Setting up sprockets on tires

[appledude]

Hey everyone! I am new to go kart building and I am not a mechanical engineering expert. I am planning on doing a direct drive (with a chain) electric kart with a motor on both rear tires. However, many go kart frames only have one sprocket on one tire. I need to know how I can take an existing kart like this and attach a sprocket on each rear tire. I need to know what parts to purchase, as I'm sure this is not a difficult or uncommon task.

Thanks!!!

 

[itsid]

Oh that's easy.. a dead axle kart (that's what you're describing) has one driven wheel and one free wheel;
just get another driven wheel and mount it instead of the free wheel.

That easy.

But keep in mind that you will need a second identical motor a second identical controller if you want to do it right.
Otherwise you might end up driving in circles

I'd suggest find yourself a live axle kart (sprocket in between the two rear wheels)
and add a second sprocket...
that way you can be SURE that both motors are running at the exact same rpm, and the kart is running true

'sid

 

[OzFab]

Just to clarify, you don't mount anything to the tyres; tyres are the black rubber part of a wheel; you attach sprockets, etc to the rim or hub of a wheel...

 

[landuse]

Welcome!

Is there any reason that you would would like 2 sprockets and engines. Tuning the 2 engines and throttle cable to rev up exactly the same is quite a challenge, and as itsid pointed out, you could be riding in circles. It is not impossible though

 

[itsid]

Paul.. motors.. not engines
And the reason is doubling the power I assume (isn't it always?)

Again, motor and controller need to be identical.

So if you buy, buy both motors at the same time from the same supplier, and ask for the same batch (if possible consecutive serial numbers)
the same goes for the controllers.

I'd even suggest that for a live axle.

'sid

 

[landuse]

Paul.. motors.. not engines

Sorry....I forgot we were going all American on this forum

 

[itsid]

Sorry....I forgot we were going all American on this forum

Nahhh

I am planning on doing a direct drive (with a chain) electric kart with a motor on both rear tires. ...

'sid

 

[landuse]

Nahhh




'sid

Aaaaaaaah.....I missed that. Thanks

 

[appledude]

Thank you gentlemen! I have decided that welding a second sprocket to the rear axle and doing a live axle style drive will be the best course of action.

 

[OzFab]

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever weld anything to an axle! Besides making it nearly impossible to remove, the heat will damage both the axle & the sprocket. Get a hub to connect the sprocket to the axle...

 

[landuse]

I have decided that welding a second sprocket to the rear axle

Just......don't......

 

[appledude]

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever weld anything to an axle

Point taken! Glad I mentioned it before trying it. I am looking at hubs. Do I need something like this? https://www.bmikarts.com/mobile/Lightened-Aluminum-Wheel-Rear-Hub-1-14-Bore_p_2439.html

What other parts will I need?

 

[Scout]

IMHO one motor per wheel with no axle connecting them is ok. It won't run in circles, otherwise every dead axle cart would too. The bonus is you'd have propulsion at both wheels, but be like having a differential and steer well.

 

[appledude]

What I am trying to figure out is how to add a second hub. Do I need a welder? What is a brand of hub I can look into. Is the hub and sprocket the only parts I need?

 

[appledude]

Mounting a second hub

Hi everyone! I'm working on an electric go kart project. I plan to take an existing kart with a gas motor that has 1 sprocket mounted on the rear axle, and add a second one so that I can have two motors. I understand that I need a hub and a sprocket to do this, however, I don't understand how a hub would be fastened. Does it have bolts, or require welding?

Thanks!

 

[itsid]

it has bolts.. it's clamped on

most of the time it comes with a keyway...
there are however special hubs for different needs.

There are also sprockets that are directly mounted to the axle,
without an extra hub (especially for small toothcounts).

So, you should start with the motors rpm, then work out the gear ratio, then care about what sprockets to get.

otherwise you might end up buying hubs and sprockets.. just to find out you need different sprockets.. and maybe no hubs at all

'sid

 

[itsid]

Again...

DO NOT WELD TO THE AXLE!!!

you've heard that before, didn't you

first find the sprocket you need (size & toothcount), then see what sprocket you can find matching those numbers..

since you're UK'nian AFAIK, I think you should take a look at 219 chains, widely available in kartshops in Europe and much smaller (yet durable) chain;
so you can find good sprockets for both, the motor and a metric axle
even sprockets without hubs in case you end up with a small toothcount.

and they're clamped to the axle by one or more bolt(s).

'sid

 

[OzFab]

Do I need something like this? https://www.bmikarts.com/mobile/Lightened-Aluminum-Wheel-Rear-Hub-1-14-Bore_p_2439.html

That's a wheel hub, what you need is a sprocket hub

Hi everyone! I'm working on an electric go kart project. I plan to take an existing kart with a gas motor that has 1 sprocket mounted on the rear axle, and add a second one so that I can have two motors. I understand that I need a hub and a sprocket to do this, however, I don't understand how a hub would be fastened. Does it have bolts, or require welding?

Thanks!

This question could've/should've been asked & answered in your other thread so, I'm merging the two