Staples...the steering stopper!
 

I recently found this out by mistake. Read on.

I run my Bit around college, and the computer lab is our normal racetrack (when the EMI from the computers doesn't interfer with the bits too badly) and we would occasionally notice that the bits would stop steering one by one.

We would then of course take apart the bodies and check the coild and the wires, and all was good. we would make sure that the steering magnet didn't come detached from the steering arm I never thought to turn the car over in the first place...DUH!

The steering magnet was strong enough to pick up a single staple. This in turn would completely kill the steering. We also found that small pieces of metal had the same effect.

This has now become a common problem; by the end of the day, the bits usually have a fair amoutn of metal on the bottom that has to be removed with a piece of masking tape.

Does anybody else know how I can shield the bottom of my bit?

well you could put tape on the bottom and when you are done racing remove the tape from the botom to remove the metal or you could get a bigger stronger magnet to clean it off.

Cryptonite, man!!! Seriously though, how do you think it could be shielded? You have to have a shield big enough to encompass the outer limits of the magnetism of the steering magnet. Possible? Sure, but you'd be driving around in a giant bubble.

I've had the same problem, know what I do? I just check it now and then. I have never lost a race because of it. Also, check your driving area now and then.

i have typed this a million times so heres another try maybe you will listen.

epoxy an extra steering magnet onto the tip of your telescopic antenna. if you dont have an extra they are a buck or two at radioshack. epoxy(i suggest jbweld) is about 3 or 4 bucks. all you have to do is wave the tip of your antenna(which will already be in your hand so you dont gota search for something else) within an inch of the underneath of the car and it all magically jumps from the car to the tip.

you can also pick your car up by the 2nd battery or a few other places if you drop it behind a table or couch or whatever.

will the magnet interfer with range?

no

it neither increases nor decreases. well it may give you another inch or so because it is making the antenna longer by a few mm.

Hogjowlz

My problem isn't getting the metal/staples off the bottom...that is the easy part. I want to prevent the metal from getting there in the first place.

My original question was how can I shield the bottom? Lately, we are lucky to go 2 minutes without picking up a staple or whatnot. It makes trying to carry on a good race impossible.

you could try to glue a penny or a dime or something non magnetic underneath that is thick enough to disrupt the magnetic field. you will be adding weight tho.

wow, i really never thought of that! It's just like tear-offs, for all of you racing fans out there! lol

... did u sweep the floor first?...