Motor burning out

[Romy_Yourex]

Hello!
My husband and I have been building a go kart with our 3 sons.
It finally worked, but then the electric motor burnt out. It smoked and then died. We aren't sure if we should buy the same motor again because we don't know if the issue is that there's too much flex in the front axle or that this motor isn't suitable for our kart. Does anyone have any idea? I would really appreciate any help we can get.

The motor is a 24V DC 350W electric motor (this one: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07K3VQYTZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image).
We have two 12V batteries (these ones https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00K8V2Y8W?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image).

We have a speed controller that looks like this one https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33044344693.html but we bought ours at a local store. The store person said it was 40A and should be ok for our project.

I'll attach pictures and video.https://youtube.com/shorts/XXSVbMm3bMU?feature=share video of one of my kids on it.

 

[Denny]

I can tell you one thing for sure the axle sprocket is too small. I’m sure Kevin will be around to chime in. On here he is Functional Artist. He is the electric kart guru on here. He has built over a ton of them.

 

[panchothedog]

Way too tall of a gear ratio. Axle sprocket should be 2 or 3 times the size.

 

[Functional Artist]

Hello,
First how big are your (3) sons?
Second, I agree the axle sprocket is too small (the gear ratio should be ~6:1 - 8:1)
(this means times the tooth count of your motor sprocket by (6) to know what axle sprocket you will need)
Third, a 350W motor is really small (only ~1/2 HP) for like them little Power Wheels toys
Fourth, I think that type speed controller is for like stationary power tools (think like a speed controller for a router)

Here is an example of a proper speed controller for a 24V 350W motor on a go kart (~$25.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254373646481?hash=item3b39d9d091:g:210AAOSwzgBYzgGZ&_trksid=p5731.m3795
or
Here is a more powerful 48V 1,000W motor/controller kit (~$150.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2651176950...CECT0Ij7J4EAuJ3re5dFtdBNn0kP|tkp:BFBMrLCHk_Fg

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

He steps up to the plate. First pitch... PVC pipe, strike one. The pitcher winds up, second pitch...Plywood, strike two. The money ball, he sends it...zip ties!, strike three. It's over.

 

[Romy_Yourex]

Hello,
First how big are your (3) sons?
Second, I agree the axle sprocket is too small (the gear ratio should be ~6:1 - 8:1)
(this means times the tooth count of your motor sprocket by (6) to know what axle sprocket you will need)
Third, a 350W motor is really small (only ~1/2 HP) for like them little Power Wheels toys
Fourth, I think that type speed controller is for like stationary power tools (think like a speed controller for a router)

Here is an example of a proper speed controller for a 24V 350W motor on a go kart (~$25.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254373646481?hash=item3b39d9d091:g:210AAOSwzgBYzgGZ&_trksid=p5731.m3795
or
Here is a more powerful 48V 1,000W motor/controller kit (~$150.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265117695057?hash=item3dba3efc51:g:4EwAAOSwdtxflkqc&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4ITLZHBWmr/dBLtx74YBp9zaFjvYBGd+LgxvUy23VK9bkyUGk0cOfO35TYei3CG4fnfOyALARBQBfkhKaSkFKImCqigjATw7gMub9N7j6khP14V4Uxag+uz2+RX6RQ2MbjzbTExPd2osLmAc+wJI9e14vM7hL1IzBu2Gf3rt8dsR5RnzCWEZBddxMiDMOcXyggmUkdWgr/YSV7JPEpm1q63Jitld9iGWDEA36f18Nkk3dPZ1sGtSLnQdUTuUE/ML3LcDTaGKPui2AyFeCECT0Ij7J4EAuJ3re5dFtdBNn0kP|tkp:BFBMrLCHk_Fg

Thank you for the reply. My boys are 45 lbs (the twins, who are 7) and 65 lbs (my 9 year old). They'd ride it one at a time.

I will buy the motor and speed controller you linked, thank you!
The motor we bought said it was used for electric scooters and robotics, and the speed controller came from a robotics store as well. We are completely new to this so I really appreciate the constructive feedback and the time you took to link the exact speed controller and motor that are more suitable.

Hello,
First how big are your (3) sons?
Second, I agree the axle sprocket is too small (the gear ratio should be ~6:1 - 8:1)
(this means times the tooth count of your motor sprocket by (6) to know what axle sprocket you will need)
Third, a 350W motor is really small (only ~1/2 HP) for like them little Power Wheels toys
Fourth, I think that type speed controller is for like stationary power tools (think like a speed controller for a router)

Here is an example of a proper speed controller for a 24V 350W motor on a go kart (~$25.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254373646481?hash=item3b39d9d091:g:210AAOSwzgBYzgGZ&_trksid=p5731.m3795
or
Here is a more powerful 48V 1,000W motor/controller kit (~$150.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265117695057?hash=item3dba3efc51:g:4EwAAOSwdtxflkqc&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4ITLZHBWmr/dBLtx74YBp9zaFjvYBGd+LgxvUy23VK9bkyUGk0cOfO35TYei3CG4fnfOyALARBQBfkhKaSkFKImCqigjATw7gMub9N7j6khP14V4Uxag+uz2+RX6RQ2MbjzbTExPd2osLmAc+wJI9e14vM7hL1IzBu2Gf3rt8dsR5RnzCWEZBddxMiDMOcXyggmUkdWgr/YSV7JPEpm1q63Jitld9iGWDEA36f18Nkk3dPZ1sGtSLnQdUTuUE/ML3LcDTaGKPui2AyFeCECT0Ij7J4EAuJ3re5dFtdBNn0kP|tkp:BFBMrLCHk_

 

[Romy_Yourex]

He steps up to the plate. First pitch... PVC pipe, strike one. The pitcher winds up, second pitch...Plywood, strike two. The money ball, he sends it...zip ties!, strike three. It's over.

You know what they say... when you have nothing nice to say....
This is our first time doing anything like this.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

You know what they say... when you have nothing nice to say....
This is our first time doing anything like this.

I apologize, that sounded harsh. Humans have been messing about with powered vehicles for well over a century. Plywood, plumbing and the like aren't really safe alternatives for building vehicles with motors/engines. But do the best you can and be careful and we'll applaud the results either way.

 

[Denny]

Please don’t be offended. We find it is best to tell people the truth for safety reasons. A lot of us here started off the same way as you. And we have the scars to prove it. We have hurt ourselves in ways you never thought possible. When wood breaks it makes a sharp spear. When pvc pipe breaks it can shiskabob you in the blink of an eye. I’m sure you don’t want to sacrifice a kid or 2 in order to learn what not to do.
Most accidents happen at low speeds I have found. We do try to interject some humor when we have to break the bad news to someone. To soften the blow. Please stick around and learn, read some old threads. No one is born with this knowledge. It is gained by making mistakes. You’ll find we love helping people new to the sickness!

 

[Romy_Yourex]

I apologize, that sounded harsh. Humans have been messing about with powered vehicles for well over a century. Plywood, plumbing and the like aren't really safe alternatives for building vehicles with motors/engines. But do the best you can and be careful and we'll applaud the results either way.

Thank you. I appreciate that. We are brand-new to all of this but would love to get into building projects with our kids. We were trying to copy this build (99) build a go kart with pvc - YouTube. This guy uses some sort of little motors that can attach directly to the axle, but he's in ... India I think, and we can't find these motors here in Canada. So we had to completely change the design which was a huge challenge lol something has gone wrong every step of the way. We bought a welder to weld the wheels onto the axle, like it's been a huge learning curve which is awesome. But because the kids are 9 and 7, it would be nice if we could actually get it to work in the end

 

[Functional Artist]

He steps up to the plate. First pitch... PVC pipe, strike one. The pitcher winds up, second pitch...Plywood, strike two. The money ball, he sends it...zip ties!, strike three. It's over.

He's just trying to warn you (in his own way gotta admit it was kinda creative) that we've seen karts made out of PVC & plywood & held together with Zip ties
...& they usually don't last too long (sometimes not even to the end of the driveway)

Anymore it kinda makes us "cringe"
...& (we) feel it necessary to WARN folks (kind of our job)

Our #1 goal is for everyone to have fun
...but, SAFELY
...& (we) don't want anyone (or their children) to get hurt

 

[Romy_Yourex]

Please don’t be offended. We find it is best to tell people the truth for safety reasons. A lot of us here started off the same way as you. And we have the scars to prove it. We have hurt ourselves in ways you never thought possible. When wood breaks it makes a sharp spear. When pvc pipe breaks it can shiskabob you in the blink of an eye. I’m sure you don’t want to sacrifice a kid or 2 in order to learn what not to do.
Most accidents happen at low speeds I have found. We do try to interject some humor when we have to break the bad news to someone. To soften the blow. Please stick around and learn, read some old threads. No one is born with this knowledge. It is gained by making mistakes. You’ll find we love helping people new to the sickness!

Thanks! I appreciate that. It's just that we have no idea how to do better (yet, I hope). So when it's just criticism and no alternative offered... I don't know where to find this info. I've watched so many YouTube videos, read through this forum etc. but when you're brand new to electric projects, it's really intimidating to look at motors and batteries and try to figure out what's suitable for what.

 

[Functional Artist]

OK, well check out some of my electric kart builds

Maybe pop some corn, you may be busy for a while
https://www.diygokarts.com/community/threads/my-metal.43116/

Here is my son Winston's kart (when he was just a little fella)

 

[Denny]

You have a welder!!? Boy can we work with you! With a few lengths of black water pipe you can build a proper kart. With a princess auto gas engine and a cheap TAV II and a Genuine Comet belt it can be even better!

 

[Romy_Yourex]

You have a welder!!? Boy can we work with you! With a few lengths of black water pipe you can build a proper kart. With a princess auto gas engine and a cheap TAV II and a Genuine Comet belt it can be even better!

Yes, we just got it last week! I am getting my husband to read all these comments too because I don't know what some of the things you're recommending are But my husband loves Princess Auto and will be familiar with those parts.

 

[Romy_Yourex]

Hello,
First how big are your (3) sons?
Second, I agree the axle sprocket is too small (the gear ratio should be ~6:1 - 8:1)
(this means times the tooth count of your motor sprocket by (6) to know what axle sprocket you will need)
Third, a 350W motor is really small (only ~1/2 HP) for like them little Power Wheels toys
Fourth, I think that type speed controller is for like stationary power tools (think like a speed controller for a router)

Here is an example of a proper speed controller for a 24V 350W motor on a go kart (~$25.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254373646481?hash=item3b39d9d091:g:210AAOSwzgBYzgGZ&_trksid=p5731.m3795
or
Here is a more powerful 48V 1,000W motor/controller kit (~$150.00)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265117695057?hash=item3dba3efc51:g:4EwAAOSwdtxflkqc&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4ITLZHBWmr/dBLtx74YBp9zaFjvYBGd+LgxvUy23VK9bkyUGk0cOfO35TYei3CG4fnfOyALARBQBfkhKaSkFKImCqigjATw7gMub9N7j6khP14V4Uxag+uz2+RX6RQ2MbjzbTExPd2osLmAc+wJI9e14vM7hL1IzBu2Gf3rt8dsR5RnzCWEZBddxMiDMOcXyggmUkdWgr/YSV7JPEpm1q63Jitld9iGWDEA36f18Nkk3dPZ1sGtSLnQdUTuUE/ML3LcDTaGKPui2AyFeCECT0Ij7J4EAuJ3re5dFtdBNn0kP|tkp:BFBMrLCHk_Fg

Would this be ok? The one you linked is US based and we are in Canada. Shipping is quoted at $200... VEVOR 1800W Electric Brushless DC Motor Kit 48V High Speed Brushless Motor with 32A Speed Controller and Throttle Grip Kit for Go Karts E-Bike Electric Throttle Motorcycle Scooter and More (1800W) : Amazon.ca: Sports & Outdoors

 

[Functional Artist]

Yup!
The one I "linked" was just for reference purposes

Kool, that one even has a (3) speed switch feature. (low, med & high)
...so, you can adjust it up (to go faster) as they grow & their skills improve.

* The throttle still works like normal
...it's just that in low or med, the top speed is "limited"

 

[Romy_Yourex]

Yup!
The one I "linked" was just for reference purposes

Kool, that one even has a (3) speed switch feature. (low, med & high)
...so, you can adjust it up (to go faster) as they grow & their skills improve.

* The throttle still works like normal
...it's just that in low or med, the top speed is "limited"

Awesome, thanks! Lol more money down the go kart rabbit hole

 

[Denny]

Awesome, thanks! Lol more money down the go kart rabbit hole

It will never end! We have you now.
That’s the cool things about gokarts the whole family can join in. Mom get your hubby to teach you to weld. Or better yet get your son to teach you.

 

[Master Hack]

This thing is for sale, but it is probably too far away.

This could be had for what you are spending on parts for your current build!