G.W
Well-known member
First things first, never buy a full suspension as a first ever project. I bought my go kart for 50 bucks when I was 9. It used to live on the coast of Washington so all the bolts where rust welded, the pan was rusted through, all moving parts didn't move, and there are lots of those on a full suspension.
The first thing I did was strip it down to bare metal with a cheap yard sale orbital sander, which took forever. But before I could do this I had to tear all the parts off. Every single suspension piece was rust siezed. Every bolt, swing arm, shock; completely welded solid. It took me alot of hammering, pb blaster, and smashed fingers to get the thing apart.
The sanding was a pain especially with a crappy yard sale sander that would get really hot. You'll see the paint. It looks good, but it has been destroyed since a repainted it.
That's another lesson, don't paint until all other work is done.
To make a long story short it took about 1000 bucks in parts to get it rolling with a predator 212. I struggled with figuring out the gear ratio, so it sat for 3 years before I stumbled across a video that explained it perfectly.
I finally got it running In December when my aunt and her d**k head husband visited for Christmas. He decided to hop in my go kart and ride it without anyone telling him he could, and he somehow busted the welds on the engine plate.
I recently got it welded back in and was going to re mount my 212 predator, when I came across a 0 hours predator 459cc engine for 120 bucks. I got the engine and ordered a bunch of parts to make it safe with a big a$$ engine.
I ordered a racing harness, found an old plastic racing seat, ordered an engine mount, new pedals so I can relocate them, and new brake parts. I got burned on the front shocks I ordered because they bottom put with the weight of the kart.
Anyways thanks for reading this beast of a post, any advice is appreciated. Here are some pictures pictures.
The first thing I did was strip it down to bare metal with a cheap yard sale orbital sander, which took forever. But before I could do this I had to tear all the parts off. Every single suspension piece was rust siezed. Every bolt, swing arm, shock; completely welded solid. It took me alot of hammering, pb blaster, and smashed fingers to get the thing apart.
The sanding was a pain especially with a crappy yard sale sander that would get really hot. You'll see the paint. It looks good, but it has been destroyed since a repainted it.
That's another lesson, don't paint until all other work is done.
To make a long story short it took about 1000 bucks in parts to get it rolling with a predator 212. I struggled with figuring out the gear ratio, so it sat for 3 years before I stumbled across a video that explained it perfectly.
I finally got it running In December when my aunt and her d**k head husband visited for Christmas. He decided to hop in my go kart and ride it without anyone telling him he could, and he somehow busted the welds on the engine plate.
I recently got it welded back in and was going to re mount my 212 predator, when I came across a 0 hours predator 459cc engine for 120 bucks. I got the engine and ordered a bunch of parts to make it safe with a big a$$ engine.
I ordered a racing harness, found an old plastic racing seat, ordered an engine mount, new pedals so I can relocate them, and new brake parts. I got burned on the front shocks I ordered because they bottom put with the weight of the kart.
Anyways thanks for reading this beast of a post, any advice is appreciated. Here are some pictures pictures.