Monday August 11, 2003
One
thing a Thunder Jet HO slot car requires is a good amount of break-in. Whether
it is one of the new Johnny Lightning cars or an original Aurora chassis
break-in makes a significant difference. On the track the car may be slightly
faster but will run much smoother and also seem like it is easier to drive.
The best and most fun approach is to run your cars on the track but some of these cars take a really long time. A variable voltage power supply can be used to break-in slot cars but many people do not have one at their disposal.
I have a very simple approach for breaking in the Thunder Jets. I took a low power supply and installed small alligator clips. I attach the alligator clips to the pick-up shoes. When the power supply is plugged in the motor will run. Let the car run for three to five minutes. Do not leave the cars running unattended.
I had a wall plug power supply that was for an old cell phone that is long gone. The power output is usually molded into the plastic of the unit. The one I used is 3.7 volts and 0.35 amps. I cut off the plug and striped the wires. I installed 2 ¼ inch alligator clips. The alligator clips with screw terminal connection are the easiest way to attach the clips.
Attach the alligator clips onto the pick-up shoes of the car. Be cautious that the two alligator clips do not touch as this is a direct short. Plug the low voltage power supply in. Check to make sure the rear wheels are rotating the direction that they would while traveling in the forward position. If the rear wheels are not rotating the correct direction detach the alligator clips and reinstall the clips with the positions switched. Plug the power supply in and let the motor run. I usually let the car hang from the wires or let it sit on the roof. The car will vibrate and move around so make sure it is secure and that the two alligator clips do not touch. I let the car run for three to five minutes. Do not leave the car unattended! When the time is up just unplug the power supply.
This break-in procedure works on all slot cars no matter what it’s scale. Any DC power supply that is 9 volts or lower can be utilized to break-in your slot cars. An old calculator power supply or something similar can usually be salvaged before it goes in the trash for this task. A battery eliminator can also be used for this. I purchased one at K-Mart for $12.99. This is nice because I can select various voltages, from 12 volts down to 1.5 volts. As the slot car chassis breaks-in I can lower the voltage.
- Rich