[FONT=Arial][SIZE=7]I bought a Fisher Gauge and talked to Derek about it's use, but, I didn't take very good notes. Can somebody give me an run down of the proper use? Thanks.
First mount the gauge on the spindle. Next move the arm with the indicator over against the body of the car letting the indicator hit in the range of .200. Zero out the indicator then place a 10 to 15 pound weight on the opposite spindle. This will give you a # on the indicator. This # is a baseline for determining kingpin tension. The reason we use this instead of a torque wrench is because if the bolt is lubricated it will give a false reading.
DEREK
Derek mentioned that this is a basline. That is key. We all talk about torque settings of king pins and we tend to guard our numbers because we do not want to give up our "edge." We really guard our numbers because they are reproducable by the next guy with a torque wrench.
The Fisher gage gives you another piece of data to fine tune your king pin but it is not really car to car comparible. Only if everyone had the exact same gage, the exact same weight and the exact same weight placement on the axle would this data be apples to apples. If you really want to screw with your competition, use a little heavier or lighter weight, record the data and then spread the data to the competition.
The Fisher gage is a great tool to help you determine the proper washer stack for a given track condidtion. It allows you to run tight but still know how much rock can occur. Or run tight but see how solid you are. Many of us use a Fisher gage, but you have never seen mine. Years of experience tells me with a given washer stack, exactly how much king pin torque equals what reading on the Fisher gage. If I turn a king pin nut at a race to experiment, I know what outcome to expect. Experience and having a Fisher gage in my garage gives me this knowledge. I would never rely solely on a torque wrench or a Fisher gage to give me all the information I thought I needed. I have always used both pieces of data.
But to properly use the data the gage gives you you must first understand the difference between "tight" and "solid."
Now to gain this correlated knowledge from the Fisher gage and the torque wrench, it has not come from years of racing. It has come from years of testing. And that is a lost part of Derby that we have discussed before. There is a hugh difference between testing knowledge and racing knowledge and whoever has the most knowledge from each, has the best chance to win.