2016 - Kelly Wood's - LOCO!

[Kelly Wood]

Needs to be powered by steam. <automatic win

That would be neat but sadly won't happen with this one.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I'm glad it's not me who has to calculate the Ackerman angle on that thing.

 

[Kelly Wood]

I'm glad it's not me who has to calculate the Ackerman angle on that thing.

Yea, that's a fun one to ponder... that which I am not doing initially.

These manco frames had ackerman kind of built in and these models steered wonderfully. All I'm doing is connecting the right front to the right middle and left front to left middle and letting them follow their buddies.

It's 4 steering wheels on the ground, and it's only a go kart... so I'm assuming it will steer. If not, we'll address that by the side connecting rods and where they mount. See? You had to make me go & start thinking and as I'm sitting waiting at the dentists office for my kid, now I have to address it.

Thanks for that. Ya made my day. Something to do in the infinite boredom that is... a dentists office.

Honestly... they're so close to each other I really doubt much will be needed but it is doable. Like I said, just make the control rod mounting hole on the front wheels a tad closer to the wheel and they'll turn slightly less... (like so little you won't really notice it... and I'm not a perfectionist) Correct? Now as for the caster/camber thing? I haven't a clue yet. I'm sure it's going to be a bit strange. I imagine the rear will "kick" due to having 4 surface areas up front and the extra weight. (yea, another issue) The frame's Waist is a thin one so "kicking" might or might not happen.

Only one way to find out. Build it & drive.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Lol, sorry about that. I've made my living for the last 20 years doing front end and suspension work, so that setup keeps rolling through my mind. It should be interesting, but like you said, it's just a go kart.

---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:56 PM ----------

What if you put a lot if steering axis inclination in the rear set of front wheels and very little in the front set which should (in theory) more or less unload the front set in sharp turns and help with scrubbing?

 

[Kelly Wood]

Lol, sorry about that. I've made my living for the last 20 years doing front end and suspension work, so that setup keeps rolling through my mind. It should be interesting, but like you said, it's just a go kart.

---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:56 PM ----------

What if you put a lot if steering axis inclination in the rear set of front wheels and very little in the front set which should (in theory) more or less unload the front set in sharp turns and help with scrubbing?

Good thought. We'll address that, when I drive this and find out what it's a-gonna do.

 

[chancer]

I think he wants to vote for Chancers!

Of Course. Everybody does.

 

[Kelly Wood]

So... we return from the dentist and the plan is to head to the hardware store. Of course I'm not going to go back to work, I took half the day off for my daughter.

Returning from the hardware store has my first purchases for this project because, well, they're needed. We'll call this an even benjamin franklin shall we?

Pic #1. First up, strip the wheels. Since they're going to be used for this one, might as well do it right. They've been on so many concepts that I've acquired a few coats of paint here & there. Note there's only 3 complete front wheels? Reason? One fell and broke... and one of the others appears to have disappeared which is weird. If BM800 is watching, I'd love that 4" manco you have... and the 5" as well.

Pic #2. With that done, the rear wheels needed to have the outer spacers pressed into them to work for the rear end. Note to readers: Manco did not make 6" rear wheels for a live axle. These baby's are held on by an adaptor of my own design. So, the outer "bearing" is really a solid metal bushing one finds in a harbor freight wheelbarrow replacement wheel. The inner dia is 3/4 and they fit where normal 5/8 bearings go and has an outer flange, so it was a given to use it. This stops the wheel from going out on the axle. The rest is just a sleeve bolted to the rear of the wheel and keyed, keeping it from going in when all bolted together. All this together makes a 6" manco rear live axle wheel. Best part, the adaptor works for any Manco Wheel (4, 5, or 6") fronts... and turns em into rear wheels. Yay!

Pic #3. So, the pile of stuff from the store. Let's get something done.

Pic #4. We'll eyeball this for width. I've decided to go with all the motors & gearing inside the cab just because I think it'll look better. This stuff I chose to go with for two reasons. 1. It's perfect for a framework of the cab, 2. There's holes in it. Makes assembly much easier with whatever I decide to cover it with. 3. It's light.

Pic #5. Ok, same length (one can hope right?) Mark em.

Pic #6. Cut the notches, bend em & tack.

Pic #7. Do the other one.

Pic #8, 9. Tack tack tack... VIOLA! The begnning frame of the cab.

It's bottom edge will be level with the bottom of the frame. The frame is about 2" from the ground so it should do well.

Total cost thus far:
2 beers
100 bucks.


Das all for today. Thanks for lookin. Happy building.

 

[Kelly Wood]

Last pic, forgot.

 

[chancer]

Cool today there is a pic #6 LOL
That is Cool how you make the wheels Work!
Careful welding that Galv. angle.

---------- Post added at 05:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:35 PM ----------

What if you put a lot if steering axis inclination in the rear set of front wheels and very little in the front set which should (in theory) more or less unload the front set in sharp turns and help with scrubbing?

Now that Sounds smart to me!

 

[Kelly Wood]

Another day, moving on.

Storm moving in so it's time to clean these wheels up & watch tv... well, listen to it.

Anyone that's ever dealt with the Manco wheels knows that they all have those nifty casting / hardening lines in them.

Sigh! Makes shining them up a pain, but worth it when you get done. Still more to go on the wheels so don't judge yet by what ye see.

This train has to look nice.

Thanks for lookin.

Total cost thus far:
100 dollars
4 beers

 

[chancer]

Cool Pic 6! LOL
I like the way they look in that Pic.
A shiny ring, then paint the middles Satin Black.

 

[Kelly Wood]

Cool Pic 6! LOL
I like the way they look in that Pic.
A shiny ring, then paint the middles Satin Black.

Thanks. I used that treatment a few times ago and it will work well for this project. Silver accents, all flat/satin black everywhere else and silver stenciling to finish it off.

I'm never gonna live that down am I? Pic 6.

Next step in the project is tomorrow. A trip to my friend's antique place. The steering wheel on this is gonna be a cast iron water valve thing.

 

[chancer]

Silver Stenciling. Hmmm... Totally 1860s

Silver Pinstripe design on the Cab Sides too!

Stainless makes a nice silver color. I used some Repurposed Stainless Rain gutter on mine. Free! See the sides in my Avatar pic.

 

[Kelly Wood]

Mid morning update, it's kind of slow at work.

A smidge of computer sketching (that's photoshopping) has me quite excited.

With luck, some paneling, paint, some other stuff... OH!! And some decorative door hinges should produce some nifty results.

In my photoshopping, I did try out round windows as some old trains did have them but they just looked goofy.

Yep.

NOTE: To the viewing audience, the 2nd photo is a photoshopped version of the first pic. Sometimes people get confused.

Thanks for lookin.

 

[chancer]

Sweet you even Photoshopped in Pic 6!

You know eventually you are going to have to change the number from 34 to 6!!!

 

[Kelly Wood]

Lunchtime update:

A quick trip to my buddy's antique store turned up a few things we'll be using.

It's just fun to wander around this place because you just never know what you'll find.

In the case of this project, we're lookin for a few special items... and here are some.

Knobs and levers... (trains had those right? ) and a little mini bicycle headlight should help out I think. Sure, some of this stuff can be found today... but I wanted old stuff with scratches and wear.

Funny thing here is: part of a kitchen sink has now just been used on a go kart. Possibly a first?

I also turned up another nifty item but that's for my other post "kart rods." Feel free to pop over there to see what I found.

No cost associated with today as he owed me for a favor.

Oh yes, CHANCER? I did scour this place for a crate for ya but nothing turned up.

 

[Kelly Wood]

You know eventually you are going to have to change the number from 34 to 6!!!

Never!

That number is actually a reminder to me... to get the sixth wheel. I broke one so I have to find another manco 4" in good shape. I want perfect wheels for this. BM800 has one, just gotta get it.

 

[chancer]

What is the 34?
and I am surprised you have not used sink parts before.

I am working on my krate now. just gotta find copper Rivets.

 

[Poboy kartman]

I am working on my krate now. just gotta find copper Rivets.

Are you ready for this? Of course Amazon! ......or just go to Lowe's!

 

[Kelly Wood]

What is the 34?

Homage to the 4 wheel steering... Tyrell P34.