Full Finger Throttle’s Blog

More terms and definitions coming at ya! Enjoy!

Exponential Rate: This refers to servo travel that is not directly proportional to the degree of control input. A negative exponential rate makes the control response milder around the servo’s center point, but it becomes increasingly stronger as the input approaches 100%.

Failsafe: If the transmitter’s signal is lost or interrupted, a failsafe unit returns the servo to a predetermined position to avoid dangerous runaways. A battery failsafe is a safety feature that brings the throttle servo down to idle as a warning that the receiver battery’s voltage is getting dangerously low.

Fixed Link: Camber and steering links on many RTR vehicles use a nonadjustable link. These can usually be upgraded with turnbuckles as the driver’s skill improves, as he is looking for more adjustability.

Flywheel: The flywheel is the larger metal wheel that sits behind the clutch bell and aids the engine’s crankshaft with momentum and idling. For more torque and smoother idle, us a heavier flywheel; for improved top speed and throttle response, use a lighter flywheel. On non-pull-start models the flywheel is also used to start the engine with the use of a bump starter or starter box.

Foam Inserts: These inserts are used inside tires to help them retain their shape. Different densities are available for use on different track surfaces.

Thats all for today, more next time!

*thanks to RC Driver magazine and Tamiya for the latest RC terms and definitions!

New terms and definitions coming at ya!

Damping: The rate at which a shock is compressed or rebounds. Most RC kits now contain shock absorbers that are filled with fluid/oil. Without this fluid, the shocks are bouncy and provide very little benefit where control is concerned. By changing the weight of the oil, or the type of shock piston, or both, you can change the damping rate to tune your car to a specific track and/or driving style.

Drag: When the air that flows over a car’s body hinders speed. Less drag means more speed; more drag means less speed. The shape of a car’s body will affect the amount of drag.

Drag Link: A bellcrank steering system consists of two posts connected by a bar. This bar is the drag link and is also referred to, by some, as Ackerman link.

Just a few today, more next time! Are you noticing a pattern in the definitions I am posting per blog?

Until next time, Ryan.

*thanks to RC Driver magazine and Tamiya for the latest RC terms and definitions!

Ok, so things have been crazy with work and such and I am finally getting a chance to throw a post into my busy schedule. Fortunately, this is a quick one. Here are the terms for this week:

Camber: This refers to the angle of the tires in relation to the ground as seen from the front and rear of the vehicle. Zero camber (90 degrees) refers to tires that are exactly perpendicular to the ground. Tires leaning toward each other have negative camber, while tires leaning away from each other have positive camber. A general rule of thumb is to have a slight bit of negative camber and to be sure both tires maintain the same camber angle. For the most part you should always avoid positive camber.

Cell: Battery packs are made of individual cells. A six-cell pack uses six separate cells soldered together to make a single battery pack.

Center of Gravity (CG): The higher your chassis components sit above your wheel’s axles, the higher the CG of your vehicle. As a result, it may roll over more easily during tighter turns. Keeping your CG as low as possible will provide a more stable vehicle.

Chassis: Made from aluminum, plastic composites, or woven carbon fiber, this is the main platform to which all other components attach.

Crankshaft: The shaft to which the flywheel and clutch bell are mounted. It is attached at the back to the piston by means of a connecting rod. The up-and-down motion of the piston causes the crank to rotate.

Crystal: A small interchangable element in radio systems that determines the frequency on which that radio will operate. You will find a crystal in the transmitter and in the receiver.

CVD (Constant Velocity Drive): This type of drive-shaft uses a ball-type setup that functions similarly to a universal drive-shaft. Although “CVD” is a trademark of MIP (Moore’s Ideal Products, Inc.), it has become commonly used to describe any drive-shaft of this type.

Thats all for this week! Check back regularly for some new articles and posts on different RC vehicles!

*thanks to RC Driver magazine and Tamiya for the latest RC terms and definitions!

Here we go again, the RC terms for today (or this week?) =)

Articulation: The ability of an axle to move in varying vertical directions (left wheel up, right wheel down or vice versa) relative to the chassis. It is a measure of the ease in which wheels stay in contact with the ground on an uneven surface.

BDC: Stands for Bottom Dead Center and refers to the piston’s position at the very bottom of it’s stroke. This is where you want it to be when the engine starts to cool down.

Bellcrank: Steering mechanism used in most RC vehicles that consists of two posts joined by a link. Each connects to a left or right steering knuckle with a turnbuckle with one post connected to the steering servo.

Big Block: Refers to engines that are .21 size or larger and .15 size engines that use the engine case of a .21.

Bleeding: It is necessary to remove all of the air and any excess oil when building or rebuilding shock absorbers. This is know as bleeding the shocks.

Blue Groove: This term refers to dirt tracks that have been smoothed out and packed down along the optimum racing line over time. A bluish tint results from tire wear.

Bushing: A metal, and sometimes nylon, “donut” that supports a rotating shaft (like an axle). Most metal bushing are made out of something like bronze oilite, a metal that is permanently lubricated.

Thats all for today! Keep checking back for more of the latest “terms” in the RC world!

*thanks to RC Driver magazine and Tamiya for the latest RC terms and definitions!

Ok, because there are people out there who are relatively new to the RC world, me myself being somewhat of a newb, I’ve decided to start blogging a couple of RC terms and their definitions a couple of times a week. So, this being the first post, I will include a couple of different terms and then just go from there as time allows and as i learn more, so check back often!

1) Air Dam: To prevent a car from lifting off the track at high speeds, most touring car bodies have an extension or air dam in the front bumper that is designed to keep air from getting under the car.

2) AM (Amplitude Modulation): Most RTR (ready-to-run) kits come with AM radio systems, which are suitable for most newcomers. Serious racers will opt for FM or PCM radios because they are less prone to glitching.

3) Anti-Squat: This refers to the angle of caster on the rear wheels. Raising the front of the hinge pins of the rear arms gives a caster (anti-squat) angle and helps to transfer the power more evenly. This keeps the front of the vehicle from lifting under heavy acceleration.

So, there is your RC term definitions for today! I hope you learned some useful information that will help you along your path in the wonderful world of the RC hobby!

*thanks to RC Driver magazine and Tamiya for the latest RC terms and definitions!