2020 - Excalibur Electric Racing kart

[Functional Artist]

Pedal question

I'm wanting to make/use some of them "old style racing pedals"
... made out of bent rod (like the ones in the movie)

Kinda like these
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RACING-GO-...024744?hash=item5449c6e668:g:NgsAAOSwgKpZutmz

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RACING-GO-...362026087415?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

1.) Are these usually made from 3/8" rod or 1/2" rod?
(I've seen both, maybe 3/8" for kids & 1/2" for adults?)

2.) How are they usually mounted?
(just a piece of tube welded to the frame?)

2.) Any pros or cons to using these type of pedals?

 

[Functional Artist]

No info on pedals?
...well, …let's see what I can come up with

First, Ima needa a "bender of rods"
...to be able to make some "bent rod" go kart pedals

So, I used some 1/4" angle iron scraps
…& 5/8" bolts, with 1/2" sch. 40 "pipe sleeves" for rollers
…& for mounting, I added a "lower" piece of angle, to be able to, clamp 'er in the vise

I tried a 16" piece of 3/8", for this first test

After doin' some measurin' & figurin" (on the kart) I marked 'er
...at 2 1/2" (for the "base")
...at 6 1/2" (for the "mid way" bend)
...& at 10 1/2" for the "foot peg"

Then, put 'er in the bender & bent 'er up

Wow!, not bad if I do "say so" myself

* The bender seems to work pretty good
…& quite "torquey", I kept moving the whole bench

 

[Functional Artist]

I made another "bent rod pedal"
...exactly the same
...but, exactly opposite, to the other one

Took 'em out to the kart
& tried 'em out

Don't know what I was thinkin' though
...'cause I was tryin' them "backwards"

I guess I was concentratin' on "how to mount 'em"
...but, I figured 'er out, when I brought out "the boot"

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I'm wanting to make/use some of them "old style racing pedals"
... made out of bent rod (like the ones in the movie)

Kinda like these
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RACING-GO-...024744?hash=item5449c6e668:g:NgsAAOSwgKpZutmz

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RACING-GO-...362026087415?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

1.) Are these usually made from 3/8" rod or 1/2" rod?
(I've seen both, maybe 3/8" for kids & 1/2" for adults?)

2.) How are they usually mounted?
(just a piece of tube welded to the frame?)

2.) Any pros or cons to using these type of pedals?

The ones on my 70’s comet seem to be 3/8. They slip through a tube welded to the frame and have a pin that keeps them in place. I can take pics if you want them, but it seems like you’re well on your way already.

 

[Functional Artist]

The ones on my 70’s comet seem to be 3/8. They slip through a tube welded to the frame and have a pin that keeps them in place. I can take pics if you want them, but it seems like you’re well on your way already.

I really appreciate all of your input
…& I may be "well on my way"
…but, I do have more questions (lots more)

Are these "pins that keeps them in place" used on on both sides of the "tube"?

How does the throttle cable or brake cables/rods connect?

Where is the cable retainer/mount usually located/connected to the frame?

How/where are/do the pedal "return spring" go/operate?

How far do they (pedals) "travel"? (foot area & cable connection area)

How are/do they "stop/limit" the "travel"? (forward & rear)

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I’ll take some pictures this evening. It’ll be easier than trying to explain it. I have 5 race karts I can use for reference, but I think the comet is more along the lines of what you’re trying to do.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

There’s about 2.5 inches of travel on the gas pedal and about 1.5 on the brake pedal. The gas pedal set up is a little janky, but it was like that when I bought it and it works good, so I haven’t bothered changing it.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Here’s a closeup of how the gas pedal attaches to the throttle cable.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

The pedals on my godfather are a little more sophisticated, but we’re talking 1975 vs 2010.

 

[Brianator]

*** Um...maybe a new "signature phrase"
...yours doesn't exactly SCREAM motivation (just sayin')

Lmao. Been wondering when someone would say something about that! Just something the Newfie said one day that I found funny and have been planning on changing it I was just waiting for that right time.... I already had my new one primed and ready to go, it's my official credo, here's how it came to be....One day in the infield I gave my buddy the motivational speech to win the race (Thunder Car class), he looked at me and said "and how the f**k do you expect me to do that we're dead last!" "Because black is the fastest color!" (obviously his car was black)... we didn't win but he drove the snot out of it and placed well! Lol.

Truth be told I'm lucky to get home before 7pm and been working alot of Saturday's, we're crazy busy through all this and partly because of it! Thanks for the sentiment though, I'm frustrated my progress is slower than I'd like but I'll get through it!

 

[Functional Artist]

Lmao. Been wondering when someone would say something about that! Just something the Newfie said one day that I found funny and have been planning on changing it I was just waiting for that right time.... I already had my new one primed and ready to go, it's my official credo, here's how it came to be....One day in the infield I gave my buddy the motivational speech to win the race (Thunder Car class), he looked at me and said "and how the f**k do you expect me to do that we're dead last!" "Because black is the fastest color!" (obviously his car was black)... we didn't win but he drove the snot out of it and placed well! Lol.

Truth be told I'm lucky to get home before 7pm and been working alot of Saturday's, we're crazy busy through all this and partly because of it! Thanks for the sentiment though, I'm frustrated my progress is slower than I'd like but I'll get through it!

Work it, (make that money) while you can!
…& just keep "plugin" away, (on your project) when you can

Yup, I like it much better!

 

[Functional Artist]

I’ll take some pictures this evening. It’ll be easier than trying to explain it. I have 5 race karts I can use for reference, but I think the comet is more along the lines of what you’re trying to do.

Nice karts
…& thanks (again) for the pics, they are very helpful

So, they seem to "keep it simple" up in the foot area
...no pedal "travel stops"
…no return springs
…& also, no cables (at least not in the foot area)

It looks like they use ~5/16" rods, for connecting the pedals to their companion components
…& have the end of the rod (where it connects to the pedal) configured "outward", away from the foot area
...& also, the "connecting pins" too

On the blue kart, it looks like the "pedal return"
...& the "stop" (forward & back) is accomplished by the "connection block"
(where the gas pedal attaches to the throttle cable)

* The pics gave me info on a "floor board" too

It looks to be Aluminum, I would suppose
...but, how thick?

Is the "floor board" missing, in the pic, on your "Godfather" kart?

 

[Functional Artist]

While waitin' on pedal info, I started workin' on a floor board

I rounded up a piece of cardboard
…& started drawin'
…& did some cuttin'
…& some fittin'

Then, just to see I layed the cardboard cutout, on an old sign (~16g. aluminum)
…& drew 'er out
…& then, cut er out

It seems kinda thin for a floor board
...but, was good "practice"
…& I added some (here & there) so, it fit, the frame, a bit better

 

[Functional Artist]

I have too many "tabs" open

Ima gonna drop links here
...to share
…& so, I can refer back, if necessary

https://cometkartsales.com/images/D/eagle4-frame-01.jpg

https://cdn.instructables.com/FVB/Y...WSVX7.LARGE.gif?auto=webp&&frame=1&fit=bounds

https://gokartsusa.com/images/products/display/roadratxr44.jpg

https://gokartsusa.com/images/products/display/rrkid22.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/34/82/72/3482727d966ba055c2b07a71af01f780.jpg

https://gokartsusa.com/images/products/detail/S104.jpg

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1...l-frame-left-rear1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1486697250

https://www.accelerationkarting.com/assets/images/pdf/KP193.pdf

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Nice karts
…& thanks (again) for the pics, they are very helpful

So, they seem to "keep it simple" up in the foot area
...no pedal "travel stops"
…no return springs
…& also, no cables (at least not in the foot area)

It looks like they use ~5/16" rods, for connecting the pedals to their companion components
…& have the end of the rod (where it connects to the pedal) configured "outward", away from the foot area
...& also, the "connecting pins" too

On the blue kart, it looks like the "pedal return"
...& the "stop" (forward & back) is accomplished by the "connection block"
(where the gas pedal attaches to the throttle cable)

* The pics gave me info on a "floor board" too

It looks to be Aluminum, I would suppose
...but, how thick?

Is the "floor board" missing, in the pic, on your "Godfather" kart?

The floor in the blue one is 16 gauge aluminum, the floor is there in The Godfather, it just don’t go all the way to the pedals. Somehow you don’t even notice it when driving it. I was a little sketched out when I bought it, but it’s been a total non issue.

 

[Functional Artist]

Speakin' of "tabs", Ima gonna need some "tabs" to mount the floor board

I figured some 1/8" steel would be adequate
…maybe ~3/4" wide
…& maybe ~1 1/4" long

So, I did some measurin' & markin' on some 1 1/4" steel
...marked @ ~3/4" intervals
...drilled 1/4" holes (~1/2" from the edge)
...cut 'em apart
...then, rounded the (to be) exposed edge

It looks like most karts use (6) tabs to mount the floor board
…(2) in the front
…(2) in the in the rear
…& (1) on each side (~mid way)

So, that's what Ima gonna do too

 

[Functional Artist]

I used a board to "align" the "level" of the "tabs"
…& went ahead & started weldin' them on

That's when, I found that Pine Wood "lights" really easily when welded upon
…& also, that you can see flames thru a welding mask (they actually look kinda "ghost like")

So, it was NOT an ideal situation
...but, got the job done

 

[Functional Artist]

When I went to weld the front (2) tabs on, my left brain came up with an idea

Maybe, make "bigger" tabs that incorporate the pedal mounts too

So, I made 'em extend back, a bit, to help support the drivers "heel" too
…& only welded 'em on (1) side (away from the bolt hole) for a "cleaner" look

* I threaded the lower ends of the pedals
...so, I can use lock-nuts to secure them, in place

But, kinda "messed up" because where I welded 'em onto the frame
...I noticed that there's not enough "clearance" to slide them out (they hit on the frame)

** I guess it should be OK, though
...why would I, ever, need to remove them?

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I made another "bent rod pedal"
...exactly the same
...but, exactly opposite, to the other one

Took 'em out to the kart
& tried 'em out

Don't know what I was thinkin' though
...'cause I was tryin' them "backwards"

I guess I was concentratin' on "how to mount 'em"
...but, I figured 'er out, when I brought out "the boot"

The Boot is the star of this show.

 

[Functional Artist]

The Boot is the star of this show.

Yup, it'll get an "honorable mention" in the credits