0
Dry lubricant is the only allowable lube by standard BSA rules. Graphite is a dry lube and it will not dry out. Do not mix dry and wet lubricants. They will not work well together.
Although graphite does not dry out over time, it can in fact draw moisture from the air it is exposed to over time. This all depends on the humidity levels of the air that the car/graphite is being stored in. If the graphite draws moisture it will start to act like a paste and slow the car down by placing more friction on the axles. I always recommend re-graphiting your wheel just before any race.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThis is a highly debated question in most Pinewood Derby forums. The scientific and general census is not to graphite the wheel tread as it can cause the wheel to slip against the racing surface, which results in a loss of potential energy. Still, there are a lot of experienced derby racers that will swear that graphiting the wheel tread helps the car go faster. My personal opinion is not to put it on, but there is no definitive answer here.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Where should you put graphite on a pinewood derby car?
The graphite should be placed on 4 specific points on the wheel. The easiest way to do this is squirt a pile of graphite on a piece of paper. Take your finger and grind it into the graphite pile. Then rub the graphite onto the inside hub edge (center area) of the wheel. This helps prevent the wheel from slowing down when it strikes against the car body. Next rub the graphite around the outside center hole of the wheel. This helps prevent the wheel from slowing down when it strikes against the head of your axle (nail head). Then rub the graphite around the inside edge of the tread. This helps prevent the wheel from slowing down when it strikes up against the center guiderail (note: not all tracks have a center guiderail the the cars rides on). Finally fill the center hole of the wheel with graphite and carefully push your axle into the hole. Grab both ends of the axle and roll the wheel back and forth on a hard surface while bearing down (lightly) on both ends of the axle. This is known as burnishing and it helps the inside of the hub from slowing the car down when the wheel is spinning on the axle. The last step is to apply the graphite to the body of the car just around the area where you insert the axle. This adds another layer of graphite between the wheel and the car so that your wheel has even a lesser chance of slowing down when the wheel strikes the car body.
What the minimium tread should be on your tires?
2 mm
When should I change my tires?
When they show excessive wear at tread or sides or when they show signs of cracking below tread or on sidewalls When they show excessive wear at tread or sides or when they show signs of cracking below tread or on sidewalls When they show excessive wear at tread or sides or when they show signs of cracking below tread or on sidewalls When they show excessive wear at tread or sides or when they show signs of cracking below tread or on sidewalls When they show excessive wear at tread or sides or when they show signs of cracking below tread or on sidewalls
How many tire tread wear indictors?
It really does not matter how many there are as there are several around the tire. When the tread wear indicators appear flush with the tread you have 1/16" tread left and should look to replace the tires very soon.
For year-round tire care and hazard prevention you should be sure that your tires have at least A 1 8 inch tread B 1 16 inch tread C 1 4 inch tread?
For year round tire care and hazard prevention you should be sure that your tires have at least 1/8 inch of tread.
The sum of two risers and a tread should be?
25 inches
Do you need 1mm tire tread on whole tire or part?
1 mm on whole tire. If any part of tread is less then it should be replaced.
When should I change my car tires?
On or before your country's legal minimum requirement for tread. If in doubt see out a qualified fitter to check the tread depth for you
What is the antonym for tread?
tread
When should a tire be replaced?
when the tread is worn down to 1/16 inch
How do you put tread in a sentence?
Don't tread on me! To tread upon the ground. Many people tread on he sidewalk each day.
What is the definition for tread?
As a verb, tread means the way someone is walking. As a noun, tread can mean the top of a stair (where you step on), or the tread of a tire.
