Re: Kitbot pros and cons
Some thoughts on the KOP frame. The side rails need to be cut. When you cut make sure you cut from the same end. Put the pieces together and mark. If you do it wrong, the holes will not be aligned as our team found out last year. We assembled the frame with a couple bolts to hold it together. When we where certain that the frame size was fixed, we pop riveted it with 1/4" pop rivets from McMaster-Carr. It takes a large tool. We borrowed one from a local automotive shop. Normally for pop riveting frame pieces, I insist on the team using back up washers. However for the 1/4" rivets we did not use them. It is very difficult to get them in side the frame and hold them flat. If you pull the rivet with out them just right the joint will not pull tight properly. The rivets will save some weight and have not failed for us. The was a post back in Nov. discussing this. If your using the KOP wheels get 3/8 ID bearings and use 3/8" grade 8 bolts for axles.
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