Steering on new go-kart

[Eric]

Hi! I'm trying to make a go-kart for my son and I'm stuck on the steering. We have spindles from Northern Tool. The place on the spindle that hooks to the tie rods is slanted up. When we put tie rods on both wheels (with nothing in the center connecting them yet) and turn both wheels one way, one rod goes up and the other down. I don't see how to get the pitman arm to hook to them. What in the world am I doing wrong?

[imported_robertdjung]

Hi Eric, welcome to the site.

To get a better idea what the problem is, can you post a photo if possible? What does your pitman arm look like? Have you already tried to hook them up, and it didn't work, or is this just a question on the theory?

Have a great weekend!

[Eric]

Sorry, I can't do any pictures -- leaving for a week. Maybe after that. I haven't had the steering column (pipe) welded on yet since I don't know what angle -- seems that's the problem.

I initally used threaded stock as a tie rod and tied both wheels together directly (i.e. no pitman arm). Whenever I turned the wheels, the tie rod bowed up in the middle. That's why I cut the rod to make the (normal) two tie rods. Because of the angles involved I'm baffled that when both wheel aim the same direction, the end of one tie rod (where the pitman arm should be) is up and the other down even rubbing the frame. The pitman arm we plan to use is still in pieces -- just a ~5 in. x 1 in. flat steel plate to be welded on the bottom of the steering rod.

I'll see if we can get back to this and do some pix later. THANKS for your help and website!

[frank]

k maybe i can get a model done to see what the problem is, i need some dimensions:

distance between king pins
angle of the spindle arm and the ground
angle of the spindle arm and the stub axle (ackermann)
angle of the king pin and the ground (castor)
length of spindle arm

[SL100OKI]

I'm sure I will run into this problem later,

Questions to piggy back this dude's questions...

1. What's a Pittman arm. I'm gonna google it, but your input in the go-kart world will help more probably.

2. I used castor, camber, and toe settings in my pony stock out in cali. It looks like I have one shot to get it right in a kart, since there are no adjusters like in the stock car.

DUMB QUESTIONS #2

S.C.

[frank]

from this site

Go Kart Pitman Arm

This piece is what's at the end of your steering shaft. When you turn the steering wheel, the shaft turns. At the bottom is the pitman arm. This attaches to the tie rods and pushes them in the appropriate direction.
some racing karts have castor and camber adjustments, it can be done (be creative, but if you really want, we can work something out), and tie rods are responsible for adjusting toe