[Mash13]

Gidday fellas

I recently bought a new XLC and as the topic states it only works every now and then. if i wiggle the paddles during a race they work 80% of the time. I sprayed it with wd40 and it worked for 150 laps. Ive loosened the back plate which kinda helped.

Whats next? its getting power as the cars dont stop as they drive over it only the paddles dont always work.
cheers guys

 

[Mash13]

Bit of an update.

I took off the covers and had a look at the mechanism, seems pretty weak IMHO. From my RC car racing experience a plastic arm between two metal actuators is a recipe for carp. Also there is more play in there than a schoolyard at smoko time. Seems like a small metal bar is in need of some fabrication.

So far I have added a medium CA to where the metal arms go into the plastic sliding arms to reduce the possibility of them popping out. The CA will also stiffen the plastic (and make it brittle but this shouldnt be a issue) and take away some slop (ie plastic bending) note that these parts were dobbed with some sort of adhesive from the factory as the backing plate on mine is covered in a sticky goop (teknamickle term) which seems to be hinding the movement of the flipper.

So my immidiate actions are, CA the plastic sliding arms to the metal actuators, clean off the goop from backing plate and lightly sand away some plastic from the plate. Add some grease (not wd40) between the sliding arms and backing plate for lubrication. Test like crazy. If it still plays up I will look at wiring up an old analouge power supply straight to the XLC and note if it changes at all.

It would be nice to get some upgraded solinoids for some extra strength.

This week I will make a small aluminium slider arm and solder the solinoid arms into it to reduce the slop, should be fairly easy to do.

 

[Mash13]

The XLC got a massive 3hr test today and worked as it should thoughout. It didnt need any "paddle wiggling" to get it to function. Worked on time, everytime. Massive improvement.

The grease is making the paddles run smooth and effortlessly. The CA is holding the plastic arm tight up with the two solinoid arms with no more slop. An aluminuim arm may not be needed as the CA is doing a good job of stiffening it all up.
After a week I will pull the cover off again and check the condition of the grease.

Sweet XLC SORTED!

 

[Mash13]

CA - contact adhesive. Just hobby superglue! dont use runny or thin glue though. Go with a medium or heavy glue so it doesnt run all over the flipper assembly!

 

[Mash13]

Haha nah Matt got the hang of it now. The whole event thing is pretty good with points etc Although I've been using the scaley tower more as you can set the pace cars to not enter the pit while they lane change around the rest of the track and the cars go faster using the scaley tower. Will prob just stick with the scaley gear until ssdc includes that stuff aswell.

 

[Mash13]

RikoRocket - I have the max speed when full setting to 100% so the amount of fuel shouldnt effect the speed. When I use the scaley tower the cars are faster by a few 100ths of a second.

Matt & Sealevel - I used good old castrol marine grease that I use on the outboard motor on the tinnie! But I would just use anything greasey really. Even travoltas hair would do it!