New and slightly unstable

[Gumper66]

Hi all.
First I would like to thank all of you for hours of good and informative reading. I would have even less of a clue with out all of your posts and support of each other.

Now into my new build. Summer here in Ontario has gone the way of the dodo and I guess I have been spending too much time in the house. My wife suggested I find a hobby and take my brother and son with me.
So after a few beers to clear my head we decided to build a simple go cart.
Then then more beer and we decided to make it better. We added a 600cc bike engine. Then we though to fit this engine we would need a bigger frame. Then we decided to have four wheel independent suspension.
The next morning when I sobered up I looked at our design and I have to say it looked very cool! It had no breaks but looked very cool. So now we needed to add breaks and tires and all the good things that make a kart go.

Here is where I could use some advice.
We planned to use 1X1X1/8 square tubing for the chassis and framework. Is this strong enough? I would rather error on the thick side then thin with 600cc behind me. Box frame 2X8 with 8" control arms.

We have a set of 175/70R13 tires on 4X100 rims. They are new and free. Has anyone ever used car tires on a Kart/buggy?
We would have to head to the scrap yard for hubs and steering knuckles as well as maybe a rack off a small car with no power steering.

Next we have breaks. Has anyone used motorcycle breaks on a go kart before and how did it work out? I don't think a single rear disk break would work with the power plant we are installing.

I am sure I will have more questions as we progress but this is a start.
A little about our skill level. I have been working on cars and then bikes since I was 8. Worked with in a machine shop for my dad and am fairly handy. My brother just got his welding ticket and from what he has shown me he is not as useless as I once though. My son is 9 and has the attention span of nat.

Any advice or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OzFab]

Hi all.
First I would like to thank all of you for hours of good and informative reading. I would have even less of a clue with out all of your posts and support of each other.

Welcome to the forum, glad you could join us & please enjoy your stay

That's just what we do but, thanks

Now into my new build. Summer here in Ontario has gone the way of the dodo

Not exactly, summer will be back, the dodo won't

Then then more beer and we decided to make it better. We added a 600cc bike engine. Then we though to fit this engine we would need a bigger frame. Then we decided to have four wheel independent suspension.

See what brainstorming over "a few beers" does? You've quadruples your budget, difficulty &, quite possibly, build time...

The next morning when I sobered up I looked at our design and I have to say it looked very cool! It had no breaks but looked very cool. So now we needed to add breaks and tires and all the good things that make a kart go.

...or stop as the case may be...

Here is where I could use some advice.
We planned to use 1X1X1/8 square tubing for the chassis and framework. Is this strong enough? I would rather error on the thick side then thin with 600cc behind me. Box frame 2X8 with 8" control arms.

There's a well know phrase around here:

"It's better to use large thin wall material than small thick wall material".​

Wall thickness accounts for less that half the strength of steel tubing, surface area makes up for most of it. Add to that the fact that the latter weighs slightly more & you have one semi rigid heavy frame. 1.5" 14ga (0.085") square tube would be better

Has anyone ever used car tires on a Kart/buggy?

I didn't build it but, I used to own a buggy that used the entire front end of a Honda Civic as it's rear end; axles, hubs, brakes, control arms, shocks & wheels...

Next we have breaks. Has anyone used motorcycle breaks on a go kart before and how did it work out? I don't think a single rear disk break would work with the power plant we are installing.

Many have successfully used motorcycle brakes; Theres a gpx250 rear setup on my duaghters kart...

A rear setup will be nowhere near good enough, a front setup, maybe. There are a few buggies around here, it may pay to do some research. Start with this build

I am sure I will have more questions as we progress but this is a start.

I'm sure you will; ask away...

A little about our skill level. I have been working on cars and then bikes since I was 8. Worked with in a machine shop for my dad and am fairly handy. My brother just got his welding ticket and from what he has shown me he is not as useless as I once though.

Sweet so, there's a machinist & a welder in the job; between the two of you, I can't see many questions being asked & a preety decent vehicle at the other end

My son is 9 and has the attention span of nat.

Don't they all?

Well, I hope I've answered any questions you may have for now, looking forward to seeing this take shape...

 

[firemanjim]

And that about covers it. Was gonna catch what Fab missed ,but.............
Welcome to DIYGK ! Its kinda hard NOT to learn something, if you spend enough time reading......

 

[landuse]

Hi all.
First I would like to thank all of you for hours of good and informative reading. I would have even less of a clue with out all of your posts and support of each other.

You're welcome

Here is where I could use some advice.
We planned to use 1X1X1/8 square tubing for the chassis and framework. Is this strong enough? I would rather error on the thick side then thin with 600cc behind me. Box frame 2X8 with 8" control arms.

We have a set of 175/70R13 tires on 4X100 rims. They are new and free. Has anyone ever used car tires on a Kart/buggy?
We would have to head to the scrap yard for hubs and steering knuckles as well as maybe a rack off a small car with no power steering.

That tubing will be fine, as long as you have good triangulation. You say it has a 1/8 wall thickness. That is like 3mm. Are you sure you typed that correctly?

Those wheels should be fine. With a 600cc engine you will push them fine

Next we have breaks. Has anyone used motorcycle breaks on a go kart before and how did it work out? I don't think a single rear disk break would work with the power plant we are installing.

Motorbike brakes work very well, and many of us have used them. You can do a search on the forum for some setups.

I just have to say that 600cc is probably going to be too much, and that the power is probably going to twist the frame and tear it apart. I would suggest maybe getting a 250cc engine if you can.

 

[OzFab]

That tubing will be fine

600cc is probably going to be too much, and that the power is probably going to twist the frame and tear it apart.

Hence why I suggested tha larger tubing, which will handle the torque a bit better...

Wait, you contradicted me then contradicted yourself in the same post

When I said earlier

I used to own a buggy

said buggy ran a 550cc Suzuki 3cylinder & the only problem was we had trouble keeping the alternator belt on because the pulley wasn't machined flat.

It never even looked like twisting & it was loads of fun, until my (now former) friend seized the engine & sold it on me...

 

[Scout]

Fieros have the steering you are looking for, manual rack and pinion.

 

[Cole Tallerman]

You may want to take a look over at minibuggy.net

Those guys all use car tires, have all a-arm suspension and use huge motors. I'm in the process of building this: http://badlandbuggy.com/plans_sabretooth.html which i think is pretty similar to your build.