T-Jet Upgrades

The following describes modifications to cars that are legal for racing with the club. Most of these are fairly straght forward but during the chaotic minutes before a race, thay can be difficult. It's best to do these at home when you can concentrate on the smaller details.

Rear Tires
One of the first things you'll notice with a stock JL T-Jet is that the rear tires slip on the rims. The best way to correct this is to install a set of BSRT double flange rims and silicone tires. This is the best return on investment for these cars.

BSRT double flange rims (0.250") - $5.99
Silicone slip-on tires - $1.50

Front Tires
The stock front tires also fall off the rims if you look at them the wrong way. You can either super glue the tires to the rims or replace the whole front end with a brass or aluminum set. I personally find the stock tires to offer a smoother ride than the brass fronts so I grind the tires down to give a more realistic look to the car.

Brass front end - $8.99

Adding Weight
Most racers struggle to shave weight from the car but T-jets actually do better with a bit added. Adding weight to the front holds the guide pin in the slot and weight in the rear increases traction.

Front and rear weight kit - $5.00

Motor Magnets
The JL T-Jest chassis is made from a flexible plastic and the motor magnets are not usually held firmly. By adding a 0.005" brass shim behind the magnets, this stiffens up the chassis around the motor and reduces variations in power output.

Motor shims - $2.00

Pickup Shoes
The stock pickup shoes tend to stall the car when it gets a little sideways on the track. Bend the pickup shoes so that the contact area is longer or trade them in for ones that are already bent.

Custom bent pickup shoes - $2.00 (or trade for stock ones)

Motor Brushes
Motor brushes wear out with time. When this happens, it is recommended to replace them with the silvery ones. These ones don't leave as much residue in the motor. I have not seen a significant improvement over the stock ones to justify replacement as an upgrade.

Note: If the motor squeals, remove the gear plate and make sure the brushes move up and down freely. Bevel the leading edge of the brush slightly. Run the motor without the idler gear until the sqealing goes away. Lubrication of the motor is not recommended since it may contaminate the brushes.

Motor brushes - $2.00

Gear Plate
The gear plate is where the power from the "pancake" motor is transferred to the rear wheels. Ensure that the brass drive gear is pressed on straight. Also check the rear pinion assembly for excessive play. You should be able to see the gear axle between the gear plate but there shouldn't be a huge gap.

Retainer clip
The idler gear seems to be too thin on the stock JL T-Jets. This causes a lot of vibration in the motor as the gear flops around. You can replace it with a thicker brass one or you can flip the stock one and modify the retainer clip so it hold the gear steady.

Bend the center section of the clip that crosses the top of the motor into a slight "W" shape. The center part has to clear the center post and the sides need to be clear of the gear. File the leading a trailing edges of the clip where gear rub can occur to stop excessive wear.

Complete Car
If you want a good running car but are hesitant to do these modifications yourself, I offer complete cars for $49 that include all these mods. If you already have a complete car, you can trade your stock chassis for a newly built one for $20.

Stock cars are $29 including tax.

Note: All prices are estimates and can not be guaranteed.