Mini 4WD Tools and Accessories
When it comes to Mini 4WD Tools, there's quite a few options to choose from - and most people have their favorites. The list below is compiled based on what items I take with me every week in my race box. You can easily swap out to your favorite - this is what works for me.
I've also included a small description of the item, why I like it and where you can get it.
Chargers
I actually use two chargers - a Tenergy TN438 for generic charging (for practice laps) and a SkyRC NC2500 Pro for race conditions (for more precise charging).
The Teneregy TN438 is the perfect charger for getting up to 16 cells charged at one time. It has a charge rate of 2A - yes, a bit high - but it's designed to get them up and ready quickly. It's got a nice LCD display to show the charge process and has auto-off once the cells are done.
When it comes time for racing, I power all my cells with the SkyRC NC2500 Pro battery charger. It has 6 slots - more than enough for 2 cars per class - and has various settings for the perfect charge: Current (1-2.4A), Voltage Limit (where you want the batteries to stop charging) and Trickle Charge - to name a few. Using these settings, you can dial in the voltage for each car during the race night.
It also has a Discharge function, Refresh (battery-cycling), Break-In, Battery Meter (to monitor your cells voltage) and Motor Run (for breaking in motors). It also has a USB port on the front to power other items (I used it to power a fan while I'm breaking in motors).
Batteries
I race multiple classes and found that different batteries are essential as well, mostly because of the weight.
For Box Stock racing, I like to have a little added weight in the car (for most track layouts) to help keep it settled in. For that, I use the Fujitsu 1900mAh NiMH batteries. They're rechargeable (duh) and have extremely durable - I've put quite a few cycles through them and they still deliver some race-winning power!
For every other class, I use the Tamiya NeoChamp NiMH batteries. They're lightweight but still pack a punch (950mAh is more than enough). The set I have are mega-old and, honestly, need to replaced, but a weekly cycle through my SkyRC NC2500 Pro helps keep them in good shape. The unfortunate part is they're hard to find, so check with your local track to see what cells you can use instead of these.
Tools
Mini 4WD cars are small and, in turn, some of the tools are itty bitty as well. That being said, I've had to find work-arounds to some of the teeny-tiny tools so that I can make the maintenance part enjoyable.
This list outlines all the tools I currently use both at home and at the track. I have chubby hands - these are what work for me!
The nuts used on the Mini 4WD cars are small. Like, REALLY small. And, if you're like me and have chubby fingers, holding on to them becomes a challenge. That's why these Mini 4WD Hex Nut Tools are a godsend! They have two ends on them - one side for removing the tiny 4mm nuts and the one side for removing the 4.5mm locknuts. This has, by far, been the best tool in my box.
If you order ANY of these tools - this should be the first one on your list.
Tamiya's Multipurpose Tape will be one of your favorite tools - it's main purpose as a major tuning tool. Use it to cover up your brakes to fine-tune how the brakes work! Typically Tamiya only sells the 10mm version, however a 20mm roll is sometimes released (Limited Edition) that can be used for larger coverage.
Tweezers - of any type - are your best friend in the Mini 4WD world. Parts are small, but having a pair of straight (or curved, I suppose) tweezers will mean the difference between picking up a tiny shim or throwing your car across the room. Trust me. I got these Tamiya ones because, well, Tamiya, and they're black so they look cool.
Link: Tamiya Straight Tweezers
Tamiya offers a Pocket Tool Set that comes with 3 different, useful tools - a Phillips, a flathead and a file. The flathead and file can be used for generic maintenance, however the Phillips is the perfect size for Tamiya's baby JIS Mini 4WD screws. The only downsize of this set is the size of the handles - they're quite small. I've teamed this screwdriver up with Tamiya's RC Tool Set handle and it's become the perfect work tool (see the RC Tool Set below).
Link: Tamiya Pocket Tool Set
The unfortunate part of Tamiya's Pocket Tool Set is the tiny handles - it actually puts quite a bit of strain on your hand. This is where Tamiya's RC Tool Set comes into play - in addition to a full set of drivers and bits, it also has a removeable grip that can be slid OVER the tiny handles, giving you a larger area to grip! I know, I know, it's a hefty price to pay for JUST the grip but let me tell you - it's probably one of the best (and most comfortable) tools I have!
Link: Tamiya RC Tool Set
During the build process (especially a Box Stock or Basic build), it's always best to lube up the bushings in the rotating parts - wheels, gears, rollers, etc. To do that, I use Tamiya's Mini 4WD Oil Applicator Pen. It contains a super slick PAO synthetic oil that is simply magical after application - use it during your build and after every race night for consistent running.
Tamiya's Cera-Grease is a heavy duty lubricant that I use on all the gears in the drivetrain. It helps the gears break in and well as keeping the drivetrain quiet. I use it liberally during the initial application process and clean out any excess after a couple runs.
Link: Tamiya Cera-Grease
I stayed away from this tool for the longest time until I tried it - then I was hooked! This Tire/Wheel Installer allows you to assemble the tire/wheels onto your axle with equal pressure, making sure that they press on straight. Game changer.
It can also be used to adjust your prop shaft if you need the gears slightly closer together. Another game changer!
The Mini 4WD Racing Damper Adjustment Tool is something that was devised to help adjust your side-to-side damper plates to make sure they are equal. If one side is but a millimeter off, your car can jump inconsistently. The Mini 4WD Racing Damper Adjustment Tool is stepped in 1mm increments to measure and adjust each damper for precise handling.
The files are available for download but, if you don't have a printer, I always carry some extras with me - come see me if you want to give one a go!
Knowing your voltage during a race is crucial to winning. Once I find where my cars are fast (but also staying on track), I use this tool to record what the voltage is and try and stay in that area during a race night. And, since two identical cars don't always perform the same, using this to separate where the cars need to be is also key to winning.
I've come to find that bearing oil in Mini 4WD Racing is quite the voodoo topic - everyone has their special blend of go fast juice. Me - well, I like the standard stuff, like the 1UP Racing Clear Bearing Oil. I use this all the time in RC Racing and it's pretty bad ass, so I gave it a try in Mini 4WD and it's been great.
Use what you feel comfortable with - I'm just saying this stuff is awesome.
While not something I use too often, I do have moments where I need to remove a pinion from a motor or adjust it on a prop shaft - that is where the Pinion Puller comes in handy. Not a bad idea to have one of these in your arsenal.
A pair of long-nose pliers is a must. And I already know what you're saying - 'those are some expensive pliers'. Well, maybe, but I've gone through 2 other sets of cheaper ones and ended up here. It's just Tamiya quality, and these just work great.
Link: Tamiya Long-Nose Pliers