My go kart project

[jacko206]

Hey Guys

Well this is my go kart that i have been working on and off for about a couple of months.

The one problem i have is my steering one wheel turns further then the other and i have tried all different thinks like a bigger toe in are less. I copied the same steering set up as on this website.
Here are some pic's of it so far.
(it is hard to see in the pics but the wheels do not line up right)
Any comments or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[skid20]

Did you try adjusting the tie rods?

Also if those are Harbor Freight wheels on that cart I strongly suggest you get some beefier wheels because those are made for a hand truck and the bearings will break out of the hubs.
I know from experience I had one of those come off my kart at about 45mph.... not pretty lol!

[anderkart]

The one problem i have is my steering one wheel turns further then the other and i have tried all different thinks like a bigger toe in are less. I copied the same steering set up as on this website.


As your going around a corner, your Inside tire should be turning at a sharper angle. This is called Ackerman and it helps Karts turn better.

You can learn a lot more about the Ackerman principle in this search link: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=5&oq=ackerman&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4DMUS_enUS221US222&q=ackerman+steering

[jacko206]

Yer the bad think is my steering is the the other way around to that ackerman steering thing. My outside wheel turns more then my inside wheel.

[BAMBY]

right when i saw those pics, i remembered learning about that ackerman steering in my schools high mileage vehicle club (our school's ride is more of a gokart/low mileage but its got lamborghini doors on it though) (what it looses in mileage it makes up in looks and cool factor.)

any way, i forgot the name of it till i saw anderkart's post.
this is a great principle to apply, and it lowers front tire wear, and most importantly eases steering and lowers friction from rubbing going around the turn.

without this, one tire is almost being dragged sideways around the turn.

Kudos to you jacko206!!! you are a genious and didnt even know it. even tho ya got it backwards, you maked your steering with a great principle and didnt know it!!! :roflol: awesome!!!:thumbsup:

great work jacko206, and keep it up and fix your steering with the same principle inplace, an it will rock!
BAMBY

[brendonv]

I think i no why its like that. I made my steering like the website has but u got urs setup a tiny lil bit wrong.Im not sure if this would affect it but mines setup like this and mine is fine. Thats the only thing that looks wrong on ur setup that could change it. U see on mine i got my L bits mirrored sorta and urs are just together, i dunno if it would change it but it could.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7517/260720091426.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/i/260720091426.jpg/)

I spaced my two L bits out with washers so the two rods are perfect aligned. I didnt like it without them in there.

Anyway nice kart man, good to see another aussie on here.

[jacko206]

Yer thanks guys
i will try changing the L shape things tomarrow and see if it works better.
Made the back rest for something to do today and looks good i think, will put a pic up soon.

[jacko206]

Here is the back rest i probly went a bit over the top when i built it.

But got all the materials free from school, so who cares.

Its made with a plywood back then foam and then vinyl over the top with a sheet metal back.

[frederic]

As your going around a corner, your Inside tire should be turning at a sharper angle. This is called Ackerman and it helps Karts turn better.

The steering arms are not really an "L" in relationship to the spindle.

The easiest way to create fairly accurate ackerman angles is to tie string between the center of the spindles where it pivots between the two ball joints, and the center of the rear axle. When done, you'll have a "V" made of string.

Your steering arms on your spindles should follow the string for each side, like so:

[TOO FAST]

True when your steering is behind the axle. If it's in front like Jacko then draw a line from the front of the axle forward from the kart the same length as the wheelbase and put your string from this point to spindle as before. In other word the front
mount of the spindle connector (where your tie rod connects) is always pointing away from the tire

[jacko206]

I cant decide what size sprocket to have on my kart.

-The engine is 6.5hp
-wheels 10" or 255mm
-sprocket on clutch is 12T
-engine speed is 3600 rpm

I want to go quick but be able to spin the wheels and do power slides.

I am thinking 60T which is 5:1 ratio.

[T-man]

Ackerman angle named after the man who came up with the idea for improving the steering of carriages. Prior to this breakthrough the front end of a carriage would have a tendency to slide the front wheels of the carriage through a turn because both the front wheels turned at the same angle or radius. With the simple adjustment of steering geometry you can have the outside wheel turn at a wide radius than the inside wheel dramatically increasing the turnability of the vehicle. Here is a link to better explanation of the theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ackermann_steering_geometry this link has a better explanation for your perposes http://www.nationaltbucketalliance.com/tech_info/chassis/ackerman/Ackerman.asp

[frederic]

True when your steering is behind the axle. If it's in front like Jacko then draw a line from the front of the axle forward from the kart the same length as the wheelbase and put your string from this point to spindle as before. In other word the front
mount of the spindle connector (where your tie rod connects) is always pointing away from the tire

Yes, correct, I overlooked that little detail, simply because I'd never point the steering arms forward.

[jacko206]

I got my engine.
Coming in about a weeks time.

[brendonv]

run 72 to 12 6:1 if u wanna pull of some nice burnouts. 5:1 wont make u do many burnouts.

[Kaptain Krunch]

you wont do burnouts with a centrifugal clutch anyways.

[jacko206]

you wont do burnouts with a centrifugal clutch anyways.

why?

[T-man]

hay jacko206
I'm putting in the Akerman angle into my kart now...my spindle is just a standerd "L" setup. so I'm use my tape and aline it to the center of the rear axle then line it up with the king pin and where the tie rod is going to connect is about 5/8 fearther out from where its at now.

[jacko206]

Thanks

T man would you be able to put a pic of the whole steering.

[T-man]

ah ... no i wouldt be able to because most of it is hidden under paneling... Its the first go kart/serious welding project that I have ever built ...I would show you the whole thing but I dont want people to think that I'm spaming..I'm simply here to get input, share ideas and help if I can.

[theo]

hay jacko206
I'm putting in the Akerman angle into my kart now...my spindle is just a standerd "L" setup. so I'm use my tape and aline it to the center of the rear axle then line it up with the king pin and where the tie rod is going to connect is about 5/8 fearther out from where its at now.


Why don't you add some caster and King pin angle?

theo

[T-man]

I have never messed with that befor so I dont know what I'm doing..

[theo]

Caster, lay the top of the spindle rearwards 5 deg or so. This will help the kart track straight at speed.

KPI, is leaning the spindle inboard at the top. This will help in turning. :wai:

theo

[T-man]

hay theo thanks for that ..Ive been trying to figure out how its done...thanks

[jacko206]

Well i got my engine today.

Now i need to work out how to connect up the throttle linkage.

Feel free to comment about whats the best way to do it.