5 Fixer-upper Go-Karts, could use some advice.

[chezziwick]

Six years ago, my hockey team had a party with 5 Go-Karts, and at 9 years old, you can well assume we didn't treat them very well. After a day of destruction, my dad put them in a trailer and put the trailer in the forest below our house.

Last weekend, I asked my dad to bring up the trailer, to see if I could fix them up again. I'm 15, and I have dreams of working around cars (especially exotics), and I figured this would be a good way to learn a few parts and tools. There were four Go-Karts in the trailer, and one in the shed in the forest. Six years has not done them much better, so I started off with the two better-looking ones. One has a Briggs and Stratton 3.5HP engine (black), and the other has a Briggs and Statton 3HP engine (red). They started out with destroyed body kits, and I used a socket wrench (7/16), to take them off. I also inflated all the tires. Now i'm left with the black frames, the engines, chains, brakes, seats, etc. Go-Kart 1 (with the red 3HP B+S engine). The engine won't start; yes it has gas. So far as i can tell, the spark plug looks alright (it's not rusty or corroded). The right rear wheel is destroyed. Otherwise, the other wheels and essentials look alright, but I haven't seen them up close. With Go-Kart 2, (with the black 3.5HP B+S engine) I have gotten it to start, but it's brakes aren't efficient (not springy, though not many go-kart brakes are). Every rotation of the wheel, something (maybe the brake capliers?) scrapes the left rear wheel where the chain is. When I start it, it moves forward quite quickly, even without the gas pedal. It also makes a loud hissing sound while it's idling. I've tried to disconnect the engine, but the nuts are difficult to get to with the chain in the way.

The other Go-Karts (the ones shown in the trailer) I am not currently working on. I'm attempting to do two at a time, and there's still one more in the shed.

I'm not fully familiar with the part names yet, and i'll admit, i'm a bit intimidated by how much i don't know. Especially when I want to work around cars for a living. But i've been working with rusty-dust buckets.

Tools-wise, I have socket wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, saws, spray paint, WD-40, penatrating oil, rust remover, but, unfortunately, no welder. Hopefully that won't be a problem. I'm hoping that I won't need buy any expensive parts, (for example, an engine). These carts don't look too bad. This is a long-term project i'm working on, so one step a day works out fine with me. I inflated the tires the first day, took off the kits the second, and was planning to remove the engines the third. So please try not to get too far ahead of me. I do know a lot about cars, so if you feel like talking history or parts, let me know. I'd love to.

I'm planning to go to Tuner School after high school and work for Hennessey or Roush, or maybe sell cars at Exclusive Motorcars.

Pictures:
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/da15d582372aced700513ffa7751efec6g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/189aa87fc32c27c79afb180fb7568a106g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/0ae0f7ab795e74b0b307c4d91c1fe0356g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/11a2664dba1c306dcb19510d6b5d84db6g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/871dc31e319f63ba6a890e7a21cecd996g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/9230e5271a64fa7c9e9e01bbcb8c84b56g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/4f7a184ee66dd29e79098b89692407f96g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/793c5924ccf35bbb0fd5fc294d27cf156g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/b212f75785f7f37c12bd7bfc0de822bb6g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/c19ca35b86c5c1f09cea4f3f730d0dea6g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/ea6d99bccb63428e98044eca475ff8576g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/fe8a1dae0e773cc11ebb3ea07b7f8bd96g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/43dda584cb93da1b7a8b0e3b5a4f94e46g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/6c97c2f9b6568cacf92b929f953170a86g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/ecce80377541db2b075c020e447cd2396g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/e31d784e0f5335a95eb4752aa86d13f16g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/2c43402beb2febb7ad90dc40ec5849a76g.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/776aa5793b74524ad8328bf2829e90756g.jpg

 

[r97]

unless the frame is broken you won't need a welder, look like your tire poped off the rim, easy fix, all the karts look to be in pretty good condition, getting that briggs running is a good start, first test your spark, if its good then put some gas through the spark plug hole, put the plug back in, pull the tarter, if it starts breifly, its your carb.

p.s. did your dad just randomly buy you 5 karts and a kart trailer, or am i missing something?

 

[chezziwick]

I'm the most impressed by you, let me just point out. 7th grade and you know more than i ever think i can? (sorry for creeping). Wow, if anybody can grow up to be an amazing engineer, its you.

Nah, you're not missing something. My dad did fundraisers for companies and bought the go-karts as a way to raise money. After lots of parades and other events, I guess he just put them away. As for all the engines, the 3.5HP is the only one me and my friend have gotten to start. My dad's going to get some gasoline and i'll test the plugs tomomrrow, hopefully we can get the other one running. Thanks for the response so far.

 

[redsox985]

Is it just me or do these pictures take forever to load? Anyways, for the motors, clean the carbs as they are probably filled with junk from sitting, I'm assuming, with fuel in them. Bleed out the old gas and change the oil. Check the air filters and ensure they get sufficient flow. That's the basics to get them moving. Did I miss anything?

 

[chezziwick]

Sorry, I uploaded them to imageshack. Any good way to bleed the gas, other than tipping the motor upside down? Do I have to unhook/take apart the motor to clean the carbs? I assume i'll have to for the filters.

 

[fowler]

filters are held in with 1 screw they are piss easy
the carb has to be taken off to clean it and when u take the carb off the gas will come out anyway, if u leave the fuel line to hang

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah and possibly you will need new gaskets

 

[chezziwick]

So do I have to take the engine off the frame to reach the carbs? (which i assume is carburetor), because i'd have to spend a bit of time finding my other socket's with 7/16" in order to disconnect it.

 

[fowler]

yes u should keep all the tools at least in one area so u dont loose any
and yes the carb is short for carburetor

 

[chezziwick]

Yeah I probably should've figured out that carb is short for carburator by now.

3 1/2 car garage (very disorganized) , 3 cars, 4 mountian bikes, 1 sixteen HP riding lawnmower, hockey sticks, tennis raquets, trash cans, lots of other assorted items, and lots of very dusty, unused, tool cabinets, with lots of rusty tools.

Welcome to my parents garage. Haha i should definitely organize a little space for myself.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Cool karts man, mostly Bird but I saw one Manco. These were all neat Indy karts and parts should not be a problem. As far as removing the carbs you'll need a 7/16 and 3/8" wrench and most importantly TORX head screwdrivers in 4 separate sizes ranging from 10-27. We'll be happy to answer your questions. When draining the gas if you have a syphon of any sort or are close to a harbor freight you can purchase a cheap gas transfer pump for under 10 dollars to dispose of it before you unhook the tanks.

When disassembling this pay close attention to the way the linkage hooked under the tanks. Personally I'd advise against removing tanks unless they've accumulated rust which happens often despite galvanization in these metal tanks. Suck the gas out, if needed use paper towels and hemostat pliers to remove the remainder. You will be needing to buy gasket sets and remove the carbs to clean them after years of sitting. A bright side to all of this will be the high probability of success given the style of carb Briggs used with these engines.

Good luck.

 

[chezziwick]

How do I clean the filter? Half of it is pretty black, i took it out and washed it, waited til it dried, then put it back in. I'm pretty sure that could be easy to replace if it was really bad.

So I pretty much have all the screwdrivers and wrenches i need, but i need some new spark plugs, a gas transfer pump, and new gaskets.

 

[r97]

don't clean engine parts that contact the fuel with water, use gas or something else.

p.s. redsox they do take forever, chezz, use media fire, i like it, its free, no account needed.

 

[redsox985]

I like MediaFire for files such as downloadable SketchUp files (non-image/video files). PhotoBucket is my preference for photos. It's great, IMO.

 

[chezziwick]

A few questions:

The rear wheels of my cart are difficult to get off. My left rear one has the transmission, brakes, and chain on it, so it's going to be difficult. The right rear tire i got the nut off, but for some reason, the wheel won't slide off as easy as the first one (nothing is connected to it so much as i can see).

Another problem is with the left rear wheel. Every rotation of the wheel, something scrapes it (maybe the brake?). It'll be much easier to see with the left rear wheel removed.

Number three, how do you remove a spark plug?

I'm going to remove the seats now.

EDIT: Removed the seat - lots more rust now accessable. Front wheels also removed. Used deep penetrant and oiled all rusty connections/steering wheel, brake pedal, and acceleration pedal no longer squeak -- hooray! Still need to remove rear wheels and spark plug - moving on to second go kart to do the same things.

 

[r97]

uhhhhh, spark plug wrench? lol. can you take some pics of the trouble wheels, or tell me which one of the pics it is (there are sooooo many)


p.s. when you copy the link from media fire, copy the second link named "hot link" and then come to the forum, click the insert image button, paste link in box, and it will appear automatically as an image. don't bother changing all the other pics that way though, too much time, ect. hope that makes sense

 

[chezziwick]

Here's the pictures of where I am currently:

The carts in my garage

The cart that starts

The stubborn one with a bent rod, weird wheel nuts, and a seat thats part of the body kit.

The confusing nut I can't figure out. I've tried using a socket wrench to no avail.

In case it isnt obvious, the wheel is turned a little to the left... and the wheels are straight. The rod is bent to the side, and the horizontal bar that connects the wheels (the axle?) is bent really bad on the right side. (facing forward in the cart)

The working cart. Can't tell if the wheel's turned, because the wheels arent on it.



As for the previous pictures, they were all the pictures of before I joined this site, so just letting you know you can refer to them but if you want to see how it's going i'm posting them now.

Never worked with a spark plug wrench -- maybe my dad can find one in this mess.

 

[redsox985]

I like the final picture. It looks like it may incorporate Ackerman. If so, that's probably the one to rebuild.

 

[chezziwick]

Alright. Used WD40 on all wheels not off yet, to make it easier for later on. Still attempting to remove the cover off the left rear wheel of the go kart with no front wheels.

 

[Blazkowiez]

I'll post a lengthy response tomorrow when I'm not as sleepy dude. All of this is easily fixable.