What cobbled death trap did my kid drag home?

[DoubleC]

My son and FIL went on a treasure hunt and wound up with this. The chassis looks old, and the modifications have been unkind to it. The dual rear sprockets piqued my interest. My eyes are burning from searching the web attempting to ID it. The bones of it appear to be factory made, it doesn't look home made. The various scars from surgery are definitely shadetree.

The arm rest and dual sprockets, in my newbie-ness, think Rupp, but the front end and odd-hoop make me think otherwise.

Here are some low-res pics taken with an 8yr old potato for your amusement, if you'd attempt a guess at what it is.

 

[Hellion]

I don't see dual rear sprockets. Must've missed it.

It looks like a.... go kart! Generic. Yard kart, especially with what looks like one-wheel drive.

My advice is to thrash it mercilessly. Undo those three screws on the recoil starter housing and "clock" the starter handle til it points rearward to 9 or 10 o'clock. Makes starting a might bit easier.


Could be a modified Manco 400. Those are Manco style cast "mag" wheels.
I'd take it out of the truck and set it on the ground so the members can see it in all its glory. Take that 'extra' effort...

Measure it.

 

[jpenn82]

I think the double sprocket he is the clutch. I believe it may be a Hillard clutch and that's the way they key it into the outer part of the clutch(not sure if they call it a hub or drum) .

---------- Post added at 06:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 AM ----------

also looks like the bushing for the clutch is installed backwards

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I have that exact same frame.

 

[jpenn82]

clutch break down

here is a break down

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Cool!
Yeah, for the most part, it's a generic yard kart. Might be able to find what brand made it, but it won't mean squat when ordering parts.
That is one classic go kart! Not a Rupp, though.

 

[Hellion]

I have that exact same frame.

What is it then? You are now the “all knowing” contributor of this thread.

 

[Smerft85]

I agree with hellion, looks like a manco 400 the has had many, many modifications. Looks to have been stretched, different seat frame, the hoop on the front would not have been original, the single bar on the rear from the top of the seat to the rear bumper would have been removed along with the scrub brakes. Pedals are not manco, but the wheels do appear to be the 5" manco wheels.

Seems to me that someone had a collection of broken and non-running karts (Like someone I personally know) and Frankensteined several together for one functional ride. Maybe clean it up a bit, check welds and make sure things are safe, then beat the crap out of it.

I could also be way off, and it could be a carter, or ken-bar. The pedals lean in that direction a bit, but the frame itself looks an awful lot like the 400 I've been cleaning up.