - if you don't make any erratic manouevres, the better drivers (most of them) will drive round you (except Carl and his son Daniel - they'll go through you (joke)).
I was there last night and was my usual consistent last - the 10 minute final was good, I was second to last on the computer - but No.6 had gone home early!
I agree with Carl - the 2.4GHz systems are great - no glitching, no waiting for open channels/frequencies - but hold off until you're really going for it, there are so many on it now that 27 / 40 Megs are usually in the minority and the frequencies are free.
60 miles from from us? it would be best if you made contact with one of us before you make the drive on a Tuesday, the weather differences over that distance can be huge! and that affects track time! |
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Sunstone
New Member
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 16:18:18
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You're right about the 60 miles i'd better check the weather first...good point
i've got to re familiarise myself with my kit, I know I run 27mhz but couldn't tel u the exact frequencies. Do the 2.4ghz have more frequencies to choose from ?
cheers |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 16:32:59
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The weather we can't control - but we can let you know before departure if it will be worth making the trip. Around here it can be raining on the town side of the hill and bone dry on the track side (and vice versa) where will you be coming from?
It's always handy to have a few sets of different crystals to help avoid clashes with another racer on 27 / 40 MHz.
The 2.4GHz system works by 'binding' one transmitter to one receiver to the exclusion of all others. There are reputed to be around 80 'bands' to choose from and when you switch on your system checks to see which one is free and uses that 'band'.
Supposedly, when all are used any extras won't work until one becomes free....see here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spektrum_RC or better yet http://www.spektrumrc.com/
The more you query the more, the more you KNOW you want to do it..........see you next week? |
Edited by - grasshopper on 25 June 2008 16:34:03 |
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Sunstone
New Member
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 20:46:54
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i've got some work todo not only on my buggy but with the wife too.
Mind you, shes usually pretty fine with these things. i'd like to. We'll see.
thanks for the info on the frequencies, i'll have a look in a bit, i'm watchin the Turks give Germany a good game !
as far as the weather goes, who do I contact ? is asking on the forum enough ?
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 25 June 2008 : 22:15:36
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depending on what time you have to leave home, then possibly the forum - I would help, but not for the next couple of weeks (holiday) one of the other regulars might offer to be a contact telephone number for you to ring on the day.
For the good lady, if she wanted to come along there is Downtown / Boundary mill ( big dept. store) across the road - but only till 7 pm. |
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Sunstone
New Member
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 27 June 2008 : 08:49:00
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I hope you're off somewhere sunny..with a beach perhaps !!
Enjoy the break.
I'm gonna get the ol' buggy oot this weekend and see what needs doing to it to get it running again, most likely a quick prod n off it'll go...fingers crossed.
have a good weekend and cheers for the advice !!
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 27 June 2008 : 12:57:27
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I think it's warm there, it's currently 3 in the morning and 25'c (77'f) rising to 41'c (104'F) loads of beach, but 280 miles to the sea - got free accomodation in Vegas and Palm Springs so having a jolly for the cost of the flights and car hire.
Good luck with the buggy - hope to see you racing soon. |
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