Rack And Pinion Experience/Advice/Recommendations

[OneTimeUser]

Two questions asking for advice and or experience about rack and pinion steering mods. Two different carts.

First: Murray Kilowatt. It has a very primitive and very sloppy "open box" rack system. The kind with sloppy exposed rack gear and a very loose exposed pinion. It cannot be tightened up and makes the whole cart sloppy with much free play. I'd like some feedback from some one who may have made this or a similar conversion. Fitment does does not seem to be a problem 'cause there are many options for sale. Any one have a recommendation for brand or set up?

Second: Fox Hornet: It actually has a pretty good traditional sealed rack and pinion system that works well. Problem is it is offset for a left hand seating position and I'm turning this little cart in to a single seat cart and wish to position the steering wheel to the center. Options seem to be to buy a whole kit made for center drive or t try to hack the rack and pinion and weld it back to accommodate a single seat position.

Options for rack and pinion setups (with mixed reviews) abound on Amazon and other sites.

I'd appreciate pointers and or experiences from some one who has made either or both of these modifications. The Murray has a huge and totally unacceptable amount of slop and the Fox just needs a new set up positioned for center drive.

Experiences, recommendations, cautions, lessons learned welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hellion]

I don’t *believe* in rack and pinion steering for karts. Direct linkage is more fun but I agree that slop, looseness, wobble and play is a bad thing. Roughness and friction is a bad thing too so those ball bearing-supported spindles are very attractive as are those roller bearing thrust washers people use for “poor man’s power steering” on riding lawnmowers. Just forcing you to think outside the box you’re in.

Forum search revealed nothing on rack and pinion steering?

 

[OneTimeUser]

I didn't think to do a search first. I've done one now and didn't really find what I'm after, which is really (now that I think about it more) a brand or model recommendation.

I can tell more or less which ones will fit with some tinkering.

What mostly caused me to post was Amazon reviews on how cheaply made or unreliable some products are. I was hoping someone would say they had good experience with the XYZ brand--or possibly a warning off of the LPQ brand.

I don't want to get out of the frying pan and into the fire by choosing a rack that is too cheaply made and/or has a reputation for wearing quickly or breaking easily (i.e. plastic pinion gear).

 

[Hellion]

I think the kind used on China buggies, while also cheaply made, is a wear item. They just go bad and are replaced. They live a hard life on the go kart platform; it’s one of the most abused recreational vehicles there are.

I’m trying to think of a member here that used one from a small car (Mini Cooper or a Fiat) or a UTV and adapted it to use and capped off the hydraulic hoses….

 

[Grizzlymi]

EZtrail?

 

[Hellion]

EZtrail?

That might be the guy but the rack he used (off Ebay) looks nice.

I wouldnt worry too much about whether the unit is offset for a left (or right) handed seating position, sometimes there’s no choice. You can correct it or “steer” it to center with an extra U-joint or so.

I’d keep the two seater kart OEM as you never know when you’ll meet some neophyte child who has never ridden in a kart before giving you a ripe opportunity to plant that seed.

 

[Hellion]

Using @Eztrail ‘s pic for reference above, what about sliding the whole rack assembly over so the output shaft is centered or more centered and using unequal tie rod lengths? It already looks off center but that could be due to camera angle…

 

[OneTimeUser]

This (below from amazon) looks like it might be the same rack. I've been eyeballing it and will probably order it after making a few more measurements. I have a torch and a welder so I can (in theory at least) cut anything or weld anything to fit. Hardy har har. My welds mostly look like drunken mud dobbers had a kegger and forgot to tidy up.

Go Kart Steering Kit Metal 420mm Rack and Pinion Steering Gear Steering Shaft Tie Rod with Steering Wheel Holder Hub Suitable for Buggy Quad Go Kart Golf UTV

Thanks for all the help and pardon the bold text. I can't figure out how to make it go away.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I wouldnt worry too much about whether the unit is offset for a left (or right) handed seating position, sometimes there’s no choice. You can correct it or “steer” it to center with an extra U-joint or so.

Carter Bros used the same rack for side steering and single seaters. Not on all of course.

The specific 90* rack that they used is discontinued but like you say, no reason to have a "side steer" rack. Just use some U joints.

 

[Hellion]

Go Kart Steering Kit Metal 420mm Rack and Pinion Steering Gear Steering Shaft Tie Rod with Steering Wheel Holder Hub Suitable for Buggy Quad Go Kart Golf UTV

This wasn’t linked.

 

[Denny]

Using @Eztrail ‘s pic for reference above, what about sliding the whole rack assembly over so the output shaft is centered or more centered and using unequal tie rod lengths?

Good idea let’s just build in a ton of bump steer so it turns a corner every time you hit a bump with no input from you.

 

[OneTimeUser]

Here, maybe, is a hot link. It didn't work before so I just laid out the whole description to make it easy to look up.

Amazon.com: ICONSPORTSS Go Kart Steering Kit Metal 420mm Rack and Pinion Steering Gear Steering Shaft Tie Rod with Steering Wheel Holder Hub Suitable for Buggy Quad Go Kart Golf UTV : Automotive

Buy ICONSPORTSS Go Kart Steering Kit Metal 420mm Rack and Pinion Steering Gear Steering Shaft Tie Rod with Steering Wheel Holder Hub Suitable for Buggy Quad Go Kart Golf UTV: Complete Units - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com