Manco Project/Revival

[mysteryboy28]

the 2-bolt hangers and flanges work great. that's what i used.

you need 3 sets. 2 on the outside, and one in the center, off to the left so that you can mount your motor in the center.

here's how i did mine. just slide the bearings onto the axle, position everything so it looks pretty, tack-weld them in place (to be sure everything lines up good before final welding), then you can pull the axle out and put your sprocket and brake rotor on afterwards.

the thing to determine ahead of time is the proper placement for the 3rd center bearing. you want it out of the way of the motor, yet close to where the sprocket will be without getting in the way.

motor mounts are easy, so don't think like you have to have your motor next to the wheel. motor should be centered between the wheels.

 

[mysteryboy28]

And for your viewing pleasure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTuMwYfVMn8&feature=plcp

 

[CustomShifter]

Lolololololol did ur tire fall off?!

 

[mysteryboy28]

Yes sir!

 

[t002530]

Cool vid.... So, did that happen before or after you told me it was easy to do a "live" axle replacement? LOL! Just playin' of course. I'll get some stuff ordered tomorrow. Still not sure what would work good as far as wheels and tires go but I guess I'll figure that out after I get going on the axle setup. Thanks again for the info (and the confidence booster!)

 

[t002530]

Well, I got some of the parts ordered for this live axle conversion. Think I've had too much time to think about this and have pretty much decided not to do this conversion at this point in time. I'm thinking this would make a fun winter time project to swap things around. A couple reasons actually, I wasn't really planning on spending $500+/$600 with new engine to get this kart going when I joined this forum and I've got too much money going toward my Camaro project right now (just paid over $1500 for a new set of heads) and the other is respect to time. I do want to do the live axle, just not right now I think. I need to figure out something as far as wheels and tires and this "spacer" setup that the PO crafted on the drive wheel. This way my kids can have some fun before the summer is over and I can be ready for a car show coming up in August. I certainly didn't mean to waste everyone's time with explanations about what it takes to do this conversion, it will get done eventually. For now, I need to get some wheels/tires ordered and hopefully get some advice and guidance on what to do to line up the sprockets without having to "rig" it like it is now. So if we could switch gears for a bit so I can at least get this kart operational I would be very grateful.

 

[OzFab]

Hello all, new guy here and thought it was time to get a project thread going on this Manco 2 seater that I picked up in exchange for 2 used tires sitting around my garage. There has been a few goofy things done to the drive wheel and I will need to be investing in some new wheels/tires for this thing. I am also in need of a carb for the 6hp engine. It's branded as Craftsman but I think it's a Tecumseh? I'm not going to go crazy on this Kart and I'm not concerned about keeping things "original" as that's already WAY too late! I just want to get this running and driving good and safe for my two kids to have some fun on.

That was your original post so, it's us that have been pushing the conversion idea, don't feel bad about it.

I suggest you go back over the whole thread & look at the advice on fixing the existing problems only &, as you said, worry about the conversion later; we'll still be here

Did you contact r_chez about the carby?

 

[t002530]

We really didn't cover much about the kart the way it sits now, we transitioned into a discussion about a live axle swap and TC pretty quickly. Think I will leave the centrifugal clutch on there for now as well. All I really need to do is get some wheels that are meant for a kart and not a wheel barrow and figure out a better way of lining up the sprockets. I am discussing the carb with r_chez now, not sure if it'll work but hopefully I'll be able to give it a try. If not, I will spring for a new engine from Harbor Freight that's reasonable enough to do now if need be. I've been looking at wheels at bmi and a couple other sites but most all of them are for live axle setups. Excuse the ignorance but I'm really not sure what would work and what won't? It would be great to be able to get a wheel/tire combo that'll still work for the live axle when it gets done.

 

[OzFab]

It would be great to be able to get a wheel/tire combo that'll still work for the live axle when it gets done.

The only way to do that is to get rear wheels with a bolt on hub & change the hubs later when you get the new axle. The hubs you want now are just like the front, with bearings. That way, all you have to do is change the hub, not the whole wheel. This also allows you to create a spacer for the sprocket if necessary

Wheel
http://www.bmikarts.com/item/8-Rim-260080-760

Front hub
http://www.bmikarts.com/item/Heavy-Duty-4-on-4-Wheel-Hub-260056-3203

Rear hub
http://www.bmikarts.com/item/4-x-4-Rear-Wheel-Hub-with-a-1-Bore---White-260051-1093

... just as an example

 

[t002530]

I was wondering if that would be the way to do it with the hubs but as the saying goes "It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool...." Thanks for the links. I would like to get some better looking wheels, polished maybe. I see some of the Douglas wheels that would work pretty good. I'll let the kids decide what wheels they want and then get something ordered soon. As always, appreciate the advice!

 

[t002530]

Got a piggyback question that I think I already know the answer to but thought I'd throw it out there. My daughter made a comment to me the other day about wishing we could just use the wheels and tires off a riding mower that I'm getting ready to take to the scrap yard. The back tires are pretty good size (not sure exact size as I haven't looked yet) and I wondered if they could work with some bolt on hubs? I can throw a pic or two up but they look very much the same as the links above. If the kids are cool with using these and I can get hubs that'll fit, might just pgo that route until the live axle conversion this winter.

p.s. The tractor has the Briggs 18HP Twin II cast iron bore engine with low hours in it that would make a sweet setup for someone building a kart with more ponies!

 

[CaptCanadia]

And for your viewing pleasure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTuMwYfVMn8&feature=plcp

Aw I wanted to see it! the thumbnail is the tire falling off but it says private!

 

[OzFab]

Got a piggyback question that I think I already know the answer to but thought I'd throw it out there. My daughter made a comment to me the other day about wishing we could just use the wheels and tires off a riding mower that I'm getting ready to take to the scrap yard. The back tires are pretty good size (not sure exact size as I haven't looked yet) and I wondered if they could work with some bolt on hubs? I can throw a pic or two up but they look very much the same as the links above. If the kids are cool with using these and I can get hubs that'll fit, might just pgo that route until the live axle conversion this winter.

p.s. The tractor has the Briggs 18HP Twin II cast iron bore engine with low hours in it that would make a sweet setup for someone building a kart with more ponies!

They'd be perfect! Throw up some pics anyway so we can see what you'll need to make them work. You may be able to use the front wheels as well... maybe

The engine would fetch you some dollars too. toystory just paid $150 for one just like it

There's quite a few mower parts that could be utilised for karts/buggies or sold to make moey to finance them

 

[mysteryboy28]

Aw I wanted to see it! the thumbnail is the tire falling off but it says private!

sorry about that. kinda realized that it wasn't good for business to have a public video of my wheels falling off if want to actually sell some buggies. lol.

 

[t002530]

They'd be perfect! Throw up some pics anyway so we can see what you'll need to make them work. You may be able to use the front wheels as well... maybe

The engine would fetch you some dollars too. toystory just paid $150 for one just like it

I'll get a couple pics up tomorrow, I think they'll work good if I can get some hubs that'll fit. They really do looks just like the wheels in the link you provided. I'm not certain of course, but I think the front wheels will work good too. Might need 1 new tire but that's fine with me.

I think I'll get the engine listed on craigslist for a few bucks. It's in great shape with really low hours on it. Just don't need it anymore.

I'm not sure if I should be expecting a carb in the mail from r_chez or not as he mentioned being out of town for a couple weeks. I'm going to order that new engine from Harbor Freight this week and hopefully this kart will be rockin' and rollin' by next week!

 

[t002530]

Here's a couple pics of the wheels/tires that i was talking about. The front wheels/tires on the kart now have nothing wrong with them so I might just use those for the time being and hopefully I can get some hubs for these that'll work! Got the engine from Harbor Freight ordered today and I hope to have it before the weekend. Any guidance on hubs for these back wheels would be appreciated.

 

[OzFab]

Ok, maybe I spoke too soon. Lawn tractor wheels do work but I think those may be a bit big, both in overall size (you'll have to play around with the gearing) & shaft size (that's much bigger, you'll need new hubs)

I'll be honest, I was thinking of 6" wheels, not 8"

 

[t002530]

I'm a bit confused. I'm in no way trying to argue what you said here but I can go on bmi's website and find several go kart wheel/tire combos this exact size. The link you provided above was an 8" wheel (I know it was an example) made for karts. I need to buy hubs anyway to make whatever wheels I decide to use work. Are you saying these wheels would be for karts that are bigger? I can understand having to change gearing with bigger tires but I don't understand what you mean by shaft size? If they won't work, they won't work, I just don't understand is all.

 

[OzFab]

The tractor/mower axle looks to be about 1" (or more) whereas the axle on your kart appears to be only about 3/4".

Sorry, I should've said axle, not shaft, my bad. Sorry for the confusion.

Also, the tyres on your kart look to be around 15" (I'm guessing). 15" to 20" is a big jump; that's 25% bigger. Yes, they would be better suited to a bigger kart but I'm not saying you can't use them. If you can find hubs that work, do it.

Here's a thought: If you can find bearings that fit inside those hubs & also fit on your axle, you're good to go; a brass bush might work for the short term

 

[t002530]

Appreciate the clarification, I was thinking the axle as there's not many other things that could be called a "shaft" that we're dealing with here. I see what you're saying about these being much larger than what is on the kart now. I just can't lose sight of the fact that this is only temporary and will be changed over sometime this winter when other things slow down that I'm working on now. I really should just get new bearings for the wheel that came on it and call it good for about 2 months of minimal use anyway. I'll need new wheels/tires eventually to do this right. The tractor wheels were just an idea that my 6 year old came up with and I hoped for the best. I can't justify (and won't do honestly) spending a bunch of useless money on a temporary setup and then spend it all over again for new parts to do the axle conversion. I really appreciate the insight and guidance here, now back to where I was last week, and onward from there!