pic: Beginnings of a gokart

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Kyle A

I dont think that you will. On our go cart we have a small wheelbase and the only problem that you may have is with it skiding a little bit when we are turning.

I meant will having a long wheelbase cause any problems with turning radius not being adequate? I do plan to drive only one wheel.

Also, what does everyone think of the bearing on threaded bolt issue. I'm thinking I'm going to cross my fingers and try it and I'm only out $12 if it doesn't work.

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Also, what does everyone think of the bearing on threaded bolt issue. I'm thinking I'm going to cross my fingers and try it and I'm only out $12 if it doesn't work.

how about filling the threads with something? bondo maybe?

[Timmyd]

one wheel drive could make it drive to one side or the other and the threads shouldn't make a big deal of trouble but i haven't tried it so i don't know you may be able to turn down the threads on a lathe and put some tubing over it the same OD as the ID of the bearings cut the tubing in half and weld it on the missing threads but that is a little too much work for what you probably want to do

or you could fill the threads with weld and grind it down to fit

[Timmyd]

OK before i sound like an idiot what kind of tools do you have at your disposal
lathe, knee mill, MIG TIG stick welder, grinder, drill press, any of these???
if not your project is going to be a pain in the you know what

[Evan Austin]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I meant will having a long wheelbase cause any problems with turning radius not being adequate? I do plan to drive only one wheel.

Also, what does everyone think of the bearing on threaded bolt issue. I'm thinking I'm going to cross my fingers and try it and I'm only out $12 if it doesn't work.

Personally, I would avoid using a bearing over a threaded rod. You would have to get the bearing to go over the threads fairly tightly, and with the beating that a go-kart will endure, I think that you will beat the threads over and wind up with an undersized shaft. You may not have problems, but I don't think that I would chance it. If the bearing slides easily over the threads, i would look for a smooth piece of shaft to make axles out of. You could get away with slip fitting the bearings on a smooth shaft because it will be much harder to deform simply because the surface is solid.

[Evan Austin]

[quote=Timmyd] for the muffler scrap it it kills hp to take it of you will have to take off the gas tank and carb first . instead off a muffler use straight pipe it will give you more hp and it sounds awesome

This is up to you but I don't really like running straight pipes. The lack of any back pressure in the exhaust has a tendancy to burn exhaust valves over long periods of time. Also remember that if you want to run straight pipes you are going to have to richen the fuel mixture, because free flowing exhaust also makes the engine run lean. We have always used mufflers on our go-karts and never had problems, even revving 5500+ rpm (with a stock engine minus a governor, this gets a little scary ). However, we run 8hp Briggs and Tecumseh engines on ours. As for extra power, you won't be able to feel much of a difference, unless your muffler is totally plugged up and this rarely happens to 4 cycle engines (2 cycles tend to have a problem with this because you must mix oil with the fuel, too much plugs them up). If you really want more power, you need more motor. It looks like a fun project though, good luck with it.

[chilidawg87]

ok be really careful because my neighbor did this and welded himself a frame and my sister REALLY messed up her arm and shoulder on it. you may consider helmet and ...umm a real gokart frame...you can probably buy on on the internet ...anyway i just dont want to ee something like what my sister had


yea her arm looked like a hamburger and they used a nylon brush to get the gravel out...


be careful i dont want to hear a story about a first kid getting hurt..

[sanddrag]

Danger is what makes it fun! True but safety is more important.

You are correct in saying that this will be a dangerous gokart. It is all home made, scratch built, and built with getting it done in mind over quality. I do plan to wear a helmet. I do still intend to spend as little as possible on it so I will not be buying a frame. If I had a brand new 8hp engine or something like that, I'd put more care and money into the quality department but for now, it is just some experimental fun and I just want it to move decently. With me and a 3hp engine, I don't think the two of us will be going anywhere too fast but maybe I'll surprise myself.

The rear is the frame from the lawnmower. The frame will be primarily aluminum C channel (1x3x1/8 I think) bolted together.

May I ask what exactly happened to your neighbor's frame/kart to cause the accident?

Also I have a safety question. It would be a good idea to have a seat belt right? There isn't any reason not to have one (like on motorcyles) is there?

[Tytus Gerrish]

just curious. did this thing ever progress past this point in the picture?

[sanddrag]

Yep, I got some frame rails on, and some cross members, and the rear wheels and sprockets mounted, and a seat. But I haven't done the front spindles or steering yet. I plan to, but it has just been so hot outside this summer (95+ every day) that it's hard to do any work outside or in the garage.

[i like dirt]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible. Cost so far:

Mower with semi-running engine: ......................FREE (zip, zero, nada)
Gasket and fuel diaphragm for the engine: .............................$7
Gear puller to remove stubborn sprocket: ...............................$7
Four 10" pneumatic wheels with steel hubs and ball bearings: .. $20 total

GRAND TOTAL SO FAR: .................................................. ...$37

Looks like someone's been watching rerun's of the MONSTER GARAGE on the Discovery Channel. (That show rocks!)