Tie-rod combos on C28?

[Matt Dixon]

First I must say awesome site!
I wish I found it at the begining of the year.
We just finished our freshman year in Jr1-2 cycle class here in CA.
My 9 year old son Garrett and I love our C28 so much we picked up a second chassis for the HPV class.
My question is, could someone explain the 6 different combos of steering/tie-rod/spindles?
I was told moving to tie-rods to the top of the spindles would slow the steering input down. Which I did on a rough track around here where my son seemed to be jumping all over the track.

What do the other options do?

[Chris Lobaugh]

Matt,
Although there are many different combinations to use on the cadet steering shaft we only use two of them. In the dry we mount the tie rods under the top plate with the tie rods in the outer two holes (basically 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock) while in the rain we mount the tie rods on top of the bottom plate (same 3 and 9 o'clock). The further away you make the tie rod to the center of the steering shaft the more the inside tire turns compared to the outside tire which helps the kart turn in. I have seen (and have tested) stacking the tie rods on top of each other using the center hole, but, have always gone back to the split tie rod set up. Basically, the inside tire always turns more than the outside tire, but, with the tie rods stacked on top of each other the outside tire turns more compared to the split tie rod system...does that make sense? Hope this helps.

[Matt Dixon]

Thanks Chris,

Yes that helps, getting input from a young 9 year old is challenging at best sometimes. But thanks for the wet set-up advice.

Matt

[pskjerven]

But what are the other seven different set up settings? And why would you not use them?

[Matt Dixon]

Paul

I was refering to on the steering shaft you can place the tie rods in the middle or on top or in the far outside holes then each placement has 2 options by have the opposite side being on top or bottom of spindles. Which makes 6 different set-ups and all have different steering inputs.

Good choice putting Willie in a Birel! We look forward to racing you guys again.

Matt

(Can you guess which local track I was talking about)

[pskjerven]

Hi Matt - Yes, we are very excited about a new Birel coming very soon. However, we are seriously considering Rotax Micromax - and isn't Garrett running Comer 80? So, I am not sure how often we would bump into each other. I just can't stand the thought of more Comer stuff.

paul -

[Dale Seeley]

Paul,
Micromax is an awesome package, especially for the driver.

A friend loaned us his Micro and chassis for use at FWT this past January. We were all set to run Cadet, but knew we didn't have the equipment (engines) to seriously compete. We didn't move to the Micro package to be competitive, we wanted to be with our friends who were running the Rotax weekends, and expected to be middle pack at best.

It took one weekend at FWT with a cobbled package to convince me to stop our Comer program immediately, buy a Micro, and then later pick up a C28. We didn't do too bad at FWT, or in the RMAX series.

We ran a hard season this year, including the Grand Nationals in Shawano, and have the original seal on the engine. Nothing other than main jet was touched on the carb all season, although hindsight tells me I should have cleaned it before going to Shawano.

We have the option of moving up to Minimax this year, but will stay in Micro for a couple reasons. There are some really good drivers in the class (Patricio O'Ward and Justin Wood) who we want to continue to race with, and I really want to see how we do at the Grand Nationals with some help this year.

We'll run this season on the original seal, until a tech inspector cuts it for us. :D

We haven't decided which chassis we are going to run, but the decision to stick with Rotax was an easy one. Rotax appears to be costly, but we certainly saved money by running it this season. With Micro and Mini now being legal for SCCA Solo (that was an easier sell than I thought it would be) our Comer 80 is just used for fun laps and as a loaner to kids who are looking at karting.

Regards,
Dale