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loose, short offroad track

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Jeep

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On a loose, short offroad track, what have you folks found to be most effective as far as differential fluid viscosities? Mid, front, rear.

On a 1/8 Buggy.

Thanks,

Jeep
 
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How loose? If it is loamy, then I will go to 5-7-5 or 5-7-3. I have even tried 3-5-1 but I had no braking action with that set up. I can't figure out why!

A lot of it is also the tires (I use PL Knuckles for loamy tracks) and the rear toe in.
 
It doesn't appear to be loamy, more like a mixture of Alabama loose clay and sand mix, but it's hard to tell. I'll know more about it after this coming Saturday, may the weather hold off. Probably loamy this time of year though, as we've had quite a bit of rain ever since I bought my buggy!!!,,lmao.


Jeep
 
Well, I am glad I watched a couple of the vids. I like the track a lot. Wide open, lots of flats, no pinch points, and no weird jumps. Only thing I do not like is the crossover section and no long straight.

OK, the track looks somewhat hard packed and dry and has no blue groove, but is not loamy. Watch your shock settings. You want maximum traction with low rebound. As far as diffs, leave the center alone and try even amounts front and rear. (See, Plaid's tip about having a second set pre-filled with optional viscosity makes sense) Maybe 3-5-3. Hard to tell. Watch tire set up too. Need a lot of bite on the tire, and a bit more toe in than normal. Other than that, I am not good enough to make further recommendations without actually being there. Maybe Mxboy or Kx250 can help.
 
Thanks for the input Revo,
What is it about the cross-over do you not like?
And yes, no long straight, only on the finish run, and it isn't long at all.
As far as hard packed and dry, those vids are probably from the early to mid summer time, lately it's been fairly wet here and most likely there at the track as it is 60 miles east of me.
At this time, I don't have an option of a secong set of diffs, too close to sat to do so.
On the toe-in, rear? I assume? or front?
On the shocks, does low rebound imply heavier oil and lighter springs?

I really appreciate your advice bro!

Thanks

Jeep
 
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just from teh layout and close turns I'd slap 8-10-3 in my buggy if it was real good traction....but that would suit my driving style...real hard and hot into the corners in a straight line towards the apex then let off and turn off power, with the heavier fluids and they rail turns like that real good.....if it's loose I'd go w/ w/ the standard 5-7-1 or 2.....drop you rear a little lower than the front and let the sucker bottom out evenly........remember buggys will absorb the pan slap and distribute the force all around the chassis...they are really meant to bottom out on big stuff anyway.....looks like a nice track......
 
Yeah, Plaid, that is what I was thinking. A little heavier diff fluid in the rear than normal to allow it to set up better, like you said, "rail" it. I have never tried anything above 7K in my center. I wonder what 10K would feel like.
 
i run 10 k in the center and our track is kinda like that when it dries out but i also us pl badlands and they work great on almost any track i run 7-10-5 front to rear and it seems like it works good for my driving skills
 
With out this talk about diff oils and me doing my front rears....I was wondering if there is a way to check the mid oil without pulling it a part? Just wondering real quick...Good luck on the race Jeep.


Ray
 
SVORay said:
With out this talk about diff oils and me doing my front rears....I was wondering if there is a way to check the mid oil without pulling it a part? Just wondering real quick...Good luck on the race Jeep.


Ray

Thanks SVORay, right now, the rain has been constant for the last day or so, and the forecast isn't any better, looks like I'll just fire it up in the shop and try to do a lil low end tuning.

As far as "checking" the diff viscosity, I don't see how there could be a clearcut way to know for sure without pulling it apart and putting in a known fluid.
But, I'm still a newb, so I could be very wrong.

Jeep
 
if I can't remember what's in it I redo it...after you've done it a few times it's really not a big deal to do...when I first started testing diff fluids I was ripping half my buggy aprt to wrench it....now I know the shortcuts and do it in less than 30 mins front & rear....
 
Sorry I was misleading, I meant the transmession :) Just wondering if you can tell if you can tell if it's low on oil or not since it has that little hole thingy:ponder2:


As for front and rear diff....The back was kind of tricky for me and the Revo. It took me a few minutes trying to figure out the shock tower...it's a little different from the front for sure. All in all the diffs aren't to bad...it took about 10 mins on the front and 30 mins on the rear lol j/k


Ray
 
the tranny on my maxx I use graphite or nothing...the 2 speed clutch is too sensitive to over lubricating to waste time on it......
 
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