ezcome-ezgo
G'me sumthin to write on
I like it. You could also put some "relief" in the mounting holes to allow for some minor adjustment. Not that your calculations aren't spot on.
Polaris
- Thread starter Functional Artist
- Start date
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Hey ez,
Thanks!
I only drilled the mounting holes in the bushing holder (so, I could paint it & then, mount it on/over the shaft)
...then, after welding the support bar on the chassis
...& making sure the sheering shaft rotates nice-n-smoothly, I'll clamp (using vise grips) the bushing holder, to the support bar
...& use the holes (in the bushing holder) to drill the holes, in the appropriate places
...& then, bolt 'em together
Denny
Canned Monster
I miss my support bar back home! They were so friendly there and the whiskey flowed like water.
Functional Artist
Well-known member
I used some plastic sheeting
...& a welding apron, to help protect the chassis & components, while welding the steering support bar in place
Then, aligned the bushing
...& drilled the mounting holes
* The plastic also, helped catch the drilling debris
Steering shaft support bushing bolts to the mounting bracket like this:
I installed some DIY seat belts too
...& a welding apron, to help protect the chassis & components, while welding the steering support bar in place
Then, aligned the bushing
...& drilled the mounting holes
* The plastic also, helped catch the drilling debris
Steering shaft support bushing bolts to the mounting bracket like this:
I installed some DIY seat belts too
ezcome-ezgo
G'me sumthin to write on
Getting close!
BaconBitRacing
Well-known member
Ready for completion! We'll need a video of you crushing the competition!
ezcome-ezgo
G'me sumthin to write on
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Hey BBR,
I'ma workin' on it
I found this flyer for some NECA (National Electric Car Association) races, (near me) in Michigan, next spring (May 2024)
...but, the actual dates are still TBD (to be determined)
http://www.necaracing.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17259342/neca_racing_challenge_2024_tbd_flyer.pdf
Here is a video testing the steering shaft brace
Denny
Canned Monster
Lawn chair webbing would have been lighter for the seat belt.
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Hey Denny,
Is Lawn chair webbing DOT approved for use as seat belts?
My DIY seat belts are the center passenger seat belts (because they are manually adjustable & don't use a big 'ol roller mechanism) out of (2) Isuzu NPR trucks
...just re-purposed
...lightly painted
...& kinda re-configured
Denny
Canned Monster
I said nossing about it being dot legal! Just lighter. It’s called interpreting the rules. If you ain’t cheating you ain’t racing.
ezcome-ezgo
G'me sumthin to write on
So the support did not solve the "wonky" issue?
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Nope!
I'ma thinkin'
...them plastic wheels are doin' a lot of flexin'
...& also, them big wheels (with all of that leverage) are "bullying" the steering system around
(large diameter of the wheel (~20") vs. the short length of the spindle pitman arms (~3 1/2")
Master Hack
Well-known member
Be sure to check that the bearings are tight in the hub as well, there were some fitment issues as I recall.
Denny
Canned Monster
I know you are not going to agree with me but here goes. You are running the tie rods in compression and they are solid. I see them flexing. If you ran them in tension being they are solid they would not flex. But that would be a lot to re-engineer. Instead I would get some tubing and cut the ends off and weld them into the tubing. Tubing is more resistant to flex than the solid rod. Just my 2 cents.
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Hey T,
Yup, they all seem good-n-tight (& "glued" in well)
*Thinkin' out loud
I would think that if there was much wigglin' goin' on in that area
...the rotors would be makin' some kinda noise while, rattlin' around in the calipers
...& maybe even gettin' warped or bent up
Functional Artist
Well-known member
Hey Denny,
Thanks for your 2 cents (I always appreciate feedback)
...& (hopefully) an opportunity to expand on this discussion
...'cause, I'm very interested in getting a better understanding of this
IMO, It seems to me as if the tie rods are constantly "in" or doing both (compression & tension)
...'cause, when turning, the tie rods are always "pulling" one wheel (toward the middle of the kart) which I believe, would be considered in tension
...while simultaneously "pushing" on the other wheel (away from the middle of the kart) which would then be considered, in compression
After watching the last video many times (game film)
...it really looks to me as if on relatively "hard" turns, the wheels get a wobblin' (from the plastic flexing)
...& then, are "feeding' that spring back "or energy?" back thru the steering system
It looks/seems to me as if, before I added the center support
...the flexing of the steering shaft was absorbing most of that "energy?"
...but, after installing the center support, the steering shaft could no longer flex
...& then, consequently started "sending" that energy up thru/to the steering wheel
* I noticed & then, started showing the steering wheel "shaking" (as feedback from the wheels wobbling) around 5:00 min into the video
Does this make sense???
...& I'm open to any/all opinions
Denny
Canned Monster
When I worked for GM I was taught rear steer spindles the tie rods were under compression and prone to flex. Front steer spindles the steering was less prone to flex. The reason being the tie rods were always under extension. You see, the wheels are always trying to splay outward from the front when moving forward. Which is why I feel tubular tierods would help make your situation better. Just my 21/2 cents worth.
Master Hack
Well-known member
dat true. Double check everything twice then one more time. I’m no help on issues involving steering.Hey T,
Yup, they all seem good-n-tight (& "glued" in well)
*Thinkin' out loud
I would think that if there was much wigglin' goin' on in that area
...the rotors would be makin' some kinda noise while, rattlin' around in the calipers
...& maybe even gettin' warped or bent up