Frame Identification

[Windstar1]

Hello All, My son and I recently purchased this old go cart and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the manufacturer or if it was a custom build. We have since did-assembled and media blasted the entire frame and removed the old welded plate for the engine and installed a new plate and added the roll bar. I have also attached pictures of the rebuilt car. It has an old 6 1/2 HP Tecumseh engine with a 1" crank and a comet HD clutch but we are thinking of changing to a torque converter when this engine goes. With a 6 to 1 gear ration we can get it to 35 mph. Thank you for all your help.

 

[Hellion]

Carter Brothers, Inc. made your kart. It looks very much like a Model 1435 'Hot Bodies'...http://kartingdistributors.com/pdfs/carterpdfs/1435.pdf

Is it a live axle or "one wheel peel"?

Good makeover and 35 mph is good. Any faster and things get a bit scary.

 

[MTNSleder]

Good makeover and 35 mph is good. Any faster and things get a bit scary.

He wants to go faster, see that fancy race car seat belt..

 

[Windstar1]

It was a live axle but the steering was terrible becauseof the light front end so we bought a carter hub and got new bearings to fit the rear axle. It now turns on a dime. We would love to get a new seat and maybe a torque converter. Also because of the large rear plate we were thinking of maybe a small battery for lights.Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I haven't been around these karts since my youth.
I read on a different thread that once you install a roll bar you should always install seat belts and the tanaka was nice and inexpensive.

 

[Hellion]

Hey. Hi.

Not sure you'd return. Some folks make an account just to get an ID or a question answered and then POOF, never to return.

The logic about the cage and seat belts makes pretty good sense if you think about it.

You can buy a new seat cushion just about anywhere or fab up your own. An auto upholstery shop could probably stitch you a seat cover that you add your own foam to.
Otherwise take measurements and see if what BMI or GoPowerSports has to offer. They have a few seat/seat cushion options.

Lights? Anything is possible these days with the low current draw of these LEDs....

 

[Windstar1]

Thanks for the tips. I purchased alot of parts from gopower already. Had to redo all the bearings, tie rod ends, and the new clutch from them since the kart didn't have a motor or clutch. We slide around too much when taking sharp turns. Not a bad deal for $100 for the frame though.

 

[Hellion]

Is sliding around in sharp turns a bad thing?

Well, now that you're a member here you get a 10% discount from GoPoSpo.... coupon code is DIYGOKARTS.

BMI just seems to have more inventory, more parts...but you gotta order by phone and have that friendly lady there give you the right shipping quote...if not, the website pillages you on S&H.

Another outfit I like is MFG Supply.

You can buy anything you want there, any quantity and the shipping is always just $6.99 per order.

 

[Windstar1]

Wondering how much lateral pressure sliding puts on the free spinning rear wheel. It is a **** of alot of fun though. Blew the bearings apart in about 3 hours of hard racing. Have to get some really heavy duty bearings but the ones I bought were supposed to be that.

 

[MTNSleder]

Wondering how much lateral pressure sliding puts on the free spinning rear wheel. It is a **** of alot of fun though. Blew the bearings apart in about 3 hours of hard racing. Have to get some really heavy duty bearings but the ones I bought were supposed to be that.

Pack your bearings with grease, even with new bearings... They should last longer...

 

[Hellion]

Sid and a few others really seem to know their bearings. Better ones can be had, for sure.

Tell us, which "heavy duty" ones did they sell you?

It might be some other defect or your wheel nuts were on too tight, or some other variable. If you like, you can photo those old bearings and any other thing you think might be helpful.

We like carnage here.

 

[Windstar1]

I can't find the receipt for the bearings and I don't honestly remember where I bought them online. Been buying too much lately. I believe the were heavy duty but not "high speed". As for pictures, they are already in the dumpster. Sorry. . I went to a local bearing shop and told them what I needed them for and they hooked me up with some new ones. There run much smoother and feel heavier in weight than the old ones. The tech said he would be shocked if they didn't hold up. I will let you know how these do.

---------- Post added at 06:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 AM ----------

I think the brand were Marathon. May have gotten them from Amazon. 3/4 id and 1 3/8 od were not easy to find.