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Top
Tips!
We don't claim to know everything about everything, but we
do know a bit about running & looking after MicroRacers, and
some of the common problems experienced. This are just a few
of the various suggestions we've picked up, if you have anything
you want to share just send us an e-mail and we'll post it
here for all to see!
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| I've got a
brand new car, built it & it doesn't work. |
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© Try new batteries
in the controller, not the old ones out of the TV remote!
© Make sure the
car is clipped onto the controller correctly for charging,
it can take a while to get the knack of this.
© If you had
to install the motor, ensure it is seated correctly and the
contacts on the rear are touching the metal disc. If the motor
is not installed properly the car will not function correctly.
© Make sure that
the contacts in the controller are touching the ends of the
2 x AA batteries firmly, with the Lxx's you sometimes need
to bend them inwards slightly so they make a good connection.
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| My car isn't
as fast as it used to be. |
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© Try new batteries
in the controller, not the old ones out of the TV remote!
© Remove the
body shell and check around the cogs & motor for fluff and
other debris. If you can see any then carefully remove axle,
gears & motor, clean and reassemble.
© Ensure the
front wheels 'freewheel' OK, if not then clean around them
or gently pull the axle pin out slightly to allow them to
run smoothly.
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| My car 'squeals'
as it goes along. |
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The motors are made & shipped 'dry', ie no lubrication. Some
cars seem to develop a squeaky motor after a little while. If
you take the motor out and turn it by hand you can hear it.
This can be cured with a small squirt of light oil (WD40) on
both ends of the can. Turn the motor by hand to work it in then
wipe any surplus off with tissue. It should now be quicker &
quieter!
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When I drive in a straight line
the car always goes slightly off to one side.
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Turn the car over, between the two front wheels is a small white
lever. This is a simple 'tracking' adjuster, moving it from
side to side adjusts the steering slightly.
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| I seem to
collect magnetic debris under the front of the car. |
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The steering mechanism uses a small but very powerful
magnet to work, hence small magnetic particles collect on the
underside of the car. Don't use a vacuum cleaner to remove them,
you may lose the car! Use a small strip of sticky tape to dab
on the debris and remove it.
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| I've installed
an upgraded motor, now the car won't go! |
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If you have installed
the motor, ensure it is seated correctly and the contacts on
the rear are touching the metal disc. If the motor is not installed
properly the car will not function correctly.
© Make sure that you
haven't used the small white pinion gear that was supplied with
the motor, instead, you should use the original that was in
the car. (The white gear is for use on the Bit Racer cars, not
the Bit Char-G's etc.).
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| I've installed
different gears & axles, now the car won't go! |
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Ensure
the axle gear and the idle gear (small free-running cog) are
of the same colour. If you mix colours the teeth will bind.
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| The steering
works in one direction but not the other. |
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If you drive the car
off the table then its going to hurt!, its the scale equivalent
of driving off the top of a very tall building! What may have
happened is the small magnet used in the steering mechanism
has been knocked off centre in its plastic retaining clip.
Carefully remove body shell & clear/translucent PCB cover,
then gently lift up the PCB to expose a small Phillips chrome
screw head. Undoing this allows you to lift the black lid
to the steering mechanism and see the magnet in its clip.
If its off centre it can be pushed back, and if necessary
a small drop of super glue can prevent it happening again
(Do be very careful if you decide to glue this, one drop in
the wrong place can ruin the car!).
© If
there is absolutely no movement in one direction and you have
just upgraded the car battery its more likely that one of
the very fine lacquered copper wires powering the steering
coils has been damaged. How to repair it depends on where
its broken and your skills with a soldering iron! If you do
feel confident enough to tackle the repair then first remove
any lacquer from the wire by scrapping with a sharp blade,
then tin the wire, solder together and re-coat the repair
with nail varnish to prevent it shorting on anything.
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| I want to
be able to control the car from a greater range. |
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Try new batteries in the controller, not the old ones out of
the TV remote!
© Some people have
reported success by increasing the length of the aerial on the
car, or on the handset. This don't automatically work as there
is a science to aerial lengths, all to do with wavelengths etc.
Let us know how you get on!
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Please note we will be adding some nice close-up images
of the relevant bits of the cars as and when we get chance!
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