Brake Pedal Help

[dpbalto]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to go-karting and working on restoring an old kart with my son.
I can't quite figure out the brake pedal situation. It won't spring back and I don't see an obvious way to attach brake springs. Even to add a nub would be difficult because of where the cross bar lays. I'm sure there is some obvious set up that I'm missing so any help would be appreciated. I've added some pictures.

 

[USAMAC]

I'm sure there is some obvious set up that I'm missing so any help would be appreciated. I've added some pictures.

Can you not pull it out to set the spring on the inside then insert it back in with the spring attached?

 

[dpbalto]

I drew on what I think you're suggesting. It's a little too short to reach the nub where that cotter pin goes and is too big to put through. Although I could probably open that up a bit.

 

[USAMAC]

I'm unsure then.. Just seemed like there would be room there if it was pulled out some leaving enough thread to secure on the other side

 

[madprofessor]

There's no obvious spot where a spring was ever attached there before, either on the pedal arm or on the frame. It apparently relied on the spring return of the brake itself. You can hook a good strong spring anywhere you can fit one, but I'd look at the other end to see if that's where the original spring return force was being applied. What kind of brakes, scrub, band, disc? How about some pics of that end?

 

[dpbalto]

They are band brakes. Here are a couple pictures. Basically the brake rod goes all the way back to the band.

 

[ONE-EYE]

My spring is toward the back underneath the seat. Is there a mount around that area you can use?

 

[dpbalto]

Unfortunately it doesn't have that set up.

 

[madprofessor]

Just pick a random very strong (strong because of short travel of brake rod) spring and hook it up wherever you can. Drill a couple of holes to hook it into, hook one end on a convenient spot and drill for the other, etc. You're in the imaginative world of creating gokarts now cowboy.
Look at this variety just as an example................
Search Results for springs at The Home Depot
EDIT: Should have mentioned, in H.D. in the nuts/bolts/screws aisle there's a section with dozens of shallow drawers about chest-high for specialty connectors and stuff, all the weird stuff, that's where the springs are. You can get the visceral feel in hand of all the different springs in stock, lined up by size and/or strength, to get an idea what would apply best for your application.

 

[Karttekk]

Is there a chance you could flip the pedals around so your feet fit inside of them as in this KartFab video? Your feet could slip off of the pedals the way they are, if you flip them so they form a "box" more or less, your feet will stay inside of them. They could have shipped like they are but I would try to flip them around for safer riding.

 

[dpbalto]

@madprofessor and @Karttekk, I will definitely try both these things and make it work. It helps to know I'm not missing some standard configuration, so now I can play around a bit with it.
Thank everyone!

 

[madprofessor]

Slim Pickens, when the A-bomb wouldn't release from the bomb bay, final clip from "How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb." Great clip!