Pinewood Derby Tips & Tricks Axle Installation Maximum Velocity

Wheel Prep Video -    • Pinewood Derby Wheel Prep Speed Tips  

Axle Pliers - Description
Remove Axles With Ease!
If you have built even one pinewood derby car, then you know that removing axles without damaging something can be quite a chore. Oftentimes, considerable force is required. If the force is applied to the wheel, then the wheel can be damaged, especially with the expensive, high-performance wheels in common use today. If a standard pair of pliers is used, the axle head can be chewed up.(1) In either case, the car itself may be damaged as well.

But now, Maximum Velocity's Axle Extraction Pliers will help you remove axles with minimal risk of damage. The curved and grooved jaws of the Axle Extraction Pliers provide strong but even gripping power on the axle head, minimizing damage to the axle, and giving maximum leverage to the user. Just grasp the axle head and gently remove the axle with a twist-and-pull motion.

Usage
The Axle Extraction Pliers are designed for use on nail and pin-type axles offered by BSA, MV, PineCar, RA's, and Awana. The pliers are not intended for use on screw-type axles (Royal Ranger/S&W) or on solid rod axles (PineCar).

To use the Axle Extraction Pliers follow the instructions below and please read the section at the end entitled "Important Notes".

(1) Also, standard pliers will not work with some wheel types, such as those offered by Awana and PineCar, because the jaws will not fit into the open space in the wheel. But our Axle Extraction Pliers work great with Awana and PineCar wheels.



Axle Extraction Pliers Usage Instructions
Grasp Axle Head
Grasp the axle head with the pliers,
Squeeze firmly,
Gently twist and pull on the tool until the axle is removed.
Important Notes
When extracting tight axles, the axles may be bent. Use care to pull the axles straight out of the block; avoid pulling at an angle.
Use of the Axle Extraction Pliers may lightly scratch the outer edge of the axle head. Since most axle heads are tapered, this scarring will not affect the performance of the axle.

The Axle Extraction Pliers can remove axles that are glued in place with white or yellow glue. However, if axles are glued into the car with epoxy (or similar), the epoxy must be softened or removed before extracting the axle.

Accurately mounted axles = Top speed!

In pinewood derby racing, winners and also-rans are often separated by fractions of an inch. Although many factors affect car performance, precision alignment is key to reaching the winner's circle.

Unfortunately, inserting axles into axle slots is not easy. The axles don't want to insert straight, the wood can easily break, and setting the proper gap can be tricky. There must be a better way.

And there is! Introducing the Pro-Axle Guide, a precision machined device that will improve the speed of your pinewood derby car by ensuring accurate mounting of axles:

Axle Insertion - Ensures accurate mounting of axles (in axle slots) to improve alignment. Accurate alignment is critical for top speed!
Wheel-to-body Spacing - Establishes the correct gap between the wheel hub and car body. The proper gap minimizes car wander and reduces excess contact between the car body and the wheel hubs.and an added bonus:
Reduced Risk of Block Damage - During the insertion process the Pro-Axle Guide provides support to the wood around the axle slot, minimizing the risk of damage.
Tip: Use the Pro-Body Tool to prepare the axle slots before using the Pro-Axle Guide to insert the axles.

To use the Pro-Axle Guide, follow the instructions included with the tool or the instructions below.

Prepare Tool

Use the included hex key to loosen the screw. Rotate the gap gauge until it is perpendicular to the body of the tool, and then tighten the screw. Make sure the ridge on the tool is aligned in the center of the gap gauge. The gap gauge can permanently remain in this position, or can be rotated back to minimize damage to the gap gauge during storage.

Start Axle

Partially Insert Axle
Kits with Standard Axle Slots - Place the tool on the bottom of the car with the ridge in the axle slot, and the gap gauge positioned over the side of the car body. Partially insert an axle.
Kits with Axle Holes or Shallow Axle Slots - Partially insert an axle, and then place the flat side of the tool against the bottom of the car, and the gap gauge positioned between the car body and the wheel.

Complete Insertion

Complete Insertion
Place the axle head on a hard surface, firmly hold the tool to the block, and apply downward pressure on the axle. Continue until the axle will go no further.
To achieve the proper wheel-to-body gap on non-BSA wheels, use your thumb or the handle of a small screwdriver to press the axle in further. Alternately, use the Axle Install Support to provide the needed pressure.
Carefully remove the tool and repeat for the other three axles.