One of the most confusing things when it comes to servicing an RC car is how to turn the turnbuckles. Arrma Limitless is no exception. This is because the turnbuckle rod comes with two-threaded ends and it’s hard to tell and remember which way to turn to make it longer or shorter.
What is a Turnbuckle and What Does it Do
Also known as a tie rod, a turnbuckle is a metal rod that connects the wheel of an RC car to the body and allows for length adjustments. For some RC cars, it is made out of two separate rods connected in the middle with an adjuster. For Arrma Limitless, it is basically a single metal rod with threads on both ends that are screwed into two plastic ends, as shown in the red box in the photo below.
These tie rods help to keep our wheels pointing straight forward or slightly sideways. This is useful when we want to adjust for toe-in and toe-out configurations.
For instance, to have the front of the left front wheel pointing outward from the body, we reduce the length of the turnbuckle. To have it pointing inward, we increase the length.
How to Adjust The Left Turnbuckle on Arrma Limitless
First, to adjust the left tie rod for the left front wheel, we should stand while facing the RC car. We should then have the car pointing left. This means the left side of the car should be facing us.
Now, if we turn the rod in a clockwise direction, it will increase the length of the tie rod. In this case, clockwise refers to rotating the rod from the front to the back of the car. You can use any small plier to turn the tie rod.
Inversely, an anti-clockwise rotation will shorten the rod – turning from the back to the front of the car.
How to Adjust The Right Turnbuckle on Arrma Limitless
While facing the car in front of us, have the car pointing right. Turning the turnbuckle clockwise will reduce the length of the rod – rotating using the plier from the back to the front of the car.
If turning anti-clockwise, this will lengthen the rod – rotating from the front to the back of the vehicle.
Adjust For Toe-In Configuration
For a toe-in configuration, we need to lengthen the tie rods. From the car’s point of view, rotate the turnbuckles from the front to the back of the car – clockwise direction from left side view and anti-clockwise from right side view.
Adjust For Toe-Out Configuration
For a toe-out setting, we need to reduce the lengths of both turnbuckles. So, reduce the length of the left and right tie rods by rotating your plier from the back to the front of the car – anti-clockwise from left side view and clockwise from right side view.
How to Remember All This
Imagine you are your RC car. Hold out both hands in front of you at shoulder width and imagine your hands are your front wheels. Then, make two circular motions with both hands by drawing two imaginary circles with your fingers and spinning them away from you.
Chances are your fingers will be drawing two “toe-out” circles since it’s harder to twist your risks inward to draw two forward-facing circles.
The direction of your fingers’ rotations represents the direction in how you should turn your turnbuckle for toe-out configuration. For toe-in, do the opposite by turning the imaginary circles inward.
