Big Boy's Project/BOV

[Big Boy]

This will be Big Boy's project/bov kart. For you who do not know, BOV=Bug Out Vehicle (SHTF type of thing). I enjoy being prepared for any situation of that sort (natural disaster/man made disaster etc). So, here I am. I want to get a kart and change out some stuff to fit my needs.

Now thats out of the way, I'm currently on the hunt for a kart on CL in my area. Plenty of different ones for sale, but nothing that catches my eye or is priced well for what you get.

What I want to make my cart:
-After reading a lot on here, I want at least a 6.5hp engine
-Large tires (still deciding exact size)
-No suspension

I guess thats all I actually want in a kart now. Once I find a kart and purchase it, I'll have smaller details you guys love talking about. So, thats it for now. Will update soon and hopefully get the ball rolling!

If you have any questions, comments or helpful tips to put into this type of kart, I'm all ears. Will need help with sprocket sizes and stuff like that. Thanks in advance!

 

[bighead]

This will be Big Boy's project/bov kart. For you who do not know, BOV=Bug Out Vehicle (SHTF type of thing). I enjoy being prepared for any situation of that sort (natural disaster/man made disaster etc). So, here I am. I want to get a kart and change out some stuff to fit my needs.

Now thats out of the way, I'm currently on the hunt for a kart on CL in my area. Plenty of different ones for sale, but nothing that catches my eye or is priced well for what you get.

What I want to make my cart:
-After reading a lot on here, I want at least a 6.5hp engine
-Large tires (still deciding exact size)
-No suspension

I guess thats all I actually want in a kart now. Once I find a kart and purchase it, I'll have smaller details you guys love talking about. So, thats it for now. Will update soon and hopefully get the ball rolling!

If you have any questions, comments or helpful tips to put into this type of kart, I'm all ears. Will need help with sprocket sizes and stuff like that. Thanks in advance!

Edit: I missed the part about making your own kart. Still give the FL250 a gander though. You might find a cheap one in your area.

I have to say Honda FL250 Odyssey friend. Good deals come up all the time for them. I got $600 into both these.

You will not win any races but they will get you there. And they are well built.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqpJayuL_M&feature=channel_video_title

 

[Big Boy]

Thats pretty nice, actually. I would probably give it a chance if the price was right. Looks like a nice machine! Thanks for the heads up, BigHead (no pun intended ). I'm looking into the Yerf Dog kart with suspension right now. I posted it in another thread. It has a Tecumseh 6hp engine, $700 and some nice sized tires. So, I'm seeing if he will lower the price. If he can, might pick it up, since he is no more than 5 miles from me.

Hope for the best.

 

[Big Boy]

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/rvs/2375856879.html
Almost a month old. Going to email him to see if he still has it. Good/bad price? I'm loving those tires

As for the previous post about that yerf dog, not going for it.

 

[gokart14]

talk to b man has the same kart ya looks like maby a good deal but might have steering issues

 

[bighead]

Yep recalled steering on those karts. They do not drive good at all. $500 for that kart??? I would not buy it. In fact these karts are unsafe in stock form. Find another deal. Here is one I fixed up.

 

[bighead]

Go buy this $300 honda Odyssey fl250. It even runs, Hello?

Are you really making a bug out kart? If so the Ody will be much better than a kart. How far will a kart get you?

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/rvs/2371743313.html

Here is another for $550. What one would you want to drive all day?

http://utica.craigslist.org/rvs/2391512205.html

Go kart for $500. Or Odyssey for $300

?????????????????????

 

[Big Boy]

Thanks bighead. Nice kart.

 

[bighead]

Thanks bighead. Nice kart.

You can do better than that kart friend. Do not get in a hurry. There is a reason why it not sold in a month. Also seat belts with no roll cage is dumb.

Get that ody. $300 for a runnng Ody? You can get parts cheap as well. Look it over good and don;t expect it to be to nice. If you spent $300 on the ody. Put another $250 into it. You will have this. No brainer to me. I would think there are members here that would kill for a $300 running Ody. I would.

Plus I got a junk yard of Ody parts willing to help any member here that buy's one.

 

[Big Boy]

Well without pictures, it's hard to imagine what condition it is in. I'll talk to him and see what he says. Hopefully I can get some pictures before going further. I dont want to have to do body work if I dont have to. I'm not good with that.

Btw-Utica would be too far for me to get one.

 

[bighead]

Well without pictures, it's hard to imagine what condition it is in. I'll talk to him and see what he says. Hopefully I can get some pictures before going further. I dont want to have to do body work if I dont have to. I'm not good with that.

Btw-Utica would be too far for me to get one.

Well the $300 one is close. Body work? No body on an Ody.

Even if it is ruff a running Ody is well worth that. It runs friends. Can you use a wire wheel and paint? New seat cover is $30.

It's your call.

Look at what I started with. Plus you can rack it and carry your survival gear. Guns,bows and food.

 

[Big Boy]

Honestly, I can use hand tools and powered screwdrivers. Thats about all I have experience with. By body, I meant rust on frame and that type of thing. Yes, the $300 is within 10 miles of me. So, i'm definitely interested in that. What would I do without you, bighead?

 

[bighead]

Honestly, I can use hand tools and powered screwdrivers. Thats about all I have experience with. By body, I meant rust on frame and that type of thing. Yes, the $300 is within 10 miles of me. So, i'm definitely interested in that. What would I do without you, bighead?

This is what you need to do. Go see ASAP. Take a bunch of pics of everything. Post them here so I can view them. I can tell you what your going to need or what is missing.

Get good pics of the bent wheels. I want to see the damage. Tip it up on it's side and get a pic under if you can. Also good pics of both clutches. Close up's. The clutches are where the moneys at. Do not worry about the broken roll bar. Ody have bolt on roll bars. So just buy the new part that's broke or bent.
He said wheels bent? Front or back? If back is bent them maybe the axle is too. No biggie you can get one on ebay for $40. (see what I mean?)

I will give you and honest view of what I think. Ohters here will as well.

Ody's are well built. Chances are you just need to clean and paint. And get a seat and some wheels. But it is a project. Skill wise maybe it's not for you. That being said I think they are easier to keep running than karts for they have good repair manuals from Honda. Karts do not. Gotta love shop manuals. Also have free PDF version of manuals online. Thats a CDI model Ody. They are dependable units that give you no hassle.

Again you can get any part you need cheap.

Also you should be able to get a really nice kart for $500. Do not get it a hurry.

PS. Just the CDI and stator for that year ody sales for about $250 plus on Ebay. If it has good red fenders? They are worth $100 each. Headlight Pfft. Good luck finding a nice Oem one. They get damage easy.

 

[Big Boy]

So hes basically giving this away? If he's basically giving it away, thats what scares me. But, maybe it'll be better than I think.

Im not in a hurry to get a kart, I just want to get something started before winter comes back around.

 

[bighead]

So hes basically giving this away? If he's basically giving it away, thats what scares me. But, maybe it'll be better than I think.

Im not in a hurry to get a kart, I just want to get something started before winter comes back around.

Well it's a good price. The engine would sale fast on ebay for $300. He is right. But the rest of the parts would sale slow for there are so many of them. The parts I lised above would go fast. Those are the demand parts. So from an ebay seller he is thinking $300 for his time. $300 is a fair price. Odys are over built. If you start with a running ody you are %75 there.

New cables $12
New seat cover $25
New bearings $10 each
Belt $20
Drive clutch $50
Driven clutch and trans $75
Wheels $15
Axle $40
New brake pads $12
New brake shoes $12

The Ody parts are cheaper than most kart parts.

IF YOU HAVE THE KNOW HOW and a manual the Ody's are perfect for you. Even if you had to go thru half the ody. You would still be under the $500 you wanted to pay for that other kart. This is not even encluding what I can help you out with from my parts pile.

Ask the guy how come it will not drive? It runs right? Wheels bent that bad? Ya need more info and go take some pic and post them here. Pics will till most the story from looking at them.

Things to look at?

Stored outside for long time?
Cracks in the frame where the main roll bar hoop bolts to the frame behind the seat.
How rusty are the clutches
Sun fad on the fenders
Sun fade on decals under wheel and the one the side of the frame
Do the wheels still have the gold paint? (saltwater Ody if not, or stored outside)
put the front end up on a bucket. Check the suspension for lots of slop.
cracks in the pull starter case. ($100 to replace pull start)

 

[Big Boy]

Wow. You must be an expert on these things.
Yeah, i'll definitely keep in mind with everything you've said so far. Hopefully get some good news from this guy.

 

[bighead]

Well I am into Ody's for sure. Check out my Youtube channel. Lots of Ody stuff going on.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BIGHEADODY?feature=mhee

 

[Big Boy]

I subscribed. I will be watching. Thanks a bunch.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

GI would think there are members here that would kill for a $300 running Ody.

I certainly would! In fact, if you lived closer, you'd already be dead...

Seriously, I don't know why they are so scarce up here, but I truly would love one.

 

[bighead]

I certainly would! In fact, if you lived closer, you'd already be dead...

Seriously, I don't know why they are so scarce up here, but I truly would love one.

I would think that most Ody's were sold on the west coast. Lots of sand dunes here. More so in Cali.