New member, Antics Garage Busta Lime build with son.

[ianrobb]

Hey guys, my 12 year old son decided he wanted to build a go kart, and I agreed, as long as he built it, not me. I wanted to teach him how to cut the tubes, and how to mig weld. He's welded some practice pieces before, but not much. His welds are.......not pretty, but any welds I feel aren't strong enough, get ground down, and rewelded. Just finished the frame, and steering column. I figure when He's done building this, he can help me continue building my Locost 7 build. When that's done, he could graduate to the full size go kart.

Any advice for a first time builder that I might not expect?

 

[Hellion]

Just finished the frame, and steering column...

Unbelievable!

 

[ianrobb]

Work bench space is at a premium at the moment, so we used a project to support another project.

 

[landuse]

Wow! Nice work. He didnt start small Welcome to the forum

 

[Hellion]

Seconded. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Hellion]

Any advice for a first time builder that I might not expect?

Doesn’t look like you need any advice.

 

[Master Hack]

Any advice for a first time builder that I might not expect?

Expect everything that you might not expect!
nice work!
What it the planned propulsion unit?

 

[ianrobb]

Expect everything that you might not expect!
nice work!
What it the planned propulsion unit?

His friend has a 5.5hp unit that may be gifted to us. Not a done deal though. He's a big kid though, so I'd like some power. Plan on some big knobby tires and a torque converter, we have a few acres with some hilly terrain. Not sure which sprockets I should use.

 

[Denny]

Welcome! Nice project. CVT with 10 tooth drive and 60 tooth driven should do fine with a 20” tall tire.

 

[Master Hack]

To quote Carroll Shelby “there is no such thing as too much horsepower…..”
6:1 gearing makes most setups like this happy.
Figger weight, HP, tire/wheel size into the formula.
Yer 12 YO probably gunna out grow 5.5 quickly.
My 10 YO grandbrat is telling me he needs more power. Apparently 32HP ain’t getting it anymore.

 

[ianrobb]

I was originally offered a 9.5hp engine, but that one wasn't actually available. I'm still looking for deals for 8-10hp engines.

 

[Denny]

Horror Fright 420 Rotoderp. Best bang for the buck!

 

[ianrobb]

Welcome! Nice project. CVT with 10 tooth drive and 60 tooth driven should do fine with a 20” tall tire.

I guess it depends on what's considered "big tires". I was going for 12-15" tires.

 

[Hellion]

What’s the dimensions on the kart frame as it is? If it’s for flat pavement then you can get by straight-chaining it (clutch, sprocket, chain), otherwise a CVT, TC, Torque Converter, Torq-A-Verter with variable ratio belt drive can do it all, off pavement and on.

And are you building a Lotus Super 7 in the background? Not sure--sounds like you are but you misspelled it in the first post. Locost, Low-cost?

 

[Denny]

No hellion he spelled it right. Locost. Look them up. A centrifugal clutch will not work for his son. He said he’s going to be riding on hilly ground.

 

[ianrobb]

What’s the dimensions on the kart frame as it is? If it’s for flat pavement then you can get by straight-chaining it (clutch, sprocket, chain), otherwise a CVT, TC, Torque Converter, Torq-A-Verter with variable ratio belt drive can do it all, off pavement and on.

And are you building a Lotus Super 7 in the background? Not sure--sounds like you are but you misspelled it in the first post. Locost, Low-cost?

I don't recall the length, but it's about 24" wide. I wanted the torque converter due to the sloped parts of my property that would destroy a slipper clutch.

Yes it is a "locost" 7. Locost is the original term used by those building Lotus 7 replicas to avoid legal issues.