Recommended Alignment Tools?

[John Robertson]

Christmas is coming and I need to complete my wish list.

Whose got opinions on what type of kart alignment tools (for kt100 sprint) I should be asking Santa for?

Thx!

[Chuck McCue]

Ask for anEXACT TOE Or a
ZTB System

CM www.racearsenal.com

[ November 23, 2001: Message edited by: Chuck McCue ]

[Patrick Hubbell]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Robertson:
Christmas is coming and I need to complete my wish list.

Whose got opinions on what type of kart alignment tools (for kt100 sprint) I should be asking Santa for?

Thx!

---

I would ask for the ZTB. John Learmoths(sp) tool can be used for static as well as dynamic settings. Dynamic being that the kart is under the load of the driver's weight which flexes the chassis quite a bit thus causing a change in toe compared to an unloaded chassis.

The one very popular alignment tool has many moving parts. The way it is designed and manufactured creates a bit of tollerence build up that will not give you exact toe readings.

A pencil line scribed onto the tire and a good tape measure work well.

[John Scott]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Robertson:
Christmas is coming and I need to complete my wish list.

Whose got opinions on what type of kart alignment tools (for kt100 sprint) I should be asking Santa for?

Thx!

---

High to low cost:

Digital scales
Toe plates
Exact Toe
Digital Tire guage with .1 psi resolution
Book on sprint kart handling (classic motorbooks)
Flat tape measure

[Dave Embry]

Anyone using an Exact-Toe when John Learmonth's ZTB (Zero Toe Bar) is available is living in the stone age!!

Seriously, that is the neatest invention for kart front end alignments ever made. As much as we all hate to fool with aligning the front end, it's actually FUN to do it with the ZTB. I hear that Champion Kart Shop is going to be the US distributor in Norman.

[ November 21, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Embry ]

[John Bosanek]

So it sounds like the ZTB bar is the way to go. I was getting ready to buy an exact-toe, but if there is something bigger, better, and shinier, I'd like to check it out. I take it that they are not available here yet?

[Jussy Rusit]

Check out this site for the ZTB system
http://www.brendel.com/racing/products.shtml

[Mike Goebel]

I don't see how one can check the toe or whatever with a driver in the seat. You would need to remove the wheels and have some sort of device that holds the spindles during the operation. Or can it be done with the wheels in place?


Mike G.

[Dave Malloy]

quote

Quote:

I don't see how one can check the toe or whatever with a driver in the seat. You would need to remove the wheels and have some sort of device that holds the spindles during the operation. Or can it be done with the wheels in place?

That sort of device comes with the ZTB system

[Dave Embry]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Goebel:
I don't see how one can check the toe or whatever with a driver in the seat. You would need to remove the wheels and have some sort of device that holds the spindles during the operation. Or can it be done with the wheels in place?


Mike G.

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Mike, It does come with 2 little "stands"....they are 4.5" tall. The top of the stands are designed for the spindle to "sit in" since they are rounded. You just remove your front wheels and set the spindles down on these stands right where your bearing would hit the spindle. Then you can set your toe and camber dynamically (with the wt in kart)to zero or whatever. Once you have it set dynamically, then just set the kart up on the stand again and measure what it now reads (will probably be positive camber and toe out if you had it set to zero dynamically). Then, unless you plan to change the wt. or position of the front wheels on the spindle, you can just set it back to the same settings on the stand from then on and it should be the same when you set it down and put the driver wt. in it. You won't have to put the driver in it again but just set it back up on the stands (it will probably be quite a bit positive camber and toe out depending on the flexibility of your chassis).

It's amazing how much the camber and toe changes when you put wt. on it. If you've been setting it to zero toe/camber on the stand you'll now see how far off you were when it is actually on the track!

I've had this for about 1/2 of this season and everyone who knows I have it are constantly coming over to the trailer borrowing it and I've had no complaints about it at all! I don't work for them or anything and I paid full price for it so I'm not saying all this for a purpose other than to let everyone know that John Learmonth really knows what he's talking about and has designed and built an exceptional quality product that really makes front end work a pleasure to deal with now!

Champion Kart Shop phone is 405-579-5278 Rodney, Brett or Dub Berryhill in Norman. I think they are carrying them now.

[pat slattery]

If you are looking to purchase a ZTB alignment system I have them available in aluminum or cardboard cases. You can contact me at
kart79@mindspring.com

Best tool that I carry in my shop.
pat slattery

[John Learmonth]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Embry:


Champion Kart Shop phone is 405-579-5278 Rodney, Brett or Dub Berryhill in Norman. I think they are carrying them now.

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Thanks Dave and Patrick for the (entirely true!) kind words about the ZTB System! Though I do have to disagree with you Pat, “A pencil line scribed onto the tire and a good tape measure” doesn’t really work very well and is a pain to do!

We have just appointed Champion as sole US distributor for the ZTB System, and we’re presently in the process of making their first bulk order. Of course this means they don’t as yet have any stock, but Santa will be bringing it to them in time for Xmas!

Pat Slattery (Slattery Racing) has been retailing the ZTB in Ohio for a while, and probably still has some in stock.

The ZTB System isn’t just one tool, but several tools (which is why I called it a ‘system’ ;). Two of these ‘tools’ are the pair of ‘Dynamic Alignment Stands’ onto which the spindle shafts are placed during a ‘dynamic’ alignment allowing driver weight to flex the chassis as if the wheels were in place.

The ZTB measures toe and camber from the bare spindle shafts (wheels removed), but for karts fitted with front brakes it can also measure from the outside of the ‘live hubs’ (into which the wheel bearings are fitted) so long as the OD of each ‘live hub’ is uniform for a distance of at least 70mm’s or 2 ¾” (this is the type of ‘live hub’ used when scrub radius can be adjusted by sliding the front wheels in and out in a similar manner as adjusting rear track width). For karts on which scrub radius is adjusted using thick spacer washers between the wheel itself and the ‘live hub’ itself, then the ‘live hubs’ will need to be removed to expose the bare spindle shafts. This only applies to karts with this particular style of ‘live hub’.

There is some info on the ZTB System on the web page mentioned by Jussy Russit http://www.brendel.com/racing/products.shtml but this info is somewhat out of date. I am working (slowly!) on a new website for the ZTB System. Interested parties should feel free to email me directly for ZTB System information. Champion tells me they’re also working on a new website that will have ZTB info on it, but as yet I don’t know when this will be ready to go online.

PS yes that is Juergen Brendel’s web site for those of you who may remember him from the Muller Mailing List. Juergen’s alive and well and has moved from the States to New Zealand, just over the ‘pond’ from me here in Australia!

[ November 22, 2001: Message edited by: John Learmonth ]

[Todd Godwin]

Probably the most trick alignment system I've seen is the Acutoe Pro by Phantom. It uses a laser and mirror. The stock kit requires that the tires be off the kart but there is a kit which allows it to be used on the kart with tires on (meaning that the driver can also be in the seat). Its extremely accurate and like all Phantom products, very high quality. www.phantomchassis.com

[Mark Shelton]

I have an RLV Exac-Toe, and feel I got ripped off. The concept is good, but it has problems in reality. The biggest issue is that the steel rod moves just a bit inside of the blocks, and it creates about 1 to 2 mm of "slop". you can't be sure if you are at zero toe, or at 2mm toe in or out. You just don't know where you are. It is also a static measurement.
The second issue, is that the bar is not really level, as chassis components get in the way, and yo have to tilt the system up to clear certain items.
I use toe plates and a tape measure now. Works pretty good. This dynamic deal sounds pretty cool though. I might try it. I'm always good to throw money at something new to see if it works better. Kart shops love me.

[Todd Bolton]

One problem with the accue toe pro in this case it is mostly only good for static figures.... The extension kit availbale only works on 1 1/4" axles at this time, so all the 40mm stuff still has a static measurement...