Aussie Aluminium Of Roader

[Shane284]

Hey guys,

So its been a while and I've been doing a fair bit of planning and I thought it would be time to share it with other Go-kart fanatics. My plan is to build an Aluminium go-kart that will be able to race around dirt tracks.

I've got a design plan which you can see below and will be working on getting the metal for the design next. I have a 2 stroke victa power torque engine (so I've been told) and I'm hoping that this engine will be good enough for the time being. (getting a new engine is a possibility I'm considering but not likely unless I get a good enough reason to )

Btw this 3D model design is missing the more complicated bits such as steering workings, engine connections, suspension etc.

Let me know what you guys think

NOTE: This project could take a while, Starting UNI and new job soon.

Shane

 

[newrider3]

Aluminum is a poor material choice for a frame. Unless you have the resources to have the entire frame heat-treated after welding, stick to steel.

 

[mike75925]

i was going to ask if you intended on racing it. wouldn't the rules require you to carry more weight to be on par with a steel frame? if you are looking for super light, you might try chro-mo, or carbon fiber.

 

[Shane284]

Aluminum is a poor material choice for a frame. Unless you have the resources to have the entire frame heat-treated after welding, stick to steel.

Well I have very easy access to aluminium at an almost zero cost so that persuaded my choice. I could probably get it heat treated. Also I can get the aluminium about 10mill thick as box tubing so I think that would be pretty durable. What is the consequence of not heat-treating the frame?

i was going to ask if you intended on racing it. wouldn't the rules require you to carry more weight to be on par with a steel frame? if you are looking for super light, you might try chro-mo, or carbon fiber.

Na its not for competitive racing, just at a track I have with some friends that have their own karts.

 

[TurtleMann14]

non-heat treating means that the frame will be preloaded with stress from welding

can you tig?

 

[Redneck]

I like your sketches! google sketchup is the ****, right !... aluminim chassis is pretty rare for a kart, i´d love to see the finished product and how it handels around the race track, and do mention how much it weighs at the end of the build!

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

My shop teacher is making a road legal reverse trike, all aluminum frame, bug front axle, and i'm almost positive he is not heat treating the aluminum at all.

 

[mike75925]

most of the aluminum framed vehicles are made of cast aluminum. the major parts anyway. one of the bikes manufacturers if i recall, used a water casting system. and it needs to be the right kinds of aluminum

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

most of the aluminum framed vehicles are made of cast aluminum. the major parts anyway. one of the bikes manufacturers if i recall, used a water casting system. and it needs to be the right kinds of aluminum

He made the whole thing by hand, all Tigged.

 

[mike75925]

has he had it on the road yet? does he have gussets everywhere?

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

No its still in progress. And no it isnt any more braced than a steel frame. This guy knows what hes doin, im sure he wouldnt be making this thing unless it is going to be safe.

 

[housey]

how fast do you think it will go with the victa on it?

 

[mike75925]

you know what they say, "those that can't do, teach. those that can't teach, coach".

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

you know what they say, "those that can't do, teach. those that can't teach, coach".

This guy is 65 and has only been teaching for 5 years, before this he was a professional tig welder for a big corparation for over 10 years.

Trust me he knows a lot more than you.

 

[mike75925]

kap'n, since when does knowledge in welding absolutely mean knowledge in engineering? yes, he may have forgotten more than i have ever known, but that still does not mean he knew what is needed for this build. i've seen plenty of guys who were professional this's or thats for many years that never did anything more than what they were told. so they learned nothing. respect the grey hairs on their heads, but remember their memory can be catastrophically lacking.