8IGHT-XE Elite Tuning Guide

ManualsBrandsLosi ManualsHobby1/8 8IGHT-XE Elite 4WD Electric Buggy Race Kit (Requires electronics, battery & charger)

Setup Guide 8IGHT-XE Elite

Overview

It is time to start making some setup adjustments to the TLR 8IGHT-XE Elite! Before

making changes, there are a few decisions to make.

• Tires - Tires have a tremendous impact on performance. Before making changes to

chassis setup, observe fast cars at the track and try to obtain information about the

tire tread, compound, and inserts being used. •Feel – Setup adjustment outcomes

will vary based on the driver’s personal “feel”.

• One at a Time - It is suggested to only make one setup change at a time. If the

change does not improve the handling, return to the previous position and try a

different change.

• Recording - It is a great idea to record setup changes by recording change and

the result observed. Even if the change was not a positive, it can aid future setup

decisions.

• The normal/typical setting suggested for all setup options is the setting listed on the

kit setup sheet, included in this instruction manual.

• Track Ready – Whenever checking any of the table top settings (camber, toe, ride

height, etc.), do so with the car track ready, including the body, wing, tires, wheels,

and battery pack.•Kit Setup - The Team Losi Racing development team put in time

to develop the kit setup. After making some changes, if the “handle” or “feel” of

the vehicle becomes poor, return to the kit setup. Kit setups are posted to www.

TLRacing.com.

• Optional Setups - Other setups that have worked well for the race team are posted

to www.TLRacing.com. When trying any setup, make sure to try the setup in its

entirety. Each setup item works together to make a well driving vehicle. If only parts

of a setup are used, it likely will not produce the desired results.

• Race Team – If a TLR team driver is present at the local track, and help is need – ask

them.

Please check the Team Losi Racing web site and the Team Losi Racing blog periodically

to ﬁ nd new setup information. There are many ways to set up a car. The results of setup

changes can be different based on many factors including driving style, track conditions,

and traction levels. Try things and ﬁ nd a setup that works well.

Pre-Run Checklist

• ESC controls motor as it should.

• Battery pack is charged.

• Droop measurement is set as desired.

• Ride height is set as desired.

Check each of these before each run. If of these settings has changed drastically, it

is a sign something is wrong. For example, if ride height is set to 27mm Front, 27mm

Rear and it has been correct ﬁ ve times, then when check again it is 25mm F/27mm

R, something is wrong. Check the vehicle to be sure there is not a bent shock shaft or

hinge pin, and nothing else is broken or damaged.

Power and Drivetrain Settings

ESC Tuning

Follow the ESC manufacturer’s instructions and suggested settings.

General Notes:

• For the ﬁ rst few runs, monitor the temperature of your ESC and motor to ensure they

are staying cool enough

• Many ESCs will have a type of punch or torque setting which you will want to adjust

to your liking

• Make sure to adjust your brakes down to the level needed as ESCs can provide near

instant brakes and that is hard to drive and also hard on the drive train.

The Battery

The battery is an important part of electric-powered vehicles. A battery with low

voltage can cause loss of vehicle control and/or weak and slowed throttle and steering

response. Battery life with depend on motor and servo used and battery ratings. Always

fully charge the battery to start each run. Make sure your battery is not swollen and is

balanced properly.

Gearing

• Gearing Up – installing a larger pinion or smaller spur gear decreases bottom end

and increases top end speed. Better for larger, sweeping tracks.

• Gearing Down - installing a smaller pinion or larger spur increases bottom end and

reduces top end speed. Better for clearing jumps (when wheel spin is not the issue).

• Kit gearing for the 8IGHT-XE Elite is a 15 tooth pinion and a 46 tooth spur gear,

15/46. Different options available are as below.

• Pinions – 14, 15, 16

• Spur Gears – 45, 46, 47

Differential Oils

Front Oil:

• Thinner - increases steering corner entry. If oil is too thin, steering will be grabby and

inconsistent.

• Thicker - increases off-power stability and on-power steering, especially corner exit.

Center Oil:

• Thinner - decreases acceleration, increases off-power steering, unloads front more

under acceleration, easier to drive on rough and slick tracks.

• Thicker - increases acceleration, decreases off-power steering, increases on-power

steering, better on smooth and high traction tracks.

Rear Oil:

• Thinner - increases corning traction, increases steering corner entry to mid corner

• Thicker - decreases steering mid corner, increases forward traction corner exit.

Tabletop Adjustments

Ride Height

Ride height is the height of the chassis from the ground/pit board. Ride height is

measured with the body on and vehicle ready to run.

• It is best to measure on a ﬂ at level surface, such as a pit board.

• Drop the vehicle from 12 in (30cm) and allow the suspension to settle.

• Measure from the ﬂ at surface to the bottom of the chassis plate using a ride height

gauge

• Front - Measure behind the bend in the chassis

• Rear – Measure under the rear gear box

• Use shock collars to lower or raise the ride height, adjusting left and right equally.

• Recheck

When the front ride height is adjusted, it can affect the rear ride height and vice-versa.

Once one end is adjusted, always check the height at both ends again.

• Front - higher decreases steering, increases weight transfer to the rear on-power.

Lower increases steering, decreases weight transfer to the rear on-power.

• Rear - higher decreases rear traction, increases steering. Lower increases rear

traction, decreases steering.

• Both – higher improves handling on bumpy tracks. Lower increases corner speed and

stability for smoother tracks.

Camber

Camber is the angle a wheel/tire leans in/out from bottom to top. It is adjusted by

changing the length of the camber link turnbuckle. It is adjusted at ride height with

vehicle ready to run.

More Negative Camber:

• Front - increases steering and responsiveness.

• Rear – decreases rear traction corner entry, increases on-power steering, less grabby

in bumps.

Less Negative Camber:

• Front – decreases steering, smoother feel.

• Rear – increases rear traction and make the rear end stay ﬂ atter, but if traction is lost

it will be more abrupt.

*After adjusting front camber, recheck front toe in/out.

Front Toe

Toe is the angle of the tires compared to the centerline of the chassis. To check and set

front toe, the steering assembly needs to be centered and the vehicle needs to be at ride

height. Adjust the toe by shortening or lengthening the steering turnbuckles. Always set

the steering turnbuckles to equal lengths, then adjust equally.

• Toe In - front tires point inward. This will have a – or negative value (-2°). Toe in

decreases steering response entering and mid corner, increases on-power steering.

• Toe Out - front tires point outward. This will have a + or positive value (+2°). Toe out

increases steering response at corner entry, increases straight-line stability, decreases

on-power steering, smoother corner exit.

Droop

Droop is the measurement of how far the tires fall at full suspension extension. Droop is

measured on the 8IGHT vehicles by removing the tires and wheels, placing the chassis

on droop blocks, then using a ride height gauge to measure from the ﬂ at surface to

the underside of the threads on the wheel hex. TLR 1/8 Droop Blocks (TLR72004) are

recommended or any droop blocks that are 36mm.

To reduce droop (higher measurement number), turn the droop screw for the suspension

arm clockwise. To increase droop (lower measurement number) turn the droop screw

for the suspension arm counterclockwise. After making an adjustment, compress the

suspension by hand, then allow it to settle before measuring again.

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
Setup Guide 8IGHT-XE Elite Overview It is time to start making some setup adjustments to the TLR 8IGHT-XE Elite! Before making changes, there are a few decisions to make. • Tires - Tires have a tremendous impact on performance. Before making changes to chassis setup, observe fast cars at the track and try to obtain information about the tire tread, compound, and inserts being used. •Feel – Setup adjustment outcomes will vary based on the driver’s personal “feel”.
PAGE 2
More droop (lower number) • Front - Decreases on-power steering, increases rear traction corner exit by allowing more weight transfer to the rear. • Rear - Increases off-power steering by allowing more weight transfer to the front. Less stable under braking. • Both – Accelerates better in bumps when straight but can traction roll in rutted corners easier. Less droop (higher number) • Front – Increases on-power steering with more static weight on the front by allowing less weight transfer to the rear.
PAGE 3
Others Front Kick-Up Front Kick-Up is adjusted by changing the pills in the A and/or B blocks. Kick up is the angle of the inner front hinge pins relative to the flat chassis plane. With 0/0 pills in the A/B blocks, the kick up is 12°. • More Kick-Up – increases weight transfer on/off the front end when braking/ accelerating, increases off-power steering and forward traction, improves absorption of bumps.
PAGE 4
Name: Kit Setup Date: Event: Track: Track Conditions  Indoor  Tight  Smooth  Hard Packed  Blue Groove  Wet  Low Bite  High Bite  Outdoor  Open  Rough  Loose/Loamy  Dry  Dusty  Med Bite  Other Front Suspension Ride Ht 27mm Camber -1 Toe 1 Out Sway Bar 2.4mm  Pl  Al  17.5  20  0mm  1mm  2mm Notes: _______________________ _____________________________ _____________________________   A Pivot B Pivot 27mm Camber -1 Sway Bar 2.
PAGE 5
Name: Date: Event: Track: Track Conditions  Indoor  Tight  Smooth  Hard Packed  Blue Groove  Wet  Low Bite  High Bite  Outdoor  Open  Rough  Loose/Loamy  Dry  Dusty  Med Bite  Other Front Suspension Ride Ht  Pl  Al  17.