Tt01 Wieght Distribution And Handling

[Butler]

Got a TT01 that has some handling problems.

Turning one way on the power it spins very very easily, turning the other way is still oversteers but is controllable.

The car is pretty standard running a Tamiya SS RZ motor. This isn't normally an issue, but yesterday we ran the car on damp tarmac.

If we stood the battery on its side moving the battery closer to the middle the handling was more consistent from left to right.

We can dial out the spinning and oversteer with suspension, tyres and gearing changes, but why is it different from left to right? Is it the battery location? Do the TB and TA and even the TRF chassis's have this with the heavy battery running down own side of the car.

The M03 and TL01 running yesterday were fine.

Does anyone else have this problem?

[HereBeMonsters]

I do find my TT-01 handles a lot better with the LiPo in it. Have you got a lighter battery to try?

[Butler]

Yeah we taked about that, but we don't.

I just find it odd that even the top cars have that layout if its a problem. The only car that to me looks to have good weight distribution is the DF03 unless you use saddle packs.

[HereBeMonsters]

I guess the TT-01 was conceived in the era of low capacity NiCads, and MSCs (with an extra servo = heavier on the left side), possibly even non-BEC battery packs for the receiver.

I would suggest weighting it, but as it's already a bit of a porker (I cannot believe how heavy my TT-01 is) that might be a bad idea.

[wolfdogstinkus]

A few lead weights in the other side of chassis perhaps?

You could weigh the componants (ESC and Receiver?) and the battery, and make up the weight using the lead for even distribution.

E2A; HereBeMonsters beat me to it!.

[TA-Mark]

TA01->TA04 have the pack accross the chassis, not length ways. Keeps them pretty balanced.

Li-Po would be the way to go, cut battery weight in half. A 4000mAh Ni-MH is heavy even compared to a 1400mAh Tamiya Ni-Cd gold pack.

[WillyChang]

some ppl add leadweight to the TT01's motor side

200g LiPO pack will help balance a lot vs a 300g NiMH

However sometimes the extra weight on one side can be helpful, especially if your racetrack runs clockwise.

Straights always end with a righthand turn... and a car with the pack on the right side sometimes turns-in better.

[Butler]

Ok thanks. Just seems odd to me that all of tamiya's top touring cars all have this layout if weight distribution is problem.

I agree that lipo would fix it, has we have already proved by putting the battery on its side nearer the centre.

[Origineelreclamebord]

Ok thanks. Just seems odd to me that all of tamiya's top touring cars all have this layout if weight distribution is problem.

I agree that lipo would fix it, has we have already proved by putting the battery on its side nearer the centre.

Well, the lengthwise fitted battery is the best compromise I think. Other setups (like the TA04) require the belt to travel over the battery. This needs a lot of parts fitted higher up than with a low belt, resulting in a higher centre of gravity. So the low belt is better for a lower centre of gravity and you probably won't notice it a lot until you actually drive in damp or wet conditions (which those competition tourers aren't really developed for, anyway)

[retroman]

I'll hold my hands up to not knowing anything about TT01's, but have some experience of this problem with other touring cars, most noticebly on TC3's. It's down to the corner weights being uneven. First job is to make sure that all the lower suspension arms drop by the same amount - this is known as "droop". Then, lift the front of the car in the middle of the chassis, and see if it lifts one front wheel of the ground first. If it does, there's your problem! If say, the right front wheel lifts first, then you need to increase the spring pre-load on the left rear, until both front wheels lift at exactly the same time. then do the same for the rear wheels. If you still have a car that oversteers, and different springs won't cure it, then try reducing the droop on the rear suspension lower arms. This will stop as much weight transfering forward, and should lessen the tendancy to oversteer. Take too much droop out the rear, and you will have understeer.

Hope this helps, and makes sense

[Butler]

Ok useful tips. We haven't tried actually setting the car up as such.

[DudeWalker]

I'll hold my hands up to not knowing anything about TT01's, but have some experience of this problem with other touring cars, most noticebly on TC3's. It's down to the corner weights being uneven. First job is to make sure that all the lower suspension arms drop by the same amount - this is known as "droop". Then, lift the front of the car in the middle of the chassis, and see if it lifts one front wheel of the ground first. If it does, there's your problem! If say, the right front wheel lifts first, then you need to increase the spring pre-load on the left rear, until both front wheels lift at exactly the same time. then do the same for the rear wheels. If you still have a car that oversteers, and different springs won't cure it, then try reducing the droop on the rear suspension lower arms. This will stop as much weight transfering forward, and should lessen the tendancy to oversteer. Take too much droop out the rear, and you will have understeer.

Hope this helps, and makes sense

Great tips. I too have raced a TC3.

The only thing I could add would be - Tweak Station...

My most valuable handling (racing) investment.

Believe it or not, I still race my (well, fully hopped-up) TL-01 (poo poo) with good success. I tape the battery in off-center to compensate for the motor hanging off to one side. The tweak station helps guide me in making sure all 4 tires exert the same pressure onto the road. This is the most important thing - balanced weight to/on the tires.