Calandra Racing Concepts Carpet Knife Generation X Series User manual

Gen-X 10 LE

1
Center Pivot Base
2-56 Button Head
Alum Pivot ball
Assemble the Molded Center Pivot assembly as shown. Tighten the 2-56
button head screws [4] enough to remove any up and down play, be sure the
flanged pivot ball [2] pivots freely.
*Note - Sometimes it is helpful to over-tighten the screws, then work
the ball around by hand, and then loosen the screws so the ball floats around
very free. Do not over-tighten the screws too much or you could warp the
pivot socket.
slightly
Bag 1
Center Pivot
12
3
4
4
1
2
4
Center Pivot Cap
3
4-40 Thin Hex Nut
4-40 x ½” FH Steel Washer Red Locknut
1 - Place the 4-40 x ½” screws [5] through the graphite chassis [6] in
the holes shown. Tighten a 4-40 thin hex nut [7] down fairly tight.
2 - Then, after both thin hex nuts are tight on the 2 mounting screws,
drop the assembled center pivot over the screws. The assembly
should slide down over the hex nuts, not sit on top of them.
3 - Drop a washer [8] over each screw above the center pivot
assembly.
4 - Thread on the 4-40 red locknuts [9]. Do not tighten them yet as we
will adjust this in a later step.
Bag 1
Center Pivot
789
5
7
9
8
6
5

Be sure the 2 aluminum locknuts on top of the center pivot are slightly loose.
There should be a washer under each alum locknut. Notice that the center pivot
“floats" or moves slightly on the 2 screws. This "floating" allows the links
to "free up". This ensures that the rear pod plate pivots freely on the links
and center pivot ball. This is a crucial step when setting up the Gen-X 10.
Snap the 2 links on the balls as shown above. They should rock freely on
the pivot balls.
Place the chassis/backplate on a flat surface. No tires and
no diff on the car! A smooth table or desk should do. Be
sure that the rear bottom plate and chassis are in a
straight line, flat against the table, again, no tires on the
car. Lightly “tap” the chassis and rear pod releasing any
tension in the links. Keep the chassis flat on the table for step 4.
Hold the chassis at the hold point “H” by pressing
the chassis down to the table. Slowly tighten the 2 locknuts that
secure the center pivot. For now, just lightly
snug one side then the other.
Pick up the car and check the pivoting action of
rear lower plate. Rotate the rear plate from side-to-
side. It should move free without binding or "clicking".
If it does not, loosen the pivot locknuts and repeat steps 3+4.
If it rotates smoothly, tighten the locknuts on the center pivot more
securely. Do this by again holding the chassis down to the table at the
hold point “H”. Slowly and carefully, fully tighten the locknuts that hold the center
pivot to the chassis. The handling of the Gen-X 10 hinges (pun intended!) on the
free movement of this rear plate. Be sure that the rear links and rear plate are free and not binding.
(not the rear pod)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5
Center Pivot
Setting the One-piece links
2
H
Bag 2
4-40 x 5/16”
FH steel 4-40 x ½”
FH Steel
Red Low-
Profile Ball
1 - In Bag 2, find the graphite bottom plate [10]. Secure it to the pivot ball assembly with the ½”
flat head screw [5]. Secure it tight with the red hex standoff [11].
2 - Find the 4 red low profile balls [12]. Secure them as shown with the steel 5/16” screws [13].
When secure, pop the plastic side links [14] on the balls so that the flat side of the ball sockets
face the center of the car.
3 - Insert the 2-56 button head screws into the side links from the outsides of the chassis as
shown, and only tighten them enough so that the links will not pop off the balls. You want the
links to pivot very freely without any drag.
4
10
11
12
13
12
13
14
5
2-56 Button Head
4
5
Rotate
One-Piece
Side Links
14
H

Left Side Plate
Graphite
Top Plate
1 - Install the black 2-56 ballstuds [15] into the graphite top plate [16]. These steel balls thread into the
graphite, no nut is needed. Be sure to start them straight and turn them in slowly so they do not strip or break.
A drop of oil is helpful to avoid breaking the steel ball in the graphite. Also, to avoid breakage, tighten the
ballstud a little and then loosen, then a little tighter, then loosen, working the ballstud into the carbon slowly.
Stop tightening the moment the flat of the steel ballstud contacts the carbon.
2 - Insert a red aluminum 4-40 ballstud [17] through the graphite top plate [16] and tighten it in place with a red
locknut [9].
4 - Install the rear pod-brace [19] to the back of the motor
plate [20] and left side pod plate [21]. Use 4 1/4” button head
screws [18] to attach the graphite piece to the pod plates.
5 - Install the completed rear pod assembly to the rear bottom
plate using 4 1/4” flat head screws [22]. Keep an eye on these
screws during the first few runs of your car. They tend to
loosen until they take a “set” and then they WILL stay tight.
Also install
*Note - We do NOT recommend using thread lock in any
application with very small hardware like this. The pieces can
become so locked together that such a small hex wrench will
break and not get the screw out if you ever need to
disassemble it.
In time, the screw will naturally “seat” and stay tight. Just
check on them once in awhile.
Also, keep an eye on the plastic left bulkhead screw holes, if
plastic burrs and flashing forms after repeated use, trim the
burrs with a hobby knife to ensure the part mounts flat.
1 button head screw [18] through the top plate into
the standoff.
16
20
Bag 3
4-40 x 1/4”
Button Head 4-40 x 1/4”
Flat Head
2-56 Steel
Ballstud - Black
Rear X-Pod
3
15 18 22
Motor Plate
21
15
16
18
19
20
21
18
Red Locknut
9
Red Alum
4-40 Ballstud
17
17
22
18

Bag 4
INSERT TWEAK SCREWS IN BRACE ASSEMBLY
1 - Place the Tweak Brace [25] on a smooth, flat table and thread the Tweak set screws [23] into the brace per the illustration. Try
to be careful to thread it in straight and perpendicular.
2-
3 - Repeat the above steps for the second Tweak Plate, but flip the plate first as this is for the opposite side of the car.
With the tweak screw threaded through the brace, thread the plastic spring holder [24] onto the tweak screw as shown in the
illustration. The tweak screw should thread in until almost flush with the bottom of the spring holder. These new spring holders do
not require super glue to hold them to the tweak screws, but a small dot can be added as a precaution if you wish.
Tweak Plates
4
23
Thread the set screw
in until flush with the
bottom of the holder.
23
24
Progressive
Conical Spring
ATTACH SPRING TO HOLDER
Push the spring [26] into the groove on the plastic
holder [24]. Make sure that the first coil sits into the
angled groove. This allows the spring to sit flat on the
bottom plate. If the spring coil is not properly seated in
the groove, the spring will sit on an angle and make
the car difficult to tweak properly.
Bag 4
26
26
24
Red Alum
4-40 Ballstud
17
Red Locknut
9
Tweak Plates
Make sure spring coil
is seated into groove
on spring holder.
4-40 x 3/8”
set screw Molded Plastic
Spring Holder
23 24
Assemble the Tweak Plates
1 - Use the 4-40 x 3/8” button head screws [28] to fasten the
black plastic standoffs [27] to the graphite tweak plate [25].
2 - Insert the red ball stud [17] through the tweak plate and
secure with a red locknut [9] as shown in the illustration.
27
28
17
25
9
4-40 x 3/8”
Button Head
28
25
4-40 x 1/4”
Flat Head
22

5
22
1 - Mount the completed tweak brace assembly to the chassis as shown using the 4-40
x 1/4” flat head screws [22]. Do this for both left and right side tweak plates.
Bag 5
2-56 set-
screw stud
2-56 Plastic
Ball Cup
Short 4-40 Plastic
Ball Cup (on tree)
.035”
Allen Driver
Delrin Plunger Aluminum Tube
.125 "
1
2
3
4
.188 "
1 - Use the small allen key [29] to drive the 2-56 set screw stud [30] into the thin plastic ball cup [31].
2 - Leave about 3/16” (half the set screw length) protruding from the ball cup.
3 - Do the same for the short 4-40 ballcup [32]. Use the 4-40 x 5/16” set screw [36] and the slighty larger .050” allen key. Leave about 1/8” protruding.
4 - Thread the 2 ball cups into their respective tube halves per the diagram. Finger tighten.
Damper Tubes 4-40 x 5/16”
set screw
36 29
30 31
29
30
31
36
32
32
34
33
34
33
** Adding the Damper Tubes to the Chassis assembly **
Snap the assembled & lubed damper tubes on the respective points as
shown in the diagram to the right. You will find it easier to snap on the
centered, smaller 2-56 ball studs first, then pop the outer, larger 4-40 ballcups
CRC
Tube
Lube
5
35
Completed Tube
5 - Add CRC Tube Lube [35] to each slot on the delrin plunger [33].
Build the tube and be sure it has smooth, damped action.
*** : fill only the slots, not the entire aluminum tube [34]. ***Note

6
Bag 6
Battery Top Deck Red 3/4”
Standoff
37
1 - Bolt the 3/4” hex standoffs [37] to the chassis using four 1/4” flat head screws [22].
2 - Mount the plastic battery blocker pieces [38] to the chassis by fitting them into the holes as shown below, and then secure in place with 1/4” FH screws
[22] in the center hole.
*Battery Positions - In the diagram on the top right, you will see that there are 3 positions for the battery blockers on the Gen-X10 LE chassis when using a
1S battery pack. In position 3, there is no rear blocker as the pack will rest up against the center pivot. There is also a 4th position for a 1S LiPo pack where
the pack goes across the back of the chassis like the Gen-XL 12th scale car. For this position, you will remove the top deck and battery blockers completely
(pictured on the bottom of the next page) and tape the battery in between the links. As shown below, there is only one position available for 2S packs.
22
37
4-40 x 1/4”
Flat Head
22
4-40 x 1/4”
Button Head
18
18
39
Red Low-
Profile Ball
12
12
4-40 x 3/8”
Flat Head
41
40
41
22
Insert the antenna tube (not pictured) into the front hole of the
antenna mount [40] and lock it in place using the 1/8” set screw [105].
You can wrap the antenna around the tube and hold it in place with
the antenna cap, or you can drill a hole in the mount above the 3/8”
FH screw [41] so you can feed the wire up through the tube.
22
38
(1S - 3)
(1S - 1)
(1S-2)
(2S position)
3 - Mount the red low-profile ball [12] to the graphite top deck [39] in
the hole shown below using a 1/4” FH screw [22]. Then mount the
antenna mount [40] in the holes shown using the 3/8” FH screws
[38]. (The antenna mount [40], the 3/8” FH screws [38], and the 1/8”
set screw [105] come out of Bag 7, which is the next bag we will
open for assembling the center shock.)
4 - Once the top deck assembly is complete, mount the top deck [39]
to the chassis standoffs [37] using the four 1/4” BH screws [18].

7
Bag 7
Center Shock
1 - Thread the spring adjuster nut [42] onto the shock body [43] as shown above. *This needs to be installed first or you will not be able to get it on later after the
lower end of the shock is assembled!*
2 - Insert only 1 of the small o-rings [44] into the lower end of the shock body [43]. Next, install the bottom shock plug [45] and tighten the bottom shock cap [46].
3 - Insert 1 of the small e-clips [47] into the lower groove of the shock shaft [48]. Slide the piston [49] over the shaft until it stops against the e-clip and then
secure it in place with the other e-clip in the end groove. Next, slide the other small o-ring [44] over the shock shaft and up against the piston. This o-ring acts as
a travel limiter.
4 - Put a small dab of the included shock oil on the threads of the shock shaft to lube it and then slide the shock shaft through the bottom end of the shock
carefully so you do not damage the o-ring with the threads on the shock shaft. Pull the shaft all the way through until the piston bottoms out in the shock body.
5 - Wipe off any excess oil from the threads of the shock shaft and then thread on the of the 2 included ballcups [50]. *If you need to hold the shaft with
pliers, be sure to wrap a rag around the shaft first so the pliers do not damage the shaft. If there is any damage to the shaft, the sharp edges will damage theo-
ring and cause the shock to leak.
6 - Now with the shaft still fully extended, hold the shock body upright and fill with the included shock oil. Press the shaft in about half way and then return it to
full extension. Look inside the shock and you will notice small air bubbles in the oil. This is the rest of the air that was trapped below the piston. Allow enough
time for the air bubbles to work their way to the surface and pop.
7 - Once satisfied that all of the air is out of the shock, top off with oil and then insert the shock bladder [51] by laying one side into the oil and then rolling your
finger across the top of the bladder to expel any excess air and/or oil.
8 - Insert the flanged ballcup [52] into the upper shock cap [53] and then tighten this down over the shock bladder, being careful to not knock the bladder off its
seat and allowing air to enter the shock. *Double check that the shock is working smoothly through its range of motion and that you can fully compress the
shock. If it binds up before being fully compressed, then it has too much oil and you will need to crack the top cap loose and expel a very small amount of oil and
retighten.
9 - Slide the shock spring [54] over the shock body and keep in place by clicking the spring retainer [55] over the shock shaft and sliding it down over the long
ballcup to keep it in place.
longer
42
50
55
48
44
46
45
54
43
44
47
49
51
52
53
(Lower groove)
(End groove)
40
Antenna /
Shock Mount
Red Alum
4-40 Ballstud
17
4-40 x 3/8”
Flat Head
38
CRC Encore Shock
*Note* - The red ballstud [17] in this bag is not used unless you try the rear battery setup similar
to the 12th scale Gen-XL.
17
4-40 x 1/8”
Set Screw
105
105

2-56 x ½” SH
Plastic Ride Height
Spacers 3, 4, 5mm
Delrin
Pivot Ball
CRC Pro-Strut
Front End
2-56 Red
Locknut
4-40 x 7/16”
Flat Head
1 - Pop the delrin pivot ball [56] into the lower arm [57]. Place the arm on a strong table and push
the ball in with the back of screwdriver handle. Or preferably, you can use CRC’s 4279 Ball popper
pivot ball tool. Notice the “lip” of the delrin pivot ball is pointing upward. The diagram to the left
represents a right side lower arm. For the left side, flip the second arm over and be sure the pivot
ball is installed with the lip again facing up.
2 - Once the ball is popped in, insert the black 2-56 clamp screw [58] through the horizontal hole in
the lower arm. Thread the 2-56 red locknut [59] onto the black screw. Tighten the screw slowly
continuously checking the pivot ball. When it begins to bind slightly, loosen the 2-56 screw a little.
The ball should be free to pivot with just a bit of drag. There is no need to have this ball super loose
and free, a slight drag will be just the right amount of clamping force.
Check this fit after a few runs as the ball will wear and require additional clamping force.
Lip
1 - Install the upper A-arm mount [60] with the amount of Dynamic Caster desired. The options are 0, 5 and 10
degrees. The part shown to the right in the diagram is the 5 degree version and is a good starting point. The
10 will angle down more toward the front of the car with the 0 being parallel to the chassis. The general
thought is the more Dynamic Caster, more steering the car will have at corner entry.
2 - With side cutters or good scissors, cut off (do NOT break off) the 3, 4 and 5 mm spacers [61] from the ride
height tree. Use the 5 mm thickness for 1/10th scale tires. For fine front ride height adjustments, use the CRC
#4262 optional front shim set. This set contains .010, .020 and .030” plastic ride height shims. After selecting
the proper spacer, push the 4-40 x 7/16” screw [62] through the plastic ride height spacer [61], then through
the lower arm [57], and then thread the screw into the upper A-arm mount [60]. Be sure NOT to over tighten.
Just snug, so you do not deform any of the plastic parts.
56
56
57
58
58
59
59
60
61
62
61
57
62
Bag F
1 - Break the mold tree from the upper A-arm [63]. You can clean up the
mold gates with a hobby knife or rotary tool.
2 - Locate the upper arm hinge pin [64] and slide it into one half of the upper
arm. Locate 3 small caster shims [65]. Push the hinge pin through the 3
shims. Then continue to push the hinge pin all the way into the upper arm.
3 - Now, install the arm/pin/washer assembly onto the upper arm mount [60].
Put the hinge pin in the channel. At this point you can set your starting
caster setting by moving these washers forward and back. The position
shown to the left will result in a competitive handling. Moving them to the
rear will increase steering from the center and exit of the corner.
If the fit of the upper arm is tight, trim the upper arm mount SLIGHTLY with a
hobby knife.
4 - Install the upper cap [66] with four 2-56 button head screws [67]. The
topper is the “clamp” for the hinge pin. Be sure to tighten so that any gap is
gone, however, do not tighten beyond that point as damage can occur to the
upper a-arm mount holes.
63 64
65
60
66
Hinge Pin
64
Caster Shim
65
2-56 BH
67
Upper Cap
66
67
8

Dual Axle King Pin
Brass Set
Screw
E-Clip
2-56 SH
1 - Build up the left and right steering blocks [68] as shown to the left. Start by threading the button head screw [18]
through the graphite steering arm [69] and into the red low profile ball [12].
2 - Then, slide the graphite steering arm assembly into the steering block, lining up the 2 mounting holes. Using the
2-56 socket head screws [70], fasten the arm to the steering block. DO NOT OVER tighten. You will drive the screw
through the steering block, deforming the part.
1 - Push the Dual aluminum axle [71] into the plastic steering block [68]. Push it all the way
in firmly. Notice you can install the axle inline or trailing. Typically, this is installed inline for
1/10th racing. This will increase the steering response as compared to trailing.
2 - Insert the e-clip [74] into the groove on the end of the King pin [72]. Next, slide the nylon
spring cup [76] all the way down until it rests against the e-clip. Make sure the larger
diameter of the spring cup is against the e-clip and the smaller diameter side faces up. Now
slide the spring [73] down against the spring cup, large side down. The larger end of the
spring will fit over the step in the spring cup, and the smaller end of the spring will fit into the
bottom of the lower arm.
3 - Now put your king pin / spring assembly on the end of the Allen key and slide it through
the lower arm pivot ball [56], & then thread it into the steering block (with the steering block
all the way down against the pivot ball). Thread the king pin in until the spring just touches
the lower arm pivot ball. The preload on the spring can be adjusted with the king pin length.
4 - Once happy with the preload position, lock the king pin with the 4-40 brass set screw
[75] through the back of the steering block.
CRC Pro-Strut
Front End - cont.
Red Low-
Profile Ball
12
4-40 x 1/4”
Button Head
18
71
68
72
73
74
75
71 72
75
74
70
Upper
Ball
77
68
18
69
12 70
Graphite
Steering Arm
69
9
Progressive
Conical Spring
73
76
Nylon Spring
Cup
76
1 - Take the upper pivot ball [77] and push it though the steering block and
thread into the upper arm. Thread it in so there are no threads showing.
2 - Take the slotted capture insert [78] and thread it into the steering block.
THIS IS A BIT TRICKY .... as the insert must be fitted at a down angle as
shown to the left. DO NOT try to insert it horizontally into the steering block. It
is actually threaded in at a down angle toward the center of the car.
3 - Tighten this capture insert so that the steering movement is bound and
slow. Yes, we are actually slightly over tightening this piece FOR NOW. With
the steering movement bound from over tightening, move the steering to it’s
limits, back and forth. What we are doing is “breaking in” the upper
ball/capture insert. After a minute or so of break in, loosen the insert just
enough so the steering is free. Not too much or you will induce excessive free
play.
77 78