Adjustable pedals?

[Scout74]

Hello all, I picked up a kart frame a few weeks ago for my granddaughter.

This frame is more adult sized, but was the only one I could find locally that wasn't an arm and a leg.

I'm trying to find a way to be able to have gas and brake pedals adjustable to fit the driver. My granddaughter is 4 and loves driving her little electric jeep. She's already out grown it, hence my new project.

Any suggestions and help would be appreciated. I'll post better front view pics tomorrow.

TIA

 

[Denny]

At 4 you might want to wait for her to grow and mature a little bit before turning her loose with a gas kart.

 

[Scout74]

At 4 you might want to wait for her to grow and mature a little bit before turning her loose with a gas kart.

Agreed for the most part, but she is a very good driver for 4. Plus, she's only going to have a 3hp motor, and it will be adjusted to only go so fast until she adjusts to the differences.

 

[panchothedog]

I had my almost 5 year old grandson driving a kart. Same problem. 2 pieces of
C channel about 2&1/2" x 10", 2 small door hinges, some threaded ,rod and a couple of turn buckels. Bolt one side of the hinge to the bottom end of the C channel, the other side of the hinge at the appropriate location of the floor pan of the kart. Threaded rod ( with nuts ) into the C channel and the original pedals. Turn buckle in between for adjustments. Sounds sorta Rube Goldberg. Worked like a champ. Left them on until he was about 8 when he could finally reach the pedals. He is now 19, and still drives the same kart. Only now I have 4 karts and a mini bike so his brother and cousins can also have fun with Grandpa.

 

[Scout74]

I had my almost 5 year old grandson driving a kart. Same problem. 2 pieces of
C channel about 2&1/2" x 10", 2 small door hinges, some threaded ,rod and a couple of turn buckels. Bolt one side of the hinge to the bottom end of the C channel, the other side of the hinge at the appropriate location of the floor pan of the kart. Threaded rod ( with nuts ) into the C channel and the original pedals. Turn buckle in between for adjustments. Sounds sorta Rube Goldberg. Worked like a champ. Left them on until he was about 8 when he could finally reach the pedals. He is now 19, and still drives the same kart. Only now I have 4 karts and a mini bike so his brother and cousins can also have fun with Grandpa.

Wow, thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. I think I understand what you're suggesting, I don't suppose you have a picture, for the slow learners like me? Lol

 

[panchothedog]

People think thats too young. They are wrong. Proper supervision, and a good safe location make all the difference in the world. Plus kids mature at very different rates. I am sure there are some that aren't really ready until they are 6 or 7 years old. The father of the 19 year old, ( my youngest son ) was riding a mild lower powered 80 cc dirt bike, with gears and a regular hand clutch, one month after his 6th birthday. If you feel she is ready, build those pedals and go for it.

 

[Scout74]

People think thats too young. They are wrong. Proper supervision, and a good safe location make all the difference in the world. Plus kids mature at very different rates. I am sure there are some that aren't really ready until they are 6 or 7 years old. The father of the 19 year old, ( my youngest son ) was riding a mild lower powered 80 cc dirt bike, with gears and a regular hand clutch, one month after his 6th birthday. If you feel she is ready, build those pedals and go for it.

I appreciate your support and words of honest reflection. I should point out that I'm a dad of 6 kids, and 4 granddaughters. I have 2 acres of flat land and have been working with this 4yr old granddaughter under close supervision for over a year on her electric jeep. Which I should point out, she drives in fast mode for the majority of the time. The fast mode is not fast enough now. Hence the gas powered go kart. Lol

 

[Master Hack]

I’ve done this as well. Its not that difficult. I built a pedal box that slid between parallel rails, with a couple of bolts to secure it. It could be as simple as a couple of rows of bolt holes, in the pan so it could be secured in place. Pancho is a purdy smart guy he probably figgered out the best/easy way.

 

[Scout74]

I’ve done this as well. Its not that difficult. I built a pedal box that slid between parallel rails, with a couple of bolts to secure it. It could be as simple as a couple of rows of bolt holes, in the pan so it could be secured in place. Pancho is a purdy smart guy he probably figgered out the best/easy way.

Interesting. That's a great idea. I was thinking of something like that, but I was concerned that I would weaken the structural integrity since the parallel frame rails are tubular, and not squared.

 

[Master Hack]

Or add a set of bars for the pedal box. It could be just about anything. Round, square, even flat bar stood on edge.

 

[panchothedog]

I think I still have one of them out in the garage somewhere. I'll try to dig it out tomorrow afternoon. Then bare with me. It will probably take me longer to post the picture than it did to build it. But I think I can muddle through it. I am old,
never really got bit by the electronic gadget bug. To say I am technological challanged, is a Grand understatement.

 

[panchothedog]

In the picture you posted, it looks like the kart has a metal floor pan. Drilling two pairs of 1/4" holes a couple of inches apart isn't going to weaken anything.
Even if it's very thin, you can put a fender washer under each bolt to reinforce it a little.

 

[panchothedog]

O K. I am carrying on here a bit. But your line about her driving in the fast mode and it not being fast enough any more really struck a note with me. Also made me grin a bit. All 5 vehicles, 2 @ 196cc, 2 @ 212cc, and 1 with a 301cc engine, not a single one is stock. Light flywheels, milled and ported heads, bigger cams, aftermarket or rejetted carburetor's. You name it and I have done it. Some more radical than others. You guessed it. Not fast enough anymore. Not complaining. Not by a longshot. I enjoy tinkering, AND it keeps grampy pretty popular with the grandkids. 3 of them are girls. They are every bit as aggressive
behind the wheel as their male cousins.

 

[Scout74]

O K. I am carrying on here a bit. But your line about her driving in the fast mode and it not being fast enough any more really struck a note with me. Also made me grin a bit. All 5 vehicles, 2 @ 196cc, 2 @ 212cc, and 1 with a 301cc engine, not a single one is stock. Light flywheels, milled and ported heads, bigger cams, aftermarket or rejetted carburetor's. You name it and I have done it. Some more radical than others. You guessed it. Not fast enough anymore. Not complaining. Not by a longshot. I enjoy tinkering, AND it keeps grampy pretty popular with the grandkids. 3 of them are girls. They are every bit as aggressive
behind the wheel as their male cousins.

Appreciate the effort for attempting to get a picture of your cart to help me along. No hurry on when you get it posted, just having the reference will help immensely.

Once the granddaughter got used to the electric jeep and how going fast was fun, that's all it was about. Since she can't go fast enough, now she trying out uneven terrain and lite 4x4ing. Well, as much as she can with no suspension and plastic wheels

 

[Scout74]

Here is a better angle of what I have to work with.

There is a bolt welded into one one of the side rails that I will now cut off. I think previous owner was trying to do the same thing I am.

I much prefer the sled idea for the pedals now that's been presented.

 

[panchothedog]

Still have both of them. No threaded rod, just turn buckles. Easier yet. If you don't have access to scrap aluminum as.I did, then you could use part of a
20ga. or 16ga. Steel stud, or a piece of an aluminum door threshold. Anything that has a flat surface, and some angle or ribbing for reggitity. Another thing I needed to do was to bring the steering wheel back. Here is a picture on a different kart. A couple of pipe standards drilled to match the wheel on one end and the steering shaft plate on the other. Put some J B weld on the threads, and screwed a 4" pipe nipple in the middle . Has held up almost 15 years, on 2 different karts. Helps the smaller ones reach the steering wheel, without putting
a pillow behind them. All of this stuff is available at any hardware store. $25, ?.

 

[Scout74]

Still have both of them. No threaded rod, just turn buckles. Easier yet. If you don't have access to scrap aluminum as.I did, then you could use part of a
20ga. or 16ga. Steel stud, or a piece of an aluminum door threshold. Anything that has a flat surface, and some angle or ribbing for reggitity. Another thing I needed to do was to bring the steering wheel back. Here is a picture on a different kart. A couple of pipe standards drilled to match the wheel on one end and the steering shaft plate on the other. Put some J B weld on the threads, and screwed a 4" pipe nipple in the middle . Has held up almost 15 years, on 2 different karts. Helps the smaller ones reach the steering wheel, without putting
a pillow behind them. All of this stuff is available at any hardware store. $25, ?.

Wow, that's fantastic. Thank you so much for the explanation and visuals. I would have never came up with a simple solution like that. Talk about feeling stupid! Hahaha

 

[panchothedog]

Hey, that's what it's all about. Sharing ideas to help each other out. If something I have posted, helps you solve a problem of yours, then I have had a good day. Keep the pictures coming as you modify the kart, and for sure a shot of that first successful drive. Those smiles on their faces are priceless.

 

[Scout74]

Hey, that's what it's all about. Sharing ideas to help each other out. If something I have posted, helps you solve a problem of yours, then I have had a good day. Keep the pictures coming as you modify the kart, and for sure a shot of that first successful drive. Those smiles on their faces are priceless.

Yeah good point. Regardless, I appreciate the guidance. The granddaughter wanted bright green and black. Well, she wanted it all bright green but I convinced her to have a contrast color. What is white will be satin black. So here is the undercarriage. It gets flipped over and continue painting tomorrow.

 

[Denny]

White is a killer contrast color! White seats would look great with that green!