280cc off-road shifter

[Benjo]

I'm not sure how i would make a buckle for a 5 point , i could make a "Y" shaped harness that buckles between my legs, what do you think?

 

[Benjo]

I have started to make my cage, its coming along pretty good, my only concern is that the cage is not very wide (about 0.4m).
i have also just realised why my turning is so crap, it is because of my ackermann, it is currently set up to suit the short wheelbase of the original quad, so i will have to "adjust" the angle and extend the tie rods.

 

[Benjo]

here's some pics of the cage, still need to add cross bars, gussets and finish welds.
the cage looks a little "funny" at the moment i think it will look better once painted.
the front looks a little wider than the back in the second pic, that's because it is, by about 100mm (4 inches). I turned all the tyres around so that the kart would have a wider wheelbase but the front is to wide so i will turn them back.

 

[Benjo]

I stripped my kart down to the frame, finished welds, added gussets and cross bars.
i painted her up (Matt black of course) and she looks a shed load better. Now i have to put her bake together, add a seat belt and take her for a drive.

 

[Benjo]

What do you guys (and girls) think?

 

[fowler]

pics????
sounds good but looks???

 

[devino246]

I would weld two more roll bars on the side of the cage so if you flip you cant smack your head on the ground. You might have to be creative so you can still get in & out with ease.

 

[Benjo]

yea I'll get some pics and i where a helmet so i shouldn't need any extra bars.

 

[Cam]

Loooooking good mate, devino has the right idea, that's gonna save your *** if you do a front flip but roll sideways and your buggered.

Heres my plan, we have done this on our kart i haven't yet introduced

Couple of pics:

Not only does it look flash and is very safe, but far out you can mount lots off them, guards off the rear, alloy checker plate on the bottom triangle and an intake scoop on one of the top triangles, and triangles there you go, very strong, if you like it i can take pics of my cart to show ya how its done,


Oh and a Y shaped one will do fine, 5 pointer is complicated,

cheers cam.

 

[Benjo]

I went to get some pics but then found out that my cellphone is busted wont be able to get pics for 2-3 days.

i kinda get what you mean with the side bars but not completely, here's a pic, green and red would be new bars, yellow sections would bend out, black section added since pic was taken. it would probably be a b!tch to get in and out of but should be fun.
and that is a pretty nice cart you got there what engine are you planing on using in it?

 

[Benjo]

I have just been looking at my frame and decided that i need to replace the tube that goes under the motor, the tube was really rusted, and when it came back from the sand blasters it was really thin, i thought that it would be alright but now i have decided it wont be, you can see the tube that i am talking about in post #62 2nd pic. when i replace the tube i will need to make new motor mounts and "A" arm mounts (front mounts)
I want this kart to be able to take a beating, do you guys have any other tips on how to strengthen my kart?

sorry if i am writing to much its late here (10:30pm) and i have nothing else to do.

 

[Cam]

Ill do a sketchup tomorrow of what i mean, it was pretty vauge on ms paint lol, i need to make a build log of that kart, but its mostly complete!

 

[devino246]

You could always have one side on hinges and locks so its like having a crude door. $5-10 at the hardware store should do it.

 

[Cam]

Thats fine and all devino, but when you flip sideways, that cage is going to fold up, theres no side support

 

[Cam]

Well here you go, took me a couple of hours but here they are :

Hope ya like them, cam.

 

[Benjo]

thanks for that, now i understand what you meant, i have decided to got for a simple side bar with it bending out in the yellow section.

 

[Benjo]

Taking a break

Hey guys i thought that i would let you know that i will be taking a break from building my kart (2 weeks max), I have two major school projects the i have been getting behind on and i need to speed my time working on them. I'll let you guys know when I'm back.

 

[devino246]

Thats fine and all devino, but when you flip sideways, that cage is going to fold up, theres no side support

I mean add side support, and so you can still get in and out, put one of the side supports on a hinge and lock. If done right it would be just as strong.

 

[Benjo]

I'm back

OK I'm back here's some pics, pic 1 kart in its current condition, pic 2 one of my better welds, pic 3,4 that yellow highlighted section is rusted and cracked, my question is do i need it, it is the bottom motor mount, i personally don't think i need it, i will still need to have a bash plate under the motor but i cant be bothered making new mounts and doing all the little bends and stuff, plus i think it would look kind of cool.
If you need more pics of it let me know

 

[Cam]

Thats cool man, i knew you'd come up with something fitting for the project and i think your idea is just as strong, looking good bro!

I'd keep the mounts, it keeps structural integrity stops the frame racking, i mean if you can get the pipe bent anyway, just nick the mounts off the frame piece and make two new rails outta 3mm wall pipe and then your bash plate dosent need to be as thick/heavy - im sure they don't have to be exactly like the originals, you could mount a tow tongue on one of those?

For the extra bit of work, you might as well do the job properly.

Those welds are real nice and strong, arc or mig? they look like arc because of the wirebrushing?

Cheers cam.