First kart project, advice ??

[BerettaAR1972]

Using about 70ft of 1 1/4" 11guage. (1/8") square steel tubing
And 20ft of 3/4" schedule 40 round steel tubing

Independent suspension in the front and live axle in the back, one seater with roll cage (dune buggy style)

Size of engine, I was thinking 150cc dirt bike engine?

And I. Opulent figure out a steering column to get or to make one?

 

[DirtyDamage]

Is this your first ever go kart in general, or have you had some in the past...I always suggest getting a go kart for cheap off CL, fix it up, gain experience then if you have the skill, tools, money then build a scratch kart...

 

[crazykart]

That's going to be an extremely kart with that 1/8" tubing. I would use as little of that as possible.

 

[Poboy kartman]

That's going to be an extremely kart with that 1/8" tubing. I would use as little of that as possible.

(Extremely heavy^)....

 

[BerettaAR1972]

Well I have the knowledge, tools, and about an $800 dollar range budget. I have had a small 6.5hp kart in the past. And yes it will be heavy but that's why I was thinking a 150cc - 200cc dirt bike engine I mean I don't drive crazy but I know I'm going to roll it eventually, and it will have heavy, HEAVY usage out of it.it is more of a dune buggy than anything

Just spent $80 buying 60ft of 11ga. 1 1/4" square steel tubing
So I was wondering what steering column to buy or fabricate one

And what yall have done with your kart and how heavy it is.
Thanks for all the help!

 

[DirtyDamage]

I'm a fan of snowmobile engines. Depending on location you can intact get a n older running snowmobile for $300 with engine, clutch, mounting plate everything. And it'll be 30-50hp for a 2cyl even higher for a 3cyl.

 

[OzFab]

Just spent $80 buying 60ft of 11ga. 1 1/4" square steel tubing

You wasted your money, 11ga is WAAAAY too heavy for what you need, 14ga would've been plenty...

 

[BerettaAR1972]

Not if i'm putting a 50-100hp motor on it...

 

[DirtyDamage]

I don't think a 200cc dirt bike engine runs 50hp...I could be completely wrong but it just doesn't sound right lll

 

[OzFab]

Not if i'm putting a 50-100hp motor on it...

No, it's still too much...

By the time you finish, the weight of the kart will negate the power of the engine; we've seen 600cc monsters built on 14ga steel frames...

 

[BerettaAR1972]

I found a 1999 skii doo formula Z 670cc complete snowmobile in very good condition it has around 110hp for $750 thoughts????

 

[afremont]

I found a 1999 skii doo formula Z 670cc complete snowmobile in very good condition it has around 110hp for $750 thoughts????

That's going to strain your $800 budget a little. Won't that be water cooled? Maybe you could salvage a 1200cc Sportster Harley motor from a wrecked bike somewhere. Lower HP, but oodles of bottom end torque and air/oil cooled. Plus the sound would just be awesome, IMO. 6000RPM would be the outside limit, but I don't think you'd notice a problem.

EDIT: After looking around ebay, they want a chunk of money for those sporty engines, at least $1200 or so, that's pretty steep. OTOH, if you go all out and add this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/88-BIG-BORE...LEY-SPORTSTER-XL-883-1200-BUELL-/361091717629
You'd have one heck of a kart and you'd get your 100HP and likely 100ft-lb of torque to go with it and 5 forward gears. I really want one of these kits for my bike. someday....



---------- Post added at 11:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------

No, it's still too much...

By the time you finish, the weight of the kart will negate the power of the engine; we've seen 600cc monsters built on 14ga steel frames...

Even 2" 14ga would weigh less than that 1.25" 1/8" stuff, not a lot less, but less. Seems like it would be nearly as strong too, but I'm not a structural engineer.