First kart project.

[Gopedude]

Hey guys.
I am new to karting, but not new to motors.
Ever since i was little iv'e wanted to build a gokart. I got a Goped (gas powered scooter) a while back and decided i wanted to build something with four wheels. My goped has a two stroke which i learned how each and every part worked and how it went together from fixing it so much. Anyways, my friend had this old lawnmower sitting around and was wanting to throw it out. Instead he gave it to me, and after cleaning it out good it started right up! Even though its a four stroke, im sure i will learn my way around it real quick. So since receiving that motor i decided to finally fulfill my dreams (or my boredness) my making a kart. I will be making it from scrap and anything that i can build instead of buy, i will build.

With that said, i have no welding skills, so a metal frame was out of the question. I went ahead and decided to use 2X4s for the frame and motor mount ect. Yes i know it wont be the strongest, but its my only option with the money i have. I started the frame today and will continue with the steering setup in a couple days.

I plan on making it a two seater, even though the frame is roughly 3 feet wide by 5 feet long. Luckily im skinny though hahaha. So back to the steering, i am planning on using the standard gokart steering mechanism with the two poles. (i have no idea what its called) Rack and pinion is the name possibly? i plan on making the steering out of mostly wood, but would be open to buying some sort of kit online. I am trying to spend less than $60 altogether if possible.

I would like to hear what you guys think and suggest.
heres some pics:

This is the frame currently
http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums...CF2A49-11236-0000007ED5214507_zpsd59e5e15.jpg

This is the motor. It is a Briggs and stratts and is rated at 4hp. should be plenty of power.
*quick note here: I realize that this is a vertical shaft motor and i need a horizontal shaft motor. I will be doing the conversion to it with the oil slinger and everything. I will probably ask several questions of this thread.
http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums...994310-11236-0000007F071C0F74_zps8e0d5ace.jpg
Hopefully the pics work

 

[GreyW00lf]

To Gopedude,

Your Frame
I would never use wood for a fame as you can kill your self with it. Let alone the Splinters of wood if you do use it and the frame somehow broke in a way that the jagged edges of wood Could Drive their way into your body. Believe me I've been there and I am lucky to even be alive.

wood Is good for a push cart or on a soapbox derby Car but those have no engine and do have brakes of some form or another. They also use a downward hill's slope for movement.

Your Engine
Also your Engine would cost way too much to convert to a horizontal shaft as by the time you get all the parts it would cost you as much to Buy a horizontal shaft Engine in the first place.

 

[landuse]

Converting the engine wont be too hard or expensive. It has been done many times before at no cost. The frame is a no no though. Think of another plan if you can. If not, be aware of the risks.

 

[Gopedude]

Thanks guys for you reply. I understand the risks of a wood frame, but i will do my best to strengthen in where i can.
Also, i will have front brakes.
Ive done my research on a horizontal conversion, and it shouldnt cost anything to do. I have a lot of engine experience and i dont want to buy a new motor for a wooden frame.
I wont be riding this kart like i stole it, and if i take it easy i should be fine.
Ive decided i want to get all the brackets needed to make an ackermann steering system. Can i acquire everything i need at a hArdware store, or is there a kit onlinei can purchase?
Another challenge for me is to try and keep the total cost below $60.
So yes, its gonna look pretty ghetto.

 

[DJEEPER]

have your will filled out?

you should try a pedal cart instead.

You are going to die a splintery death...possibly on fire

 

[Gopedude]

Im not gonna be riding it hard. It will be reinforced so it shouldn break. I am going to gear it realllly low too to decrease the top speed. The frame is not going to simply snap if i drive around easy.

I cant get or build a metal frame because of my budget. It would have to be under $100 which im sure isnt going to happen.

 

[OzFab]

I'm loath to give advice on this project as I have the same opinion as everyone else but, the one piece of advice I will offer is that the rails will be a lot stronger & more rigid if they were standing on edge. It will also make it easier to create stronger joins.

Also, use big a$$ screws & lots of glue...

 

[Gopedude]

I'm loath to give advice on this project as I have the same opinion as everyone else but, the one piece of advice I will offer is that the rails will be a lot stronger & more rigid if they were standing on edge. It will also make it easier to create stronger joins.

Also, use big a$$ screws & lots of glue...

Lol guys, in the rare event i do get shards of wood inlogged in my abdomen, it would be my fault not you guys'.
This is not a drifting kart and i will not be makin it go fast. Its just something to carry tools and people. Not race.

So you suggest i attach some 2x4s at the edge on the frame?
I will be beefing it up with multiple reinforcments and lots of screws.
My next challenge is the steering. I have some wheels, and i want to do ackermann style steering. Can i get the neccesary components from a hardware store?

 

[machinist@large]

Wooden go karts

I tend to agree with Fab; but if you want to go the wood route, in the new posts section today under the heading "Request for plans" someone has posted a link to a site with free plans for a wooden go cart. I don't have the link myself, but it's there.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

"Lots of screws" placed with little thought will actually weaken the wood at the joints. In addition to having all the members standing on edge, "hardwood"!

 

[CrashTestDummy]

This is the frame currently


This is the frame after;

 

[ak99]

Is there a friend or relative who could weld a frame up for you?

Steel tubing and cartons of beer ( payment for their time) are not expensive.

If you want to see a low budget steel frame, check out my photo in the projects section. This frame took $35 in steel tubing, a few welding rods which I already had and about a day to build.

As others have said ( and I do admire your determination) a timber frame for a powered kart is not such a good idea.

Whatever you use the kart for will place stress on the frame and in timber, even if you use some ridiculous size bolts like 1" dia, eventually the twisting on the frame will cause the bolt holes to elongate and the bolts will work loose. Every time you tighten them, the timber will compress a little and it will be an ongoing problem.

Sorry to sound like the "fun police" but firstly I don't like seeing anyone waste their time & money, or worse end up injured.

Cheers

 

[spyder808]

ok this thread is going to bring me out of being a lurker

1. wood is weak and will rot
2. 2x4s on a flat like you have it built already ARE (not possibly) going to break after weight is added
3. two nails per corner is not sufficient fastening, if you really are intent on wood then stand the lumber up, reinforce with many gussets and crossmembers, use a good wood glue in conjunction with screws that are long enough to pass 3/4 length of the first piece of wood (1 1/2" thick wood should have a screw 2 1/4")
4. may God help you if you continue with a powered kart made of dead vegetation

 

[Gopedude]

Is there a friend or relative who could weld a frame up for you?

Steel tubing and cartons of beer ( payment for their time) are not expensive.

If you want to see a low budget steel frame, check out my photo in the projects section. This frame took $35 in steel tubing, a few welding rods which I already had and about a day to build.

As others have said ( and I do admire your determination) a timber frame for a powered kart is not such a good idea.

Whatever you use the kart for will place stress on the frame and in timber, even if you use some ridiculous size bolts like 1" dia, eventually the twisting on the frame will cause the bolt holes to elongate and the bolts will work loose. Every time you tighten them, the timber will compress a little and it will be an ongoing problem.

Sorry to sound like the "fun police" but firstly I don't like seeing anyone waste their time & money, or worse end up injured.

Cheers

My dad knows a good friend that can weld, but he is very busy most the time and i wouldnt want him have to spend a day welding a frame together for me for free. Its not his style to drink beer either.
My plan is to go head and follow through with my plan, and once i get my hands on a frame, i will transfer the engine over and go from there.
i will not be spending much on this at all, other than a clutch and chain which is transferable to a real cart.

 

[Gopedude]

ok this thread is going to bring me out of being a lurker

1. wood is weak and will rot
2. 2x4s on a flat like you have it built already ARE (not possibly) going to break after weight is added
3. two nails per corner is not sufficient fastening, if you really are intent on wood then stand the lumber up, reinforce with many gussets and crossmembers, use a good wood glue in conjunction with screws that are long enough to pass 3/4 length of the first piece of wood (1 1/2" thick wood should have a screw 2 1/4")
4. may God help you if you continue with a powered kart made of dead vegetation

i will be priming the wood with protective paint (forgot what its called) so it shouldnt rot that quick.

i have tested the druability of the frame, and it wont even bend with everything i try (standing on it, pushing it into the wall)

I will be reinforcing each corner as best as i can.

LOL amen!!!

 

[Gopedude]

This is the frame currently


This is the frame after;

i dont plan on crashing into a wall.

 

[Gopedude]

"Lots of screws" placed with little thought will actually weaken the wood at the joints. In addition to having all the members standing on edge, "hardwood"!

I will place the screws efffectively.
By hardwood, do you mean flooring???

 

[mckutzy]

Gopedude- I think you are missing the point we are making here. Wood is not the ideal material for this project. Yes, at one point they did use wood for the body of cars. But that lasted for a short amount of time.
Your machine for the most part isn't a good design at all. No, it needs to beams of hardwood. Oak wood is good. Bracing is going to add a lot of weight.

That motor is not the choice for a gokart. You need a gearbox to change direction of the shaft, plus mods aren't the same for these motors.
$100 isn't really gone to cover it. Brakes, driveline, steering, tires ect. Going to cost a fare bit.

We seem to get alot of these type of projects, where people don't want to spend money on proper equipment and materials, more so on materials. I know times are tough and money is tight, but things can go wrong quickly and they do. So a machine like this isn't a thing to skimp on.

 

[Gopedude]

Gopedude- I think you are missing the point we are making here. Wood is not the ideal material for this project. Yes, at one point they did use wood for the body of cars. But that lasted for a short amount of time.
Your machine for the most part isn't a good design at all. No, it needs to beams of hardwood. Oak wood is good. Bracing is going to add a lot of weight.

That motor is not the choice for a gokart. You need a gearbox to change direction of the shaft, plus mods aren't the same for these motors.
$100 isn't really gone to cover it. Brakes, driveline, steering, tires ect. Going to cost a fare bit.

We seem to get alot of these type of projects, where people don't want to spend money on proper equipment and materials, more so on materials. I know times are tough and money is tight, but things can go wrong quickly and they do. So a machine like this isn't a thing to skimp on.

i see what you guys are saying and completely understand.
Even though cost is a major factor in my choice to go the wood route, theres also the challenging factor of building it from scrap and modifying the engine. Like i said, i will be using my kart for easy jobs, and slow cruising. If i were to get all the actual parts i need to make a good, sturdy cart, i would already be in the $500 range without including the price of a "usable" engine. I could save up, and wait to builld one over the course of a year, but id rather start with a wooden one.... for the challenge aspect. After i finish this project, i will find a premade fram or save up for a welder since ive always wanted one.

Again, the whole thing with the motor, i will be doing a horizontal conversion, which is completely possible and very cheap.
I know you guys think im probably really tight with money and would rather risk my safety than spend several hundred dollars, but im only 14, so money and resources are hard to come by.

EDIT: I would prefer a metal frame over a wood one, but have no idea what to look for (model, size, what websites) and dont know how much $$$ it would take.

 

[mckutzy]

With all due respect, a what is a "Useable" engine, in your opinion.
Now I understand that your location isnt listed so this is general info,
Most of our opinion's here is that a $100 brand new engine(horizontal shaft) is a good deal.
Harbor freight(USA) or Princess auto(in Canada) is where you buy these motors, aswell as all(most) of the other parts.

Alot of people here are spending there abouts of $500 on there machines, Bought or pieced together. That seems to be the going rate. Now there is allways the exception to the rule, but generally that is how it is.
Equally speaking, it is just going to take a bit to do. It took me 3 years to finish my bike. I have a job and money, but it just takes some time. Being impatient is how your going to hurt yourself and/or others during or after the build.

Id like to hear where abouts you heard a vertical-conversion being cheap and easy.