Live axle for this frame?

[Kyron]

Am I wrong for thinking it will be OK to hang the bearing mounts from the frame (think flag hanging) for a new rear axle?

I'll probley mount the hangers "up" a little bit for better welding......

I think its too "bootie fab" because itwill be in single shear

I think it will be fine because this is just a gokart made from 1"pipe not somthing that weighs 4,000lbs and gets bashed into rocks


So, what ya'all think

 

[go kart mozart]

i think thats a rEALLY cool cart and i also think u shood get a live axle with tractor pins. Bearing wise there is one place that comes to mind: http://fastenal.com/ Thes guys are awsome when it comes to getting bearings in pillow blocks. http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=0474554 id tack em on flat under neath the frame upside down.

 

[Kyron]

I didnt even think of using pillow block type bearings

I was thinking of getting the bearing "kit" from northern http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_21915_21915

The pillow style will be way better thanks

 

[go kart mozart]

what kind of terain are u thinkin of riding this thing on?
and wat HP is that motor?

 

[Russ2251]

I'm curious as to why kart manufacturers use the live axle bearing kits (?) as opposed to pillow blocks. Pillow blocks are ok for jackshafts and the like. Not to sure about standing up the the abuses/stresses a live axle setup would be subjected to.
Correct me me if I'm wrong.

 

[jr dragster T]

Well Russ the pillow block's I have on my kart are high quality and have the same bearings as pictured above. No probelems at all so far.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Pillow blocks are fine, just use some nice heavy ones. Zerk pillow blocks>sealed bearings.

 

[Russ2251]

Doesn't answer my question.
Typical live axle kit runs about $40.
Pillow blocks are about $16 a pair or a difference of $24 total.
Manufacturers are always looking to cut costs.
$24 a pop is a lot of cost cutting and might make kart "X" a little less expensive than kart "Y". I would buy kart "X".
I'm not trying to be argumentative...but there must be some reason kart manufacturers do not use the pillow blocks exclusively.

 

[jr dragster T]

Well those bearing hangers cannot go out of ajustment. The brackets are simply welded to the frame, Which means very little maitence for your average joe. However pillow blocks have oversized bolt holes and must be alighned.

 

[Scout]

Generally frames are built in a jig, and it is easier to weld on a pre-made bearing tab than it is to add more steps and drill holes and sleeve them. Plus you should really have a flat surface to bolt them to, so that adds more.

 

[go kart mozart]

i made my own pillow blocks out of wood and put bearings in em
holding up fine. ones cracked cus i overtightened the mounting bolt but still works fine.

 

[jr dragster T]

^Lol I like how you find way's around buying that 3 dollar casting to hold the bearing

 

[ed1380]

dont forget the shipping. thats what will get ya

 

[Kyron]

what kind of terain are u thinkin of riding this thing on?
and wat HP is that motor?

I have a huge driveway and a big flat back yard

its a 3hp

 

[go kart mozart]

with an engine that small ur prolly gona need a torqueaverter or somthing to get any oomf. my 4 hp had trouble on flats with short grass but then again urs is proly lighter. in the driveway though should be fine. on pavement ur gona want it in one wheel drive and in mud and stuff two wheel drive. Personally id leave the axle situation alone unless u have traction isues

 

[Kyron]

on pavement ur gona want it in one wheel drive and in mud and stuff two wheel drive. Personally id leave the axle situation alone unless u have traction isues

No way ...... it needs to be able to do donuts


Also the "bearings" in the wheels are just pieces of diffrent sized pipe that fit in each other
.......... they are so lose the chain wont stay on right

 

[jr dragster T]

Also the "bearings" in the wheels are just pieces of diffrent sized pipe that fit in each other

Also known as bushings.

 

[Scout]

You can see here how mine are welded to the side of the tube, both top and bottom.

 

[go kart mozart]

The difference is bushings dont have any BALLS quite literally

 

[Kyron]

You can see here how mine are welded to the side of the tube, both top and bottom.

Thanks!! thats what I wanted to see...... thats how I'm doing mine....

Also known as bushings.

Uh...... no. In this case they really are pieces of pipe slid inside eachother This kart lived on a farm

when I (my daughter) take it all apart I'll get pictures....