Sticky or Wiki database of guru knowledge?

[jorge0136]

Does anyone here have any experince with wikis or putting together web pages? I see that we keep getting the same sets of questions over and over again. Primarily how to drive a kart and if one can use a vertical engine to drive there kart. I was thinking that we could create a database that would document these issues. In addition one could write articles about how and what to do with different issues. As simple as how to wire a kill switch all the way up to pulling lawn trannies apart and modifying them.... simple mechanics of engines etc....etc.... Torque converter pages.... etc.... ok I am getting out of control with the ellipsis here.
The idea came up from another forum that runs this format. Their database is here. http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/showwiki.php?title=Main+Page I know this is based on a wiki format of some sort but am unsure how this works exactly. I also realize the site that this forum is attached to somewhat serves the same purpose to what I am suggesting. Thoughts, critiques, questions?

[freakboy]

I was considering coming up with a small kart building 101 thread that roughly explanes how to make a simple gokart. with some help from others. a few people here know alot about structural stuff, some know alot about ratios, building up blocks, suspention/steering, and other stuff. im sure if we get a thread stickyed and people can add what ever they know alot about and are good at it can add that.

just a idea

[robertdjung]

we have a few threads as sticky... but yes if we could identify / write threads that explain certain topics we could sticky more of them.

we could also move certain "good" threads to another forum -- like a "best of" or a FAQ forum where we can preserve threads.

Feel free to start new threads or keep responding on this one with more ideas!

[Kaptain Krunch]

I like it, there are quite a few repeat questions, mainly from new members, i think a FAQ page would be really helpful. I wouldn't mind writing up a little guide on possible solutions to using vertical engines, and about lawnmower transaxles (which ones are sturdy, which ones aren't, etc).

[robertdjung]

Kaptain: let's do it! Start off with an article and then maybe we can all put in our 2 cents to make sure we have all the angles covered.

[TOO FAST]

I think Kaptain could probably do it all

[freakboy]

I think kaptain and frederic could make a nice info filled thread. it just depends on if they feel like it.

[Kaptain Krunch]

Robert, ill run it by you when im done, or just post it here?

[TOO FAST]

Sounds great. Be cool if this collection could have a pdf
printable or download feature

[frederic]

I think kaptain and frederic could make a nice info filled thread. it just depends on if they feel like it.

I've setup wiki's before. I happen not to like the format because of the lack of security. I've seen many wiki's that have additional comments on a particular set of data "click here for cialis" and what not.

It might be better, or more secure I should say, to have those who want to write articles write them, then submit them to a person or set of persons for review, then make them part of an indexed FAQ.

If you go to the main page here, diygokarts.com/index.html you'll see that the site owner put together a basic shell, with the information organized well and concisely. With his/her permission (I have no idea who owns this system, I just arrived with a beer in hand and paid no attention whatsoever) we could expand that to generic topics as well as specific, highly detailed topics.

If we integrate it nicely, it would be a great addition to the site.

And I'd be happy to contribute, though my knowledge is more around larger vehicles. You know, 800HP and up ;-)

The one thing we don't want to do is refer everyone to the index for repeat questions over and over. That will quickly kill the forums and discourage those who are new looking to participate. We'd have to balance that a bit, and that's not a technical problem but a social one. I've been on many forums where just about anything you ask you get a response "search the archives". Yeah, thanks for that tip Sherlock. lol.

[Kaptain Krunch]

I've been on many forums where just about anything you ask you get a response "search the archives". Yeah, thanks for that tip Sherlock. lol.

Very true, thats how heymow seems to be, it completely turned me off to mower racing (although i'll still make a mower, i just wont listen to their rules! :stir: ).

[frederic]

I think the key is to put enough detail in these documents so when we answer posts, we can refer to them by link, and ADD comments in the post as well, specifically tailored to the individual asking.

Unless of course they ask "what engine is l33t" or something like that.

A PDF downloadable feature is available in some wiki applications and also in Joomla, if the site owner is into any of that.

I still prefer the indexed html page thing however. It's barely more tedious to code, it's by far faster in serving pages which makes the whole site that much more enjoyable to search, use, et al, and creating documents is easy. use "Word" or any word processor, click "save as HTML" and change the theme to the site standard.

[robertdjung]

send what you got to me, then we'll both look at it, then we'll post it and ask for community review.

yes i agree i don't like wikis too much.

re: downloads -- i agree with most of what frederic said. we can sticky topics here in the forum / make a new forum of FAQ topics, and yes i'd like to expand the "main site" info to by placing them in the main area. I haven't worked on that area in a while so some new info would be awesome to "flesh it out" a little more.

Also feel free to take any of the things I've written in the main site and expand on them here.

[freakboy]

Kaptian and I got done with the vertical shaft engine use topic.

[jorge0136]

robertdjung you sound as though you are the owner of this site, if not at least the man in charge. Is that accurate?

Fredric I think you have hit it right on the head. We don't need a wiki that everyone can edit just a place to put articles. Downloadable pdf. would be a very cool feature. I think you are also correct on that we need to have a balance between helping/introducing/socializing people and pointing them to the right article.

I think expanding on the things in the main page would be a great idea. Maybe we could just post all of the articles off of the main page in a typical website html format rather than in the forum? You could add comments on the forum format. Something to think about.

Also I have a question about pulling content from other folks sites etc.... There are many sites that have useful info/articles and plans that I would like to incorporate with our database here. I am going to try to contact them and ask if we can place their content on here as well. I have already fired off a few e-mails and have yet to receive any response back. If I am unable to get the ok from the owner is there any fair use principal here? If I cite where the content came from can we host it? Would a link be sufficient from here? In hope that the site doesn't go down later and the content be irrecoverably lost. Mostly I am thinking of specific plans for karts if that makes an difference.

Freakboy you should post the article in a new thread and let us take a look at it. Quick work on that one you two!

[freakboy]

alright i have what he wrote for the RAGB and i got what i wrote i dont have his thing on the transaxle.

[robertdjung]

hey jorge, yes that's correct. I pay 'da bills! ;)

About using stuff from other sites: If it's someone's graphics, they're usually unlikely to let give permission. Would be nice if so though.

What we can do is link to those images. Then we can decide if they are good enough that we want to re-create them ourselves, we can and that absolves us of any problems.

Send me an email / post it here with ideas of things that we need / links to them. Thanks!
info@diygokarts.com