A brand spanking shiny old go kart

[panchothedog]

So I've owned this kart for a little more than 3 years. When I bought it, it had 3 flat tires, a seat fit for a rats nest, chipped and faded paint, a motor mount and Jack shaft that looked like someone parked a train on it, and a brand new Predator 301. New tires up front, new seat, fresh tubes in the rear, did away with the stock running gear, added a big block motor plate, a new 40 series torque converter and built the 301. Kart ran real strong. 50 - 52 mph on asphalt.
Finally got tired of it looking like crap. Took it all apart and cleaned, primed, and painted everything. Saved the only decent decal ( out of about 50, some stock, many added by Buba ) and midway on the drive axle added a 3rd bearing because sometimes with the extra weight of the big block something was flexing. When thrown into a hard turn ( hopping ) on dirt it would throw the chain. Next time it runs, it will have a built 420 for power which is a little heavier than the 301. At the low energy slothfull pace I work at, and the Holidays upon us, it will probably be next month before it's running.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

I spy a fleet of karts in your future.

 

[panchothedog]

I spy a fleet of karts in your futfu

I already have a fleet, well 4. I had 5 at one time but I can only transport 4 at a time on my two trailers and that's with one of my Sons pulling one. So I sold off one of my Yerf-dogs. The kart I just cleaned up is the one on the far right in this picture. I actually three away the boxes of the first one or two that I built. Then I realized that they are real good for storing extra parts.

 

[Hellion]

A Manco Intruder GFX 7.0 HP. The Patron Saint of karting smiles upon thee for saving the decal.

I spy a fleet of karts in your future.

Even I, the beeg dummy, knew he had 4 or 5. Y’all need to get to know each other more better. We’re a tight but dwindling group in the grand scheme of things. Rides karts/minibikes AND can fix them, that’s a fringe personality.

 

[Denny]

You sloths do good work. I’m just kidding Bill, that thing looks great! The grand kids got to be proud to ride that.

 

[panchothedog]

Well it's been almost two months. You saw the shiny part, now a look at the business end. Haven't driven it yet, but it runs. After having the engine completely apart, new rod, piston, cam, springs, all the normal hop up stuff.
I put gas in, choke on, a couple of slow easy pulls to load the carburetor turned the key on and said to myself come on old man, give it everything you got. The thing fired up ( and stayed running ) on the first pull. Boy am I lucky. Waiting for a battery to be delivered. Yes, you read that correctly. Being probably the loudest opponent of anything electrical on karts, 420 cc's, higher compression, stiffer valve springs, and father time, I plan on using the starter motor on a regular basis.

 

[Denny]

Good looking buggy and engine you got there!!!

 

[Hellion]

Being probably the loudest opponent of anything electrical on karts

It’s okay. You’re smarter than the average bear.

Wish they all had the electric start option, even the lowly 212cc. I’ll tell everyone the beauty of an electric starter: you can force a cranky, long dormant engine to start a lot faster than with your arm (if at all). Light oxidation on the valve faces or seats, “sleeping” piston rings, and partially blocked orifices in the carb are no match for the violence of a starter motor and multiple revolutions per second(s) that it provides.

A backup recoil starter is a must though. Not a fan of electric-only.

 

[panchothedog]

It’s okay. You’re smarter than the average bear.

Wish they all had the electric start option, even the lowly 212cc. I’ll tell everyone the beauty of an electric starter: you can force a cranky, long dormant engine to start a lot faster than with your arm (if at all). Light oxidation on the valve faces or seats, “sleeping” piston rings, and partially blocked orifices in the carb are no match for the violence of a starter motor and multiple revolutions per second(s) that it provides.

A backup recoil starter is a must though. Not a fan of electric-only.

Lots of good reasons there for the help of a starter motor. I know I've pulled my share on the 212's when they weren't eager to start, for whatever reason. When we go to the desert and I'm out patrolling on my mini bike, I always have a can of starting fluid with me.

 

[Master Hack]

Thats a nice looking kart. How did l miss this thread for 2 months?

 

[Grizzlymi]

Thats a nice looking kart. How did l miss this thread for 2 months?

Ha! Same here.