Tips on Fixing your Slot Car's Handling Problems

1. Clean the tires
2. Put more weight in the rear.
3. Use softer tires.
4. Increase the wheelbase.

Sidewinder motor:

Fishtailing is characteristic of sidewinders. If excessive, apply corrections as outlined above. 

1. Tires out of round.
2. Shallow pickup blade.
3. Too much pickup braid pressure.
4. Misaligned chassis.
5. Insufficient weight on the pickup.
6. Track is uneven.
7. The car is too light.

1. Binding or misaligned gears.
2. Incorrect motor brush tension.
3. Pickup wires too loose or broken strands.
4. Car is too heavy.
5. Motor trouble (commutator, magnetism etc).
6. Front tires too wide or soft.

1. Too little weight in the front.
2. Shallow pickup blade.
3. Too springy pickup braid.
4. Front wheels too far apart.
5. Pickup blade does not rotate freely.

1. Rear tires are too hard.
2. Rear wheels too far apart.
3. Rear tires too small.
4. Rear tires too narrow.
5. Too much weight in the rear.
6. Center of Gravity should be higher.
7. Decrease the wheelbase (in the rear).

1. Round off the outside tire edges.
2. Increase the rear wheel spacing.
3. Use harder tires.
4. Lower the Center of Gravity.
5. Put more weight under the car.
6. Use narrower tires.
7. Shift the Center of Gravity to the front.