pic: Beginnings of a gokart

[sanddrag]

Do you think I'll have any problems with the wheelbase? I'm trying to make it as short as possible but I'm a big tall person (like 6'2 or 6'3) so I need the length or my legs will cramp up. I just don't want to have any problems not being able to turn sharply enough though. The other thing I could do is make an elevated seating position so that my legs aren't as extended and the wheelbase can be shorter, but then the CG would be higher and the ride might not be as exciting because I won't be as close to the ground.

For the wheels, I have an identical one on the front of my minibike and the only problem is that the bearings went out but that was only after quite a while and at $5 each it isn't too big of a deal to buy a new one.

One other question I have is about the rear axles. Is it bad if the wheel bearing is riding on a fully threaded bolt? Can I put tape on it so the threads don't eat away at the bearing? Common sense tells me not to put a bearing on a threaded bolt/shaft but logic tells me that the inner race of the bearing will not be moving in relation to the bolt/shaft.

Another objective of this project is to do it with no or little welding, so the way I am thinking of doing the rear axles requires the wheel/bearing to ride on threads.

Last, does anyone know how I can make my own spindles without welding? Is it possible? Currently, I think that is the only part I would have absolutely have to weld (can't think of any other way) but if I can do the whole thing without welding that would be awesome.

Thanks for all the replies. Keep 'em coming!