Installing Wheels and Axles on Your Pinewood Derby Car
Pinewood Derby Axle Installer
Our axle installer makes it easy to install wheels and axles on your Pinewood Derbycar the right way every time. It makes sure that the axles are horizontal and that the wheel-to-body gap is correct. For BSA, PineCar, and other kits which use 4 independent axles mounted in slots.
Instructions
1. Lubricate the wheel and axle - Slide the axle into the wheel. Tip the axle down then add graphite between the axle and wheel. Tap and gently spin the wheel to work the graphite into the wheel. Continue until no more graphite can be added.
2. Place the wheel/axle on the base with the pointed end of the axle up.
3. Place the Axle Guide in the axle slot. The end of the axle guide should be flush with the side of the car body.
4. Hold the Axle Guide in place with your thumb then gently press the car body straight down on the axle. Push until the wheel touches the car body. The base is designed to leave the proper gap between the wheel and body.
5. The axle will need to be glued if it slips easily into the car body. To glue the axle, remove the axle and place a small drop of wood or paper glue in the axle slot about one quarter inch in from the side of the body. Wipe any excess glue from the bottom of the car. Insert the axle again using the above procedure. Keep the wheel away from the car body until the glue dries.
6. Check that the axle went in straight by checking the wheel angle from the front or back of the car. The wheel should be perpendicular to the car body.
Repeat for the remaining axles.
Ryan Jarvis from Long Island NY finished first place in his Pinewood Derby race beating over 100 cars. He used our AxleInstaller, wheels, axles and graphite.
I don't know how to thank you, I am hoping that these pictures tell you the story....Bob J.
Additionally, the wheels must be located directly across from one another. Finally, if rules do not prohibit, the rear axle holes should be placed 5/8ths (0.625) of an inch from the car's rear. Moving the rear wheels increases stability and maximizes speed by keeping the rear wheels on the hill of the track longer.
Push until the wheel touches the car body. The base is designed to leave the proper gap between the wheel and body. 5. The axle will need to be glued if it slips easily into the car body.
The wheels are a significant source of potential energy drain on a Pinewood Derby® car. Raising the non-steer wheel (typically the front left) so it does not contact the track reduces the amount of energy used to start the wheels spinning.
Don't forget your safety goggles! Starting with about 300 grit sandpaper sand the wheels. Work up to as fine of grit as you can find. Only sand enough to remove imperfections and make the wheel round as possible.
Slide the axles and wheels onto the car and glue into place. Use an epoxy or nonresin glue, and make sure you don't get any on the surface of the axle where the wheel rides.
The fastest Pinewood Derby cars steer slightly into the center rail. This helps to stabilize the car and guard against the dreaded, speed-killing wiggles. This is accomplished using a precisely bent axle on the front wheel.
Ride on three wheels by raising one wheel off the track.
You will move faster if you have to get only three wheels rotating, giving you a 1.1-car advantage over an identical Pinewood Derby car riding on four wheels.
Most PWD experts believe a car is faster when the weight is predominately placed towards the rear of the car. Why? Because most tracks are designed so a car rolls down the track on an incline from a height of 3.5 feet -‐ 4.5 feet before traveling down a long flat stretch.
To go fast, it's all about aerodynamics, and the best shape is a simple wedge. Just like a spoiler on the rear of a sports car, the wedge shape allows as much air to flow over the top of the car without hinderance while keeping the car pinned to the track.
Extend the mark from the bottom of the block to the top of the block using a square (or measure and mark near the bottom of the block and near the top of the block, and then join the line with a pencil and ruler). Holes for extended wheelbases are typically positioned 5/8" from the end of the block.
The axle holes (and therefore the wheels) must be at the same height, precisely parallel to each other. Rear wheels must be perpendicular (90 degrees) to each other and to the car body. Additionally, the wheels must be directly across from one another.
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Installing Wheels and Axles on Your Pinewood Derby Car
Installing Wheels and Axles on Your Pinewood Derby Car
