Building a Go Kart - geometry questions

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

When I was 9, I nailed 2x4's to plywood, and lawnmower wheels to the 2x4's....
Steering was done with a rope, as the front 2x4 had only one nail. In the center.

Sounds good. I'll race you.

Mine had a lawn mower engine and belt drive

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by milt

Until you line up to the next person with a kart, there is nothing complicated about them.

This is a great piece of advice Milt. True with most things in life.

On the Kart - I flipped the spindles side-to-side and moved the tie rods under/behind the steering shaft. This really straightened them out. Based on some additional reading and posts above, in addition to making some modifications to help the Ackermann angle, I think I will cut off the front spindle brackets and reweld them with more caster. That's about as far as I'm willing to go on Kart Version 1.0. I don't think my boys will give a rat's a$$ quite honestly whether it steers correctly or not. They're just excited to drive the thing! It's mostly me driving the design bus, and I want it to work well for when I have to "test drive it" for them.

After that, it's time to hook up the brake, work out a seat and then on to the MOTOR!

Fun stuff.

Thanks for the help,
Tom

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

Where did you get the kit with all the parts?

I bought the kit from this place:

Go Kart Galaxy- Go Kart Parts and Minibike Parts at Discount Prices

I could've bought a frame as well for less than $100 more. . . but where's the fun in that? Tubing cost me something like $30, I have a welder, drill press, a borrowed tubing notcher, metal band saw, grinder etc... and need the practice. Of course the priceless component is time w/the kids building and engineering and testing etc....

I'm sure I could do it cheaper by fabricating more parts myself and buying an old junkyard snowmobile for parts etc..., but I decided this was my threshold for $$, time and knowledge etc... If I drag the project out too long, my boys will lose interest.

Tom

[David McLaughlin]

Cool site. With what engine do you power something like this and where would you buy it?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

Cool site. With what engine do you power something like this and where would you buy it?

You can get an engine from Harbor Freight for like $200 bucks.

It's a standard engine for a lot of organized racing series.

EDIT: They are on sale, http://www.harborfreight.com/65-hp-horizontal-shaft-overhead-valve-gas-engine-66015.html

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

With what engine do you power something like this and where would you buy it?

I think you could probably adapt just about any engine you have lying around w/a little fabrication work. One w/a horizontal output shaft would be the easiest to directly connect to a sprocket on the rear axle.

I am eventually planning to make it electric. I'd like to learn a little about the systems and having it quiet in my neighborhood would be a bonus too. I have a few old chainsaw motors that a friend gave me sitting under my workbench. One of them is pretty big - I have no idea if they have the torque to get a kart like this rolling, but since they are free, I thought I'd give them a try first. My boys are young, so speed is not the ultimate goal for Kart Version 1.0. They will get a kick out of the fact that it will move under its own power - even if it's only moving at 5mph!

Check this beast out:
YouTube - Neurotikart II - First Ride!

Tom

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Tom '74 911

Check this beast out:
YouTube - Neurotikart II - First Ride!

Tom

Yeah, I wanna be sitting in one of those when it crashes and the batteries break open spewing acid everywhere.

[David McLaughlin]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yeah, I wanna be sitting in one of those when it crashes and the batteries break open spewing acid everywhere.

Optima! No acid.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

Optima! No acid.

2nd yes, 1st don't think so.

[Bill Douglas]

Maybe an engine out of an old Honda 125. That way you aready have a clutch and sprocket. And as the boys are quite young don't mention it has more than one gear.

[Admin at Pelican Parts]

Here is my 100cc race kart

[Tom '74 911]

Well, It's alive! It's not quite finished, but it moves under it's own power. After some head scratching with the chain saw motor, I decided to spend $109 at Harbor Freight and get their 6.5 HP clone engine. It was simple to set up and install. Here's a few pics of the inaugural test w/my 5yr. old. It was just about dark when I finally got it running, but we couldn't wait for the next morning. . . video to follow as soon as I have few minutes to do some editing. It's fast as heck!

Tom

[Jim Bremner]

I have some kart side pods and I think a nose cone if you want...

Free if you pay the freight

[Jim Bremner]

Ps. Very cool thing for you do do for your son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I have some kart side pods and I think a nose cone if you want...

Free if you pay the freight

I'm thinking of making a fiberglass body like this as a winter project:

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by Tom '74 911

I'm thinking of making a fiberglass body like this as a winter project:

WOW!!!!!!!

( the side pods and nose cone will absorb a TON of energy in a crash. I've tested them at speed)

[dewolf]

Karts become very addictive. My lads started on a fun kart like that then progressed to a 100cc two stroke fun kart, then to a full blown race outfit. Oldest son is state title holder and youngest son is #2 in the sate in their respective classes. Both use Yamaha KT100S engines. Over 17.5HP after blueprinting. Excellent family bonding times.
Good on ya

[onewhippedpuppy]

Very nicely done! I like the use of the child booster seat as a racing seat. That's a super cool father/son project.

[Admin at Pelican Parts]

put a hpv 100cc on it!

[Tishabet]

Get a roll bar on that thing.... it's only a matter of time now.

Awesome project BTW. Wrenching on my go kart with my dad led directly to buying a 73 VW to restore with my dad which led to my car obsession. Thanks, Dad!