1st time kart owner

[ShakenBake]

Hey everyone,
First time kart owner here. Never had one as a kid and my 10 y/o son and me were looking for a fun winter project. He is home schooled and it will be part of his couple hours a week we spend on a shop project. I picked up this kart project for $200. I don’t know anything about go karts so I probably got ripped off, but it seems like a solid frame. The seat is a gman superseat xl, motor turns over and all the tires seem good. Missing one tire/wheel and no caliper for the brakes. I can’t seem to track down the brand of it and don’t see any markings or serial number. Just looking for any general info. I’ve been reading through posts and seems like a lot of good info and people on here.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Well gee,
gosh
uhmmmmn I have NEVER seen a kart like that! That said, it looks WICKED!!
Tecumseh OHVs like your engine are generally not loved for having notoriously finicky carbs, but lots of them work Ok.
I'd say that was a good deal for $200, it's certaily different and looks very strong(albeit it looks heavy).
Congrats on the homeschooled son! I'm homeschooled myself and I love it! It's the only way that I have enough time to have a go kart!

 

[Dingocat]

Well gee,
gosh
uhmmmmn I have NEVER seen a kart like that! That said, it looks WICKED!!
Tecumseh OHVs like your engine are generally not loved for having notoriously finicky carbs, but lots of them work Ok.
I'd say that was a good deal for $200, it's certaily different and looks very strong(albeit it looks heavy).
Congrats on the homeschooled son! I'm homeschooled myself and I love it! It's the only way that I have enough time to have a go kart!

Try having half a day of welding then school until 3, and 6 go karts. Fun. And to ShakenBake I agree, good deal, maybe see if there's a lawnmower repair place nearby that you could ask and see if they have any junk mowers you could get wheels off of for cheap, other sellers like BMI karts and Gopowersports have wheel kits for sale, where you can choose tire and bearing or a hub.

---------- Post added at 04:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:23 PM ----------

it looks like that brake disk might be bent, might just be the light though, gopowersports and bmi should have calipers.

 

[Kentguy13]

Don’t forget eBay to source parts as well. Very cool looking kart. I had that same engine on a mini bike, it was very finicky until it warmed up, and then ran great. It was a major pain to start and keep running in the winter months.

 

[ShakenBake]

I think I tracked down a new hub and wheel assembly that matches the other side exactly. The hub is a 2-7/8 Indus pattern and is 4” long overall which at first I was worried since a couple of the major parts websites didn’t have anything that long, but I found some at mfgsupply. Has anybody ordered from them? I haven’t figured out the brake caliper yet but the disk seems straight. I think the picture was just making it look weird.

 

[Smerft85]

You didn't go wrong for $200, most in my area are starting at $400 even if they don't run or are missing a bunch, there is a fella trying to sell a shopping "kart" with nothing more than the axles installed for $400.

I too haven't seen another like yours, but if it's not home made (super job if it was!) Someone around here should be able to I.D. it for you. I have the uninformed thought that it may be a concession kart that has been modded to do a little more than track riding, but I have a frame that seems to evade an identity too. Yours is cooler looking than mine I think, and it's more complete!

 

[Kartorbust]

By chance, is there a VIN stamped anywhere on the frame or some sort of markings? I wonder if that red was the original color, or if it was repainted over the years? Other than a few things, it looks to be in great shape.

 

[ShakenBake]

Thanks for all the great comments and support.
The paint seems original or someone took it to bare metal.It only has one layer of paint and its very thick, maybe a powder coating. I can't find a VIN, but I will look it over better this weekend. The way it sits right now, I'd bet it weights around 130-140lbs.
I would like to get the motor running and not replace it. I don't want anything more powerful as my son who is 10 will be doing most the driving.
The motor is a OH195EA. It had some old gas in it, so planning to put a new carb on it and go through the motor this weekend.

---------- Post added at 08:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 AM ----------

I've got
Carlisle Turf Saver II tires all around. Are those safe tires? It will be 90% driven on grass/dirt and on level ground.

 

[Texan]

Turf Savers are safe and great tires for yard karts

 

[ShakenBake]

Is it normal for the live axle sprocket to be able to slide back and forth? I am also running a 16" tire with a 12 tooth clutch and 72 tooth sprocket and the 195cc Tecumseh. Does this seem like a good ratio for a 10 y/o riding it that weights about 90lbs.

 

[landuse]

Is it normal for the live axle sprocket to be able to slide back and forth? I am also running a 16" tire with a 12 tooth clutch and 72 tooth sprocket and the 195cc Tecumseh. Does this seem like a good ratio for a 10 y/o riding it that weights about 90lbs.

That ratio sounds fine. As long as you are not running tyres larger than about 16"

A moving sprocket is never a good idea. You can use lock collars or pipe clamps on either side to keep it in place

 

[anickode]

The kart definitely looks homemade to me. Very well homemade, and loosely based on a racing kart chassis. The dead giveaway in my mind is the complete lack of bends in any of the tubing. LOTS of miter cuts, no bends.

Looks like a darn sturdy frame though, that will take any abuse thrown at it. Is it real heavy?

 

[Smerft85]

The kart definitely looks homemade to me. Very well homemade, and loosely based on a racing kart chassis. The dead giveaway in my mind is the complete lack of bends in any of the tubing. LOTS of miter cuts, no bends.

Looks like a darn sturdy frame though, that will take any abuse thrown at it. Is it real heavy?

Somewhat, he said 130-140 pounds, I believe without the engine installed.

 

[ShakenBake]

The kart definitely looks homemade to me. Very well homemade, and loosely based on a racing kart chassis. The dead giveaway in my mind is the complete lack of bends in any of the tubing. LOTS of miter cuts, no bends.

Looks like a darn sturdy frame though, that will take any abuse thrown at it. Is it real heavy?

I think you might be right. I never thought about it not having any bends in the steel. Whoever did it knew what they were doing or had built multiple ones. I can’t find anything that doesn’t line up or fit perfect. It even has a kill switch button mounted into the frame directly below the steering wheel. They even welded in tubes for brake and throttle cables.
The paint is definitely a powder coating. It’s super thick and glossy smooth plus takes a ton of abuse without chipping or scratching.

There was a modification done after the original frame build to allow room for the larger drive axle sprocket.

 

[ShakenBake]

Here is photo of the kill switch. Says “push” on top of the rubber button.

 

[ShakenBake]

Got some new parts today. I’m hoping to have it up and running by this weekend. I worry my biggest challenge is going to be getting the gas and brake cables setup correctly.

 

[Dingocat]

If you need help with the brakes/throttle someone on here should know, and that axle sprocket you were talking about earlier. lock it down good, I once rode a kart with about a half inch of slop in the bearings and threw the chain multiple times while riding.

 

[ShakenBake]

Do I need a washer between the bearings and the spindle? Not sure if that’s what it’s called? See photo. Does the hub flange go on the inside or outside? Thanks for the help

 

[Mrmonk7663]

Yes. Put a washer.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Put the flange closer to the spindle arm. That way you can easily unbolt it from the other side if you want.
And you always want the valve stem facing out so you can easily inflate the tires.