Tight Top Force Tyres

[TA-Mark]

I just finished mounting 6 sets of Top Force spikes onto Star Dish rims. Oh boy do my fingers hurt! I have huge blisters on both thumbs and the tips of 6 fingers. There has gotta be an easier way to get these tight little numbers onto the rims. Anyone ever found the 'easy' method?

[HereBeMonsters]

I just finished mounting 6 sets of Top Force spikes onto Star Dish rims. Oh boy do my fingers hurt! I have huge blisters on both thumbs and the tips of 6 fingers. There has gotta be an easier way to get these tight little numbers onto the rims. Anyone ever found the 'easy' method?

Hair spray.

It will lube them up to slide on easily, and once they're on it'll set and you can glue them.

[wolfdogstinkus]

I never thought I would see you have a problem and asking for tips, you usually help all us!

I could only suggest warming up the rubber but I guess you have thought of that all ready?

6sets?, no wonder you have blisters, will we see the damage in the r/c injuries thread?

[TA-Mark]

I've never needed to glue them yet. Have never had them slip on the rim either even with the Mamba pushing on them.

The last set I heated, didn't help much. If anything it made the blisters on my fingers worse from the hot rubber.

Usually I only do 1 set at a time and it hurts a little. Needed to do 6 cars worth tonight and that did hurt alot.

[Origineelreclamebord]

They are indeed a pretty firm fit. I had to fit them too, and I didn't even know how to at first. I think I used the trick they also used for the SRB's - but I cannot remember for sure - Just sliding the wheel in on a 90 degree angle from the tire and then turning it at some point (takes some trial and error I think).

[Blacque Jacque]

A tiny smear of washing up liquid / dish soap should help them slide on easily, a quick rinse under hot water will wash it off after.

[pUs]

Strange, I don't remember there ever was a problem fitting either the spire spike or the square spike tires onto those rims. I used those two brands quite often when racing the Top Force in 92-93. However, back then almost all tires were that hard apart from the first Prolines, so perhaps I didn't notice.. =)

Perhaps they've switched the rubber compound since then? If you even can call it rubber, more like plastic perhaps..

[TA-Mark]

What brands? Top Force Star Dish wheels are 2.16" and there is nothing else that fits them. Tamiya rims and tyres.

I just gave the washup detergent a go. Makes them so slippery you can't get hold of the tyre to stretch it over the bead. Wet the badword out of the inserts too. These rims don't have holes in them like others so what is inside when you mount them stays inside.

I wrapped tape around my fingers so the blisters didn't hurt. Seems to help with grabbing the rubber to stretch it over the bead. These tyres are soft compared to the oval blocks on the Fox.

[HereBeMonsters]

Srsly, try the hair spray. Just a cheap one. I can't remember what the chemical is, but I use it on bike grips all the time. It makes them properly slidey, then dries easily and grips.

[TA-Mark]

Srsly, try the hair spray. Just a cheap one. I can't remember what the chemical is, but I use it on bike grips all the time. It makes them properly slidey, then dries easily and grips.

I don't have any on hand or I would've. It's on the shopping list for wifey to get next shopping day. (60km each way to the supermarkets).

[wolfdogstinkus]

Off topic!

It's on the shopping list for wifey to get next shopping day

You use that word in Australia?

I thought it was reserved for us Scots!.

[TA-Mark]

LOL! Yeah we do. My wife is a Scottish redhead if that counts

[Blacque Jacque]

What brands? Top Force Star Dish wheels are 2.16" and there is nothing else that fits them. Tamiya rims and tyres.

I just gave the washup detergent a go. Makes them so slippery you can't get hold of the tyre to stretch it over the bead. Wet the badword out of the inserts too. These rims don't have holes in them like others so what is inside when you mount them stays inside.

I wrapped tape around my fingers so the blisters didn't hurt. Seems to help with grabbing the rubber to stretch it over the bead. These tyres are soft compared to the oval blocks on the Fox.

HBX tyres & wheels are the same size, tyres are a harder compound though.

You really only need a tiny amount of washup liquid on the beads, I appreciate what you're saying about the foams though

[TA-Mark]

That's a Seben isn't it? Looks nothing like the HBX buggy I got from eBay. It had different wheels and tyres to that too.

The main chassis and gears of this one is Tamiya and the rest is HBX. These tyres have odd beads and very slippery on my track.

I've been looking for the Seben wheels to give them a try, hopefully a cheaper option and longer lasting than the Tamiya ones.

[Blacque Jacque]

HBX, Seben etc I think are all the same from a spares perspective:

http://www.sriremotetoys.co.uk/haiboxing-m..._88.html?page=2

[TA-Mark]

What you see in the picture above is exactly as it came from eBay. Turnbuckles, those wheels, alloy suspension braces, long/short CVA oil dampers, 550 motor. Both TL-01b clones, but that's about where the similarity ends.

Only place I'd seen the Seben's for sale is Europe, and mainly German eBay sellers with ridiculous postage charges. from pictures I've seen of the Sebens they are much better quality than what I bought. This thing even has 4 different weight dogbones.

[Gruntfuggly]

Mark - you could try pure silicone spray...

[pUs]

Although if you actually want to _run_ those tires, I'd suggest anything else basically. Today, there are so many different options available that are both longer lasting and more grippy. Keep those fresh spire spikes for the shelf queens.. they rely on the sharpness of their actual spikes for the grip = expensive, even just when bashing for fun..

[TA-Mark]

Although if you actually want to _run_ those tires, I'd suggest anything else basically. Today, there are so many different options available that are both longer lasting and more grippy. Keep those fresh spire spikes for the shelf queens.. they rely on the sharpness of their actual spikes for the grip = expensive, even just when bashing for fun..

I'm open to suggestions. The Dark Impact High Density tyres and similar are no good, slip all over the track. The best tyre on the track I've found so far is the oval block from Fox or Hotshot (only 2.0" rim), and the next best, Top Force spikes. It needs to be big meaty blocks or spikes to bite into the loose dirt. Believe me, I've searched and unless you race on carpet or clay they don't make tyres for you in 1:10 buggy.

Sweep track is done every few heats. The buggys tear it up soft again in a few laps, especially the brushless powered cars. I go through a set of Top force spikes every race meet with the Mamba MS and Evo spec BS.

[Backlash]

Hi Mark..

When I mount tyres, I usually push the rim into the tyre, and then use a small flat blade screwdriver (the small one that comes in the Stanley sets works well) and insert it between the tyre and rim, and rotate it around the rim to seat the tyre on the bead (similar to how the 1:1 tyre fitting machines work)...

If you want to try something other than "Tamiya" tyres, then have a look at these.. These are the tyre of choice at our track, especially when there is a loose coating of dirt on top.. (Although, with our track being tennis court clay, I suspect that the underlying dirt wil be harder than what you have..) Please note that you will have to glue these tyres on, so I would also recommend nylon rims to aid in getting them off when worn....

For the front http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/the-...e%2C-4WD/Detail

and the rear http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/the-...22-IFMAR/Detail

Another option would be to re-surface your track with something that offers better grip and tyre life??

Cheers

[TA-Mark]

Hi Mark..

When I mount tyres, I usually push the rim into the tyre, and then use a small flat blade screwdriver (the small one that comes in the Stanley sets works well) and insert it between the tyre and rim, and rotate it around the rim to seat the tyre on the bead (similar to how the 1:1 tyre fitting machines work)...

That's almost the same as what I've been doing. Turn the rim 90 deg into the tyre and put the tyre bead to the centre of the rim to avoid the inside bead of the rim. Then a combination of pinch and pull at the tyre and roll it on with a smooth round piece of steel (used to be a screwdriver). Similar to fitting a 1:1 tyre. The plastic Star Dish rims do 'bruise' pretty easliy if you try and lever at any point.

If you want to try something other than "Tamiya" tyres, then have a look at these.. These are the tyre of choice at our track, especially when there is a loose coating of dirt on top.. (Although, with our track being tennis court clay, I suspect that the underlying dirt wil be harder than what you have..) Please note that you will have to glue these tyres on, so I would also recommend nylon rims to aid in getting them off when worn....

For the front http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/the-...e%2C-4WD/Detail

and the rear http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/the-...22-IFMAR/Detail

I grabbed a set of them last week. They feel pretty soft and I'm expecting fast wear. Have not been able to try them yet as it's pouring rain and the race meet is postponed to next weekend. There's still water standing on the track at the hairpin. The rain is much needed so I'm not complaining and giving the PC driving sim a caining instead (Drifting on GRiD). Every other tyre except the tight Top Force ones I glue on well.

Another option would be to re-surface your track with something that offers better grip and tyre life??

330 feet long, 8 feet wide, 3 inch deep atleast is a lot of clay. Donations to the 're-surface Mark's track fund' are welcome JK. Simply out of my budget atm, 4 growing boys and a mortgage keeps you broke (Did anyone win the lotto lastnight? ). Track here.

Ideal tyre would be a Hotshot style oval block on a 2.2" rim that would fit the DF-03 rims. Would be an ideal offroad basher tyre too.

[Origineelreclamebord]

Schumacher Cat SX 2.2 Offroad tires

Schumacher together with Tamiya seems to be one of the last manufacturers that actually makes tires with spikes and block tires with even a slightly chunky profile (or could you refer me to another manufacturer that makes such tires?). The Full spike tires probably have spikes that are slightly larger than the Top Force ones, but like the TF ones will probably also wear quickly.

The Block tires seem a little more chunky, don't have pointed ends on the tire that will wear quick because the blocks from the beginning have a larger surface area. And like the TF and Schumacher Full Spike tires they do appear to be for loose terrain to me. There are not too many blocks so the blocks can sack a bit into the soft terrain but there should be enough of them to have some nice grip (that's the theory of someone without much experience with tires anyway) And with a bit of glue they might fit on Tamiya's nice Star Dish wheels, too

[TA-Mark]

I like the look of those Schumacher 2.2 block tyres. Thanks for that link, bookmarked. Next sets that's what I'm going to try. Does anyone know of a 5 spoke 2.2" rim that will fit the DF-03?

I run the CC-01 tyres for practice most of the time. They take eons to wear out and are better grip on the track than the High Density spikes.