Wife wanted a go kart instead...

[Bansil]

Hello, hope I fit in here, was looking for active forum for go kart part advise.

Wife wants a go cart, so I said okay. Started collecting parts to build a couple cyclekarts, and now frame and wheels/tires get changed to a go kart with rollover protection
Happy wife...happy life

Hope to start build in a month or so

[Kartorbust]

You have plans to go off of, or just winging it?


Welcome!

[JTSpeedDemon]

Ya kinda don't fit in here...
since most wives want go karts GONE instead!

This is a very active forum, I hope you can get lots of good advice.
And once again:

[Kartorbust]

Originally Posted by JTSpeedDemon

Ya kinda don't fit in here...
since most wives want go karts GONE instead!

This is a very active forum, I hope you can get lots of good advice.
And once again:

I'll gladly beg to differ on that one. My wife doesn't care if I build one or not. Just have to spread out part buying to once every couple months.

[JTSpeedDemon]

"Honey, your triannual semi truck of go kart parts is here!"

[itsid]

Rollover protection is a myth!
there is none, there never was one, there never will be one..
forget about it! NOW!

....Aaaand that's a vast overstatement,
but what's called rollbars and worse cages are more often than not
NOT rollbars and much less roll cages.
On Karts they're -in almost all cases -
what's called brush guards
they protect from light and maybe medium impacts.. bushes low hanging small branches etc..
maybe even if the kart's tipped over
But can and likely will fold under more stress
like actually rolling the kart or hitting a big enough branch.

So, be prepared to either build the equivalent of a tank
[2" tubing, head and back crossbraced, fully welded with the chassis etc.]
or explain to your wife that there is NO ROLLOVER PROTECTION


Oh I forgot.. sorry:
Welcome !

'sid

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum!!!

[Bansil]

Cool welcome, thanks!...I'm using left over 1-1/2 dia x .120 wall erw for main parts and fill in supports will be 1-1/2 dia x .o83 wall, 2 person frame.

She has rolled a couple toys in the past

Front will be simple solid for first rendishing, (these projects are never done) and back will be a swingarm design with engine mounted on it.

---------- Post added at 05:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:38 AM ----------

To add main reason for this besides fun, is to drive down to boat with cooler, chairs etc. So if her and friend want to visit neighbors for weekly get togethers they dont have to walk or drive bigger vehicles and golf carts would not survive the dirt roads.

Of course I'm sure the drivetrain will change now.

[Functional Artist]

Yes, Welcome to the forum

I think of "roll over protection" as more of a concept than an actual thing (bar or cage)

IMO COG (center of gravity) is way more important

Keep your stance wide & most of the weight down as low as possible
...but, I always add a roll bar into the design too


* Wow, sounds like that's gonna be a really heavy kart
...what's your propulsion unit gonna be a V8 Chevy?

[Bansil]

13 ponies and 40 TC, it will even have a hitch for log splitter or flower "installing" trailer

Cheaper version of a sxs

Frame should be about 125 lbs bare, so going for 275 total-ish , fingers crossed

[JTSpeedDemon]

A 420(or equivalent) and a 40 series TC?
TOORQUE!

[Dingocat]

Rollover? Helmet lol. Rolled a kart at a friend's house. Wearing a helmet, only damage was some bruises and a dented gas tank.

[JTSpeedDemon]

Simply because of the low COG karts have by layout, if they do roll, it will probably be upside down for a fraction of a second.
Best roll over protection is a good helmet.
I actually just ordered a full face helmet yesterday.

[Bansil]

I have to edit wt. I just picked up the engine 73lbs dry, kart thingy will be probably 375lbs

I felt really old carrying it into house

I guess I need to get a picture this weekend and start a build thread, so I have a place to see progress

---------- Post added at 02:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------

We have helmets from racing and other safety equipment, cage really helps when rocks and trees get in the way

[JTSpeedDemon]

Yeah big blocks are heavy. Hence "BIG-block".
Good that you have safety equipment, and yes a roll cage will be good for rocks and trees, but make sure in a normal driving position that your body is within the cage, and also put seatbelts in it. Then it will be pretty safe.

[Bansil]

My favorite project

https://forum.planetisuzoo.com/viewtopic.php?p=232519


My last toy I built an Amigo w/3/4 eliptic rear suspension and 14 point cage, raced hard for 3 years, then I killed her over rotating a turn and hit table top wrong...the "landing" or crash shortened her driver's side wheel base almost 3 inches

[JTSpeedDemon]

Owie.

[Budget GoKart]

Wow cool i just got to drive my yerf dog and it proved reliable

[Kartorbust]

One guy I watch on YouTube on occasion, KGN Metal, has a nasty tendency to flip, and/or roll hit karts/buggies when off roading. Each one has a roll cage and they seem to hold up well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcJeKNhPd7o

Long as its built well, should have no problems being safe in a roll over.

[Joe-405]

Last years buildoff winner has sustained a 70+mph crash and it barrel rolled 6 times with me in it. It only scratched the paint. If you need any pointers !

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=38772