Installing Wheels and Axles on Your Pinewood Derby Car
Pinewood Derby Axle Installer
Our axle installer makes it easy to install wheels and axles on your Pinewood Derbycar the right way every time. It makes sure that the axles are horizontal and that the wheel-to-body gap is correct. For BSA, PineCar, and other kits which use 4 independent axles mounted in slots.
Instructions
1. Lubricate the wheel and axle - Slide the axle into the wheel. Tip the axle down then add graphite between the axle and wheel. Tap and gently spin the wheel to work the graphite into the wheel. Continue until no more graphite can be added.
2. Place the wheel/axle on the base with the pointed end of the axle up.
3. Place the Axle Guide in the axle slot. The end of the axle guide should be flush with the side of the car body.
4. Hold the Axle Guide in place with your thumb then gently press the car body straight down on the axle. Push until the wheel touches the car body. The base is designed to leave the proper gap between the wheel and body.
5. The axle will need to be glued if it slips easily into the car body. To glue the axle, remove the axle and place a small drop of wood or paper glue in the axle slot about one quarter inch in from the side of the body. Wipe any excess glue from the bottom of the car. Insert the axle again using the above procedure. Keep the wheel away from the car body until the glue dries.
6. Check that the axle went in straight by checking the wheel angle from the front or back of the car. The wheel should be perpendicular to the car body.
Repeat for the remaining axles.
Ryan Jarvis from Long Island NY finished first place in his Pinewood Derby race beating over 100 cars. He used our AxleInstaller, wheels, axles and graphite.
I don't know how to thank you, I am hoping that these pictures tell you the story....Bob J.
When inserting the wheels into the body, you want a small gap between the wheel's inner hub and the body itself. Too much gap and the wheels will move back and forth on the axles, causing the car to wiggle and lose speed. Too little space and the wheel will bind against the body.
Slide the axles and wheels onto the car and glue into place. Use an epoxy or nonresin glue, and make sure you don't get any on the surface of the axle where the wheel rides.
Your pinewood derby car will run faster if one of the front wheels is raised. Some race rules specify that all four wheels must touch the track so read your rules before following the steps on this page. Some blocks are slightly warped and will naturally have a raised wheel.
The rear wheels should be set at a 3-degree angle (camber). This angle reduces friction as only a tiny portion of the wheel makes contact with the track.
Don't forget your safety goggles! Starting with about 300 grit sandpaper sand the wheels. Work up to as fine of grit as you can find. Only sand enough to remove imperfections and make the wheel round as possible.
To achieve excellent wheel alignment, an important factor in building a competitive pinewood derby car, using accurately drilled axle holes (instead of slots) is the method of choice.
The axle holes (and therefore the wheels) must be at the same height, precisely parallel to each other. Rear wheels must be perpendicular (90 degrees) to each other and to the car body. Additionally, the wheels must be directly across from one another.
Push the ruled edge against the front and rear wheels on one side. Be sure that the rums of both wheels touch the ruled edge at all possible points. Holding the tool in place, pull the opposite set of wheels away from the car body and then be sure that they line up on the same lines of #4.
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Installing Wheels and Axles on Your Pinewood Derby Car
Installing Wheels and Axles on Your Pinewood Derby Car
