Masami's crooked steering.

[SteveK]

This has bugged me since 1991; on Masami's Reedy Race of Champions winning car, he used Yokomo bellcranks in lieu of the stock RC10 steering. If you looks, the steering appears canted to the right, and the left tie rod is shorter than the right. Any ideas why?

[scr8p]

the steering is to the right because the bellcranks are to the left.

as for the turnbuckles, the pic seems to be taken on a slight angle which could explain the difference between left and right.

[tamiya]

just the angle of the photo methink; the tyres aren't really dead straight

everything is probably straight except for servohorn,
that's probably not dead 12o'clock at neutral

[SteveK]

If you look at the steering links, you can see the left one is shorter when you compare the nut and exposed threads. I don't think it's the camera angle because the camber links appear to be the same length.

[Phin]

Looks like the unthreaded portion of the left steering tie rod is longer than the right's...which is why more thread is showing on the right tie rod to the inside of the nut.

[SteveK]

The whole page, uncropped.

[scr8p]

the picture is on an angle. the shock tower covers the nose tube on the left, doesn't on the right. there's also no guarantee the the chassis is sitting level to the ground, or that one of the front arms is higher than another.

[Bottom Feeder]

That's what I always liked about Masami's cars. They always looked like a well-tested and well-used patchwork of spare parts that obviously worked very well together.

Look at those hacked nose brace tubes!

[SteveK]

Yeah, you can always tell something like a race car (real or RC) or memorabilia from a movie is the real deal when it is all worn and beat up looking.

[Jirka]

It would have not been the first time when Masami used non symmetric setup. His "RC10" at 1989 worlds did have more front spring preload on left (right hand side in this picture, since it is taken from front).

Masamis rc10 1989 worlds.jpg (16.17 KiB) Viewed 2189 times

Masamis rc10 1989 worlds.jpg (16.17 KiB) Viewed 2189 times

BTW: On all "this is Masamis 1989 worlds winning 2wd car" documents like links below didn't have this non symmetric setup no more for some reason, but on all magazine pictures taken from that race it can be clearly seen.
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5500
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=1002

Jirka

EDIT: Forget to add the picture

[Lonestar]

the steering is to the right because the bellcranks are to the left.

that cracked me up

[Charlie don't surf]

the steering is to the right because the bellcranks are to the left.

that cracked me up

I think the "steering" situation is being way over-analyzed, I've heard two credible and perfectly viable answers, that have been shot down because, well...I don't know why

It just is.....

[scr8p]

i should've said....... wheels to the right, bellcranks to the left.

[Lonestar]

btw I never noticed before that ET was using deans 4-pins plugs... which were my plug of choice even late into the 90's At least I share something with Masami

[SteveK]

the steering is to the right because the bellcranks are to the left.

that cracked me up

I think the "steering" situation is being way over-analyzed, I've heard two credible and perfectly viable answers, that have been shot down because, well...I don't know why

It just is.....

I dunno why, it just bugs me LOL The steering links are clearly different lengths, and I guess I just can't comprehend something like that on the car or such a high level racer.