My Newest Kart

[gocartkid]

As some of you read in my other topic about the kart I'm building, I went to a swapmeet on Sunday that was near me. I found some kart parts that I was going to buy, and I was checking out one kart that they guy who had all the parts was selling. I got talking to him and found out that I could get it CHEAP. So I did. :biggrin5: It is a "Critter II", which I am researching...if you guys know anything about these let me know. It has a non-original Briggs 5hp on it...someone made new mounts. Here are the #'s from it (maybe someone could tell me the year??) Model:130202 Type:181-01 Code:86040607. It goes about 30 mph on asphalt and about the same on dirt. Someone made a homemade header for it...I'm working on buying a real one sometime. It has a removable 'cage (which will be coming off soon...less weight which means it will go that much faster). All in all it's a great kart...just needs a little TLC (the sprocket and clutch aren't lined up, it needs an oil change, you know...easy fixes). I'll be getting a good vid of me racing around in it next w/e...it's not being stored at my house.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff93/htrdon/newkart5.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff93/htrdon/newkart6.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff93/htrdon/newkart3.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff93/htrdon/newkart2.jpg

[gocartkid]

Ok, I did some research and found out that this kart is indeed a Manco and that it was originaly equiped with a Tecumseh 6hp.:thumbsup:

[2or3wheels]

cool, how much did u get it for?

[gocartkid]

cool, how much did u get it for?


$170...not bad and the kart could be NICE with not much work....I even drove it out of the swapmeet! :auto:

[JerryAssburger]

NICE! I was about to suggest "Manco" because that things a dead ringer for my black cart, except for the live axle. I ended up butchering the rear bumper thing off, too. (The engine wouldn't fit.) You're going to have fun!

[oscaryu1]

I'm guessing the engine is a 1986.

[gocartkid]

NICE! I was about to suggest "Manco" because that things a dead ringer for my black cart, except for the live axle. I ended up butchering the rear bumper thing off, too. (The engine wouldn't fit.) You're going to have fun!

Yea...I couldn't stop riding it around as soon as I got it...it's AWESOME in the dirt, the only drawback is the single wheel drive. You said yours had a live axle....was it stock or did you fab it??? That's what my kart needs, and badly.

[JerryAssburger]

It came stock like that. It was supposed to have a B/S 5hp flathead and a HUGE rear drive sprocket (I think it was a 72tooth #41). I put an HF 6.5hp with a torqaverter and had to move the engine mount over a bit- and change out that manhole cover sized sprocket for a 40tooth! Here is a couple of pix of it.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/jerryassburger/100_0025b.jpg

[JerryAssburger]

I found a very short vid of my grandson and I at one of our Kartfests.
http://vid61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/deelorena/?action=view&current=GOKARTN06.flv

[gocartkid]

Yea, mine is pretty slow out of the hole but if you give it a few seconds it really comes to life and suddenly you're doing 30! Does it feel any lighter w/o the 'cage? I was thinking of taking mine off...not sure if it would make a weight difference or not....it is annoying me though.

[ironman]

might help take off alot quicker, but a cage is good to have if you are doing alot of off roading

[gocartkid]

might help take off alot quicker, but a cage is good to have if you are doing alot of off roading

All I ride on is flat dirt....I will see about that.....I'm bringing it home this week to clean it up, give it an oil change, and probably gasket up the engine. It sucks when your toy is being stored across town.

[JerryAssburger]

The cage only weighs maybe 25lbs at the most.... I never drove it with the cage on, because that all had to go to fit the engine and Tqvtr on the back. The cage got in my way getting in and out of the kart. I've had it for almost a year now, and you have to try your darnedest to flip it... (landing nose-first from a jump) sideways, never a problem. I don't think it contributes structurally to the frame.

[gocartkid]

The cage only weighs maybe 25lbs at the most.... I never drove it with the cage on, because that all had to go to fit the engine and Tqvtr on the back. The cage got in my way getting in and out of the kart. I've had it for almost a year now, and you have to try your darnedest to flip it... (landing nose-first from a jump) sideways, never a problem. I don't think it contributes structurally to the frame.


25 pounds, huh? Well I would probably feel the difference since I'm kinda small (100 pounds ish). I tried doing anything I could to try and flip it...I just can't! So I will be taking it off soon.

[ironman]

25 pounds only equals about 1 mph what effect much.

[oscaryu1]

25 pounds, huh? Well I would probably feel the difference since I'm kinda small (100 pounds ish). I tried doing anything I could to try and flip it...I just can't! So I will be taking it off soon.

Try enriching the mixture. Sounds like it's running a bit lean.

[gocartkid]

Try enriching the mixture. Sounds like it's running a bit lean.


Why do you say that? It has PLENTY of power...it's just the width and the way it is set up. :confused:

[oscaryu1]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yea, mine is pretty slow out of the hole but if you give it a few seconds it really comes to life and suddenly you're doing 30! Does it feel any lighter w/o the 'cage? I was thinking of taking mine off...not sure if it would make a weight difference or not....it is annoying me though.

It should come to life in around 1 second. If not... :rolleyes:

[gocartkid]

It should come to life in around 1 second. If not... :rolleyes:


Let me rephrase it then...it is slow out of the hole on dirt because it spins the tire. It is quick on the roads, but that's not really where I ride. I will try that to see if it does improve at all, though.

[oscaryu1]

There we go. Overall speed and tire traction have nothing to do with each other... :rolleyes:

(Actually they do, but you get my point)

[JerryAssburger]

Hey Gokartkid, although you get wheel-spin, I'm sure your kart corners better than mine. The live axle causes the front wheels to just plow on the dirt- and the only good way to take a corner sharply is to get on the gas and try to get the rear wheels to break traction. I wish there was some way for you to try it in person- but I'd give it some heavy thought before you spend the $$ and put a live axle on it. Just my 2 cents worth.

[gocartkid]

Hey Gokartkid, although you get wheel-spin, I'm sure your kart corners better than mine. The live axle causes the front wheels to just plow on the dirt- and the only good way to take a corner sharply is to get on the gas and try to get the rear wheels to break traction. I wish there was some way for you to try it in person- but I'd give it some heavy thought before you spend the $$ and put a live axle on it. Just my 2 cents worth.

That sounds kinda fun but I'm sure it would suck after a while. I'm not putting a live axle in this one...I'm going to try and not modify it too much. :rolleyes: :wink2:

[jr dragster Tyler]

I have a live axle in my kart and it turns GREAT! But then again my kart has big tires in the front and weighs a ton and is long. but still I dont think you will have a probelem.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Live axles are great, just fill up your tires a little high(less traction, dont do this in mud) and start the turn by throwing the wheel as far as it will go then let off and gun it, my dingo jumps into most any turn i can find doing this under 30mph (goes 40-50 tops haven't clocked with car yet)

[JerryAssburger]

I've done the bit about over-inflating the rear tires, and it still pretty much requires you to commit to the corner and floor it to get the back end to steer. The beginners in our group either crawl around the corners or plow into bushes with it. On the upside, with the torq-averter kicking in (effective 10>1 ratio) and the live axle- this thing hardly ever gets stuck, and darned near could climb a tree. But for the flat, you have to fight it around corners. I was going to put the snowmobile motor on it, but the whole cornering issue has me thinking twice about it. Hope you're having fun with yours.

[I like karts]

When I jet the jet ski on my live axle kart, I won't have to worry about steering anymore 'cause I can blip the throttle and spin the tires :D

[ironman]

just cut the wheels hard and smack the brakes just drift in the corner's best way to do it

[JerryAssburger]

Brakes? Assburger's rule.... What brakes?!

[gocartkid]

Brakes? Assburger's rule.... What brakes?!

Actually the brake rod broke...but it rolls to a stop so all is good. I'm not going to modify this kart, though I will be building a custom kart soon. As for drifting, I do that all the time with the kart the way it is. It'll spin where ever you want when you floor it. It'll do 720's no problem (I'll have to get a vid of that). :cheers2:

[kibble]

Actually the brake rod broke...but it rolls to a stop so all is good.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with finding the nearest tree and using it as a brake.:toetap05:

:arf:

[JerryAssburger]

Or utilizing the "Emergency Brake Shoes"... (your feet!) Ruined many good shoes!

[gocartkid]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with finding the nearest tree and using it as a brake.:toetap05:

:arf:

Actually, I have utilized one. :ack2: That got interesting there for a few seconds.

[I like karts]

There used to be go karts at a camp I work at but then they let all the little retards crash them into trees and snap the front axles

[kibble]

There used to be go karts at a camp I work at but then they let all the little retards crash them into trees and snap the front axles

The horror! :eek: That's lame! Who would actually want to crash into the trees?

[gocartkid]

The horror! :eek: That's lame! Who would actually want to crash into the trees?

That sucks! Not everyone is fit for karts I guess...

[I like karts]

They didn't want to, they just sucked at driving.:out:

[kibble]

:roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :roflol:

Oh man, I literally LOL'ed at that comment!

[crgrr]

Hey dude that looks sweeeet but i just dont understand how you get a thril out of only 30mph lol i need about 70 to get me going thats why im going for a 100cc tkm which will go about 80-90 mph lol actually i will try and get some pics up on the forum to show people how its going !

[gocartkid]

Hey dude that looks sweeeet but i just dont understand how you get a thril out of only 30mph lol i need about 70 to get me going thats why im going for a 100cc tkm which will go about 80-90 mph lol actually i will try and get some pics up on the forum to show people how its going !

Nice! 30 mph is fast for where I ride...it's really curvy and has jumps, etc. Let's see yours!
:useless:

[JerryAssburger]

Where we go karting, you barely have room to get up to 50mph, even on the ATCs.... There's a dirt road that leads to BoxCanyon that a pretty good dragstrip, but no parking lots where we can buzz around.

[kibble]

Hey dude that looks sweeeet but i just dont understand how you get a thril out of only 30mph lol i need about 70 to get me going thats why im going for a 100cc tkm which will go about 80-90 mph lol actually i will try and get some pics up on the forum to show people how its going !

The fastest I've ever driven something was up to 140, at which point I saw a cop and nearly crapped myself. The kart seems just fine at around 35.

[gocartkid]

The fastest I've ever driven something was up to 140, at which point I saw a cop and nearly crapped myself. The kart seems just fine at around 35.

I've been a passenger in a similar ride like that, "OH S!@#" was my response when I saw the cop pull out after us. He eventually backed off. Did I tell you that my dad and I build custom v8 chevy s10 pickups? 500hp in a 2800 pound box, now that's a good power/weight ratio!

I've had the kart up to 40 on my street right before the 90* turn at the bottom of the hill, so I decided to back off rather than be road pizza. I think I found a nice large field here in town where I can open it up, so we'll see. I don't like how this kart handles on asphalt at 40mph, the steering is just way too tight and it just grips the road so good that every time you touch the wheel it feels like it's gonna whip around. I guess that's half the fun!