Uh oh, I feel like I am necroposting.
does anyone have any suggestions for a simple steering system
Can’t get much simpler than what Ezcome-Ezgo showed you. I think the major complaint is that there’s no mechanical advantage like what a rack and pinion provides. Because it’s direct linkage, you can turn to full lock with a quarter turn of the wheel, or from 12:00 to 12:15.
However, I think it would be next-level if the whole assembly was supported with
ball bearings. Ball bearing spindles, ball bearing supported steering column and even using the “poor man’s power steering” which is a fancy way of saying needle-roller thrust washer. There’s lots of friction there without ball bearings and it‘s worse if it’s an older kart. That devil moisture creeps in and corrodes the spindle bolts and the simple tube bushings that support the column. Then it’s the proverbial “rough as a cob” and it doesn’t turn very easily.
Sorry about that, I was actually inquiring about production at all levels of this hobby.
Maybe the reason no one is doing it is because there’s still plenty of Manco/Clark/Ken-Bar karts out there? This could be super popular in areas where fun karting is less popular or more obscure like in Europe.