To drag or not to drag debate

[lesbaldry]

Befor brushless our cars always had natural motor retardation,the strength of this natural "drag brake" would vary depending upon strength of wind/magnets,Yes?

So why today when I speak to various drivers some prefer to turn off any speedo drag setting and let their cars near enough to "free wheel" into corners,yet some use quite a powerful setting?

I feel drag brake is something we very rarely play with and overlook,its use or lack of will effect steering and entry speed into a corner.

I have my own personal choice and reasons bit I would like to hear other views.

[ianlloyd]

Personally I have always liked to have drag brake off so I can "coast" round corners more easily. Seem to be able to carry more corner speed that way. Also do not like drag brake in slippery conditions as can catch you out if not careful. However as you say, with brushed motors there was always an amount of natural drag brake from the motor which is certainly not so defined with brushless.

[gwesty]

as youve stated drag brake can help with steering input into corners by shifting the weight ,
i personally dont like it as for that reason i would become reliant on the drag brake and rely on it to slow me enough for the corners making me over drive the throttle ! also can add motor temps . i dont like too much brake action and would rather coast into corners with alittle brake to keep me on line .

[lesbaldry]

Apr 15, 2010 11:10:59 GMT gwesty said:

i personally dont like it as for that reason i would become reliant on the drag brake and rely on it to slow me enough for the corners making me over drive the throttle ! also can add motor temps . i dont like too much brake action and would rather coast into corners with alittle brake to keep me on line .

Yep I suppose a T3 needs all the help it can get ....

[darrenoakley]

I would be lost without it. Indoors it allows an inexperienced driver a little bit of extra track before braking for the corner. Out of all the things to learn about driving these rockets, for me getting the braking right was the hardest and a slight drag has helped me learn this. As I become more confident I will maybe easy the drag off(or not) but sticking with it for now thanks.

Also with the Photons superb handling you can have as much drag as you want and it wont upset the handling.

There you go pete a nice juicy worm for you mate

[Reuben]

now i dont want to get into a car arguement - again, so ill just say it...... the reason the photon needs drag brake is because if you dont have it and try and carry any real corner speed it does one thing:

Grip and Flip!


but in all seriousness, I used drag brake when i first had my sphere and it was usefull at first and stopped me overshooting the apex and exit. But my personal preference is to run with it off. I did try it on again, but didnt like it. Ide rather use the manual brake where i got a little more input on it.

my view is: you wouldnt drive with the neutral point set to have a little throttle when you are off power, so why set it so you have a little brake off power? if i want a little brake, ill move the trigger a little

[yellowshark]

Dear oh dear I am trying to work an XRAY plug in here but I am actually sans opinion on this one. All I know is that Craig doesn't like it and we don't run it.

I do remember, back in the mysts of time, I borrowed my mates scooter (should have asked really ;D) and I discovered drag brakes. He had cut all the cooling fins off the magneto so as I came to go around the first corner, err I didn't, and ended up in the hedge on the opposite side of the road

[lesbaldry]

I do use drag brake but very little,approx setting 1 or 2 on most ESC's..roughly about the same retardation "for those who remember" a 12t mod.quad magnet

My theory is ,One, befor brushless we had natural drag why change. Two, you wouldn't go blasting into a round about in neutral would you?? even if you did by dropping into a gear or engaging the clutch half way round this action would unsettle the cars line.Three,natural engine breaking (slight drag brake) not only shifts the weigfht forward giving quicker steering response but also allows you to be on the brakes slightly quicker(need it a my age)....I have tried no drag ,It dont suit me at all ;D

Ps if any one is running a 12.5 rotor you will have nearly the same drag (retardation ) as I'm using ....Also with some of the new motors in the pipe line we will have to get used to running more natural drag,you can barley turn theses buggers by hand!

Reubens coment, lmao!!....too much grip is easily dialed out,but not enough is very hard to find,Ask a T3 driver ...Photon no corner speed?? we shall see