Evening star., 1940-05-27
Suggestions Given
For Steering Gear
For Soap Box Racer
A Sturdy Arrangement
For Guiding Car Is One Of
Its Most Important Parts

One Of the most important parts
OF q Soap Box Derby racer is the
T steering arrangement. A sturdy
steering apparatus which will stand
up under the usage it will receive
on the day Of the race is absolutely
necessary.
81 In the drawing accompanying
this story will be found an answer
sto the problem of how to build q
safe and practical steering device
for . 1910 Soap Box Derby racer.
The sketch shows the method used
by many boys last year, including
Carl Cederstrand, the 1899 cham
pion, and was drawn especially for
the guidance OF 1910 Derby racer
builders. Clip the story and sketch
now and paste it in your workshop.
Key to the Sketch.
The numbers of the following
paragraphs refer to the correspond
Ing encircled numbers on the ac-
companying sketch:
/. This indicates the kingbolt,
which should be placed in vertical
position, and fixed rigidly by secur-
ing the top as well as the bottom
There should be no play in the bolt.
2. In this type of steering device
steel wire cable must be used. Avoid
using frayed or mended cable. Tiller
cable with diameter of one-eighth
inch is satisfactory for strength and
safety. Last years champion used
flexible airplane cable, which is
stronger but harder to obtain.
: 3. Use pulleys that are at least
l inch in diameter to avoid fraying
Of the wire cable. For this reason
avoid small pulleys or the use of
screw eyes instead of pulleys. The
lower pulleys should be located so
they pull in the same horizontal
plane as the axletree. In other
words, don't have these pulleys above
or below the axles. This will help
avoid swerving.
Use Enough Gable.
4. Allow a sufficient amount of
cable between the turnbuckles and
pulleys to permit operation of front
wheels in each direction. Turn
buckles should be adjusted to take
up all the slack in cables, but not
too tightly. Wire them carefully
to prevent them from coming loose.
5. A 2H-inch to 2l2-inch diameter
steering drum is recommended for
an 8-inch diameter steering wheel.
Larger steering wheels should have
proportionately larger steering
drums. A drum too large in pro-
portion to the wheel makes steering
too sensitive, and drum too small
causes lost motion in steering. Gable
should be looped around the drum
not less than three times, and
screwed or bolted to the drum.
Don't rely on friction to pull the
cable.
s. An 8-inch diameter steering
wheel is satisfactory. A very large
wheel requires arm movement,
which has its effect on the cars
stability. There should be no play
In the steering wheel, steering rod
or drum. The whole assembly
should be made carefully, and with
no loose connections or play any,
where. The front wheels should
react instantly with 4 slight move
ment of the wheel. Hookeyes for
securing pulleys and cable connec-
tions should be strong and light.
Remember that the whole steering
assembly is only as strong as its
weakest link, and when you're n.y.
Ing down to the finish line you don't
want anything to happen, especially
II you're out in front.
Connections With Axle.
Z. The customary method of con-
meeting the cable to the ends Of the
axle Is generally more satisfactory
than any other method. However,
II a Pitman arm arrangement. as
shown in the rule book, is used, the
distance from the center of the
kingbolt to the end of the arm
should be not less than IL inches.
and connections must be very strong.
II shorter arm is used it will be
very difficult to guide the car in a
straight line. In using the Pitman
arm, additional pulleys are neces-
sary, and this often increases the
amount Of play in the steering as