[LastHobbyPromise]

Carrera 1/32 Digital. How often do you guys pull maintenance? Do you set up by laps? time? Trying to set up a schedule in SmartRace

[woodcote]

I'm guessing you're talking about maintenance on the cars? If so, it's pretty much the same across all brands, but with digital there are some things that really help.

Regular (each session)...

• Clean and straighten braids regularly - certainly at the start of each session. I use naphtha (lighter fluid) on a Q-tip to clean.
  
• Clean tyres on the sticky side of masking tape (or duct tape) before every race.
  

Often (after a long weekend session or a week of shorter sessions)...

• Remove the body to check for dirt, fluff or hairs around the axles and gear. Clean with a puff of air, make-up brush, tweezers, toothbrush etc
  
• Lightly oil axle bearings and gears
  
• Check plastic wheels aren't loose. If one is, remove, clean the end of the axle with naphtha and add a small drop of superglue. Replace wheel being careful not to glue wheel to axle bearing!
  
• Check connections tight on digital chip
  
• Clean the sensor LED under the car with a moist Q-tip
  

Every now and again...

• A small drop of oil on the shaft at each end of the motor. You want to do this, but not so often you end up with oil fouling the motor commutator
  
• Replace braids if they are getting too bushy or shedding strands
  

After a long lay-off...

• All the steps above, plus
  
• Run the motor with the axle removed at about 6 volts for 5 minutes
  
• Scuff up the tyres on some sandpaper (remove or bypass the digital chip to avoid damage)
  

I hope that helps

[LastHobbyPromise]

Excellent! Thank you!

[Nonfractal]

I would add:
- drop the car on a flat plate and check that the
A) chassis is not twisted
B) wheels and tyres are round and true. 
C) right ride height of the chasis is still, within expectations

Alan W.