I starting playing with a setup board that has 2 scales......everytime i put the car down to get a reading im getting different numbers withiout making any adjustments..........example....LR...8.60 RR ....6.52
,
The when I pick up the car and try again w/o touching the car it will read
toally different...are you supposed to subract the higher number from the lower one and use that and your crossweight?.......

First you need to make sure you are putting the car back in the same spot on the scales every time. Also when you put the car on the scales, push down on the car to "set" the suspension to ride height. When you pick up your car and put it on the scale the front and rear suspension is not where it will be when you set it on the track.

To get percentages:

LF+RF / Total weight = Front Percentage
LR+RR / Total weight = Rear Percentage
LF+LR / Total weight = LS percentage
LR+RF / Total weight = Cross Weight percentage

IMO, using only a 2 scale system, it will be very hard for you to get accurate cross weight measurment. This being beacuse you have to pick up the car and move it.

Just remember to keep this in mind. This is only a POINT OF REFERENCE, do not get caught up in the "I run X on the LR" deal. If YOUR car is working, then measure it on the scales and keep that for reference. This way of you get out in the weeds, you can always come back to that point as a starting point. Scales are like dynos, they all read slightly different.

Hope this helps you out a little.

Oh yeah, there are a few downloadable programs on here that will do the figuring for you. The latest is NEW EXCEL OVAL PROGRAM. It is a great spreadsheet.

Oh yeah, be sure to weight your car the same way as well. By this I mean either with or without body and wing. Always weigh it with the battery no matter if you wiegh it with the bosy/wing or not.

i would think to be fairly consistant it should go on the scales race ready as it were to go on the track.

as far as a table for the scales what is the best way to make or buy one of those tables to put the scales on?

i would think to be fairly consistant it should go on the scales race ready as it were to go on the track.

That is best. But if you are wanting to try moving stuff around or adjustin wedge it is easier to do w/o the body on. But like I said, as long as it done the same every time, it is all good.


as far as a table for the scales what is the best way to make or buy one of those tables to put the scales on?

I am using an Integy board that I got at the LHS on a markdown. We did build a set using a piece of Corian from a cabinet shop. You could try going by one and seeing if they have a piece big enough to use in their scrap pile. Then you can drill and tap the corners for somw adjustable feet so you can be sure it is level.

If your seeing Large inconsistencies and your placeing your car on the scales the same everytime make sure you check and make sure you dont have anything binding kingpin/a-arm/shock etc.

Lefthander makes a nice scale board. Also remember to check your car with a full charged battery back, not a half ran one. Give the car a little push on the front and back to set the suspension. The car should read pretty consistant as long as there is not parts in the suspension that are binding up.

Also remember to check your car with a full charged battery back, not a half ran one.

Any reason why?

4 scales work the best, the most important thing is to make sure that what ever you use for a board it is flat. get a bubble level, find the center of your board and use a double sided tape to keep it in place. the board should be as level as you can get it, the body is static and should be left off to make adjustments.

Any reason why?

Electricity is heavy! :D

I didn't get it either.

I have fought with the same thing with only 2 scales. I gave up on that and have ben setting up by ride height and car has ben great just minor adjustments. I have a good idea on how the track changes round to round so i will make adjustments between rounds and with a team car running before me it helps even more.
only if longacre still made there rc scales.... they were awsome scaled down versions of real race car scales just a little bit too much $$$

Pedano makes a great scale board. Check with him on the Jacksonville thread. Or maybe someone can tell him about this thread. I have one of his original scale boards from the '90's.

Electricity is heavy! :D

I didn't get it either.

Must be referring to a half load of fuel! ;)

Well electrons do have mass but i dont think you could even measure it in our small batterys. But hey if the guy has a theory and it works for him who cares.

Check with Tom Pedano on here that is his screen name he has the best scales on the market.

another thing that none of you have mentioned is make sure the deck height of eith the 2 or 4 scales you are using is the same. if the lr is higher or lower than the rr it will really screw you up. same goes for the front

Another vote for Tom's scales and board. It's heavy duty, solid, and made exactly right, down to having the bubble level mounted, and with the adjustable legs. Tom also makes one of the best wings, and wing mounts. You can't go wrong with that kind of quality. Also, davepull is one of the best body painters around, and for a reasonable price.

The most important thing to remember once you level the scale board as your car sit on the scales is to push down on the car (center) and read the scale weights after the springs rebound.

This will give you a more accurate reading.:thumbsup:

This may take it to the extreme but I use 4 scales and use the same scale for each tire. I always make sure that each scale is the same height from front to rear and side to side. Make sure that the tire stagger is the same from test to test. Tire diameters will mess things up too.

You guys didn't know that charged batteries weighed more? I always wondered why my car was up to minimum wt before a race and lighter at the end. LOL That's funny!!

Does anybody have plans or even pics of homemade scaleboards? I would love to make one to see how much my Dirt Oval Truck changes to preload, shock postions, etc.

Thanks

Just look at any of the commercially available ones. You can build your own exactly the same.

Just look at any of the commercially available ones. You can build your own exactly the same.



Not Toms his scales sit in the board there very sweet i'll try to get a pic loaded up

Tom makes the best 4 scale board I have ever seen. The scales are recesed into the board. He routes out the pockets for the scales so they are all at the same height. Wish I had some spare money to by one. Maybe my wife will buy me one.

Tom's scales are very nice!! The only scales I will set my rides on!!

Whats his website? Price? Pics?

Who is this Tom? Does he have a website? How much for a 4 scale system?

Tom Pedano is his hobbytalk screen name look him up in the member list and shoot him a email

Tom make great stuff, his wings last forever, even if you are a crash tester.

Workmenship is the best, his stuff is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. He is a real nice guy to deal with.

As Dave said, contact him through is email link, I don't believe his business has a web presence.

The reality is, it doesn't matter who sells you a board, or how they make it.
You can get great results from an 11X16 piece of MDF, 3 plastic leg wedges,
if you want, a 360* bubble level, all from Home Depot/Lowes type stores,
and 2, or 4 500G scales from where ever you can get them.
I got mine on eBay, they were the same as a lot of the companies use.

The biggest thing is being consistent in how you do it.
That is probably the most important thing..

After you have your baseline numbers, I see plenty of
guys just use one scale... for the left rear.
You do it enough, you just know what you want it to weigh.
And if it's under, it does this, if it's over, it does that..

Go to a shop that does corian countertops. The scrap piece that they have left over from a sink cutout is just the right size. I got mine for $25. You can also drill and tap the corian so you can put adjustable feet in it to get it level. Use 3 feet, not four - easier to get it level and not have it rock on you. Add 4 scales and a bubble level in the center and you've got something that is as good as anything else out there and will work with any type of 10th scale or smaller car.

Here's what Tom Pedano's 4 scale system looks like...I use it for oval, touring and 1/12