cheap!!!!

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DCC!

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i was wondering whats the cheapest kart someone has built?

i have this great plan to build 2 really cheap yet good karts and race them with friends and stuff
you kno
crappy engines
drum brakes
single wheel drive
lawn mower front wheels
homemadeEVERYTHING!


pretty much as cheap as it gets lol
but still hella fun!!!!!:auto:
 
brendonv

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mine was pretty cheaply build. Ill go with what i had originally.
Steering from a bike FREE, trolley wheels (dad paid, big mistake, dont buy these, get ride on lawnmower wheels), school chair welded on FREE, motor of a edger FREE, free axle made up buy a friend. Only thing i bought was:
Brake and caliper- $150
Sprocket, hub, clutch, chain- $120
Pillow blocks- $50
Wheels- $120 (i no i no, 30 bucks ea, dont buy these, i learned the hard and expensive way, they're ok but they wobble which i didnt think was safe. I have them on the front wheels still though and there fine. Mine werent as bad quality as hf ones, they had bearings rated to 25000rpm in them.)

So total = $440

Then i made new steering which cost $70 and got 2 ride on lawnmower wheels which was $30. All the metal i used my dad already had. Price in nuts and bolts for the kart was probably like $60.

So total now: $600

As i said i learned the hard way with the wheels so if i wasnt stupid when i made mine the total would have been $480. O well.
 
Kaptain Krunch

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Brendon, thats crazy how expensive stuff is where you live. Around here you can get sprocket, hub, and chain, for 50, and pillows blocks for $10 a piece. Oh well, $600 aint too bad for a kart.

I was given my kart frame with engine. Heres a list of what i've done to it.

Extended by 1ft - $10 worth of pipe and wire

Installed bike engine - bike cost $50, plus about $40 for sprocket, and hardware to set up shifter linkage.

I took out bike engine, put it back in bike and sold for $75 + nearly complete sled with bad crank bearings. I sold the shocks and speedometer from the sled for $60. Then i just put the stock 5.5 tec back on

So overall, i've put -$35 (probably more like -$25, there were a few small trips to the hardware store) into it, but i guess that doesnt really count since the frame was free. I'm sure if you scrounged you could make a kart for less than $50.

We should have a budget build off, everyone can spend a max of say $75.
 
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DCC!

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Kaptain Krunch said:
Brendon, thats crazy how expensive stuff is where you live. Around here you can get sprocket, hub, and chain, for 50, and pillows blocks for $10 a piece. Oh well, $600 aint too bad for a kart.

I was given my kart frame with engine. Heres a list of what i've done to it.

Extended by 1ft - $10 worth of pipe and wire

Installed bike engine - bike cost $50, plus about $40 for sprocket, and hardware to set up shifter linkage.

I took out bike engine, put it back in bike and sold for $75 + nearly complete sled with bad crank bearings. I sold the shocks and speedometer from the sled for $60. Then i just put the stock 5.5 tec back on

So overall, i've put -$35 (probably more like -$25, there were a few small trips to the hardware store) into it, but i guess that doesnt really count since the frame was free. I'm sure if you scrounged you could make a kart for less than $50.

We should have a budget build off, everyone can spend a max of say $75.
Click to expand...
:iagree:
Thats a good idea!:thumbsup:

but it stll makes it hard for some ppl who cant make stuff like i can make a frame for free but some ppl can ya kno?

yeah im going to the junk yard tomaro and see if i can find anything useful for cheappppp!:bannana: :bannana:
 
Rickracer

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The best bet for cheap karting is to find an old race frame for sale cheap. Usually has a lot of good hardware, and then run regular race wheels and/or tires, available used on many karting forum "For Sale" sections . I picked up an old Margay race kart that was a roller, for $125, all it needed was a motor, clutch, chain and throttle linkage. Tires were about gone and didn't hold air for long, but you can buy nice fat used slicks at many kart tracks pretty cheap, like $10~$15 each. I've got an 8 horse Honda GX240 I got from my son-in-law that puts it doing about 55 on a road course, about 60~65 flat out, and I've barely got $500 in it. I HAVE done some work to the motor, made a high flow intake system out of an old SBC Chevy valve cover breather, made a header and muffler from scratch, shaved the head about .060", and advanced the timing by filing the flywheel key. Should be making at least 12 hp now, & it does turn just over 6000 rpms. I just bought a front brake kit (rotors, calipers and international pattern hubs) that added another $200 to the price, and I'll probably spend another $150 for the master cylinder, the right hubs for my American pattern wheels, and building some long enough spindles. But my plans are to upgrade to a 125 to 250 cc 2 stroke M/C engine, and I'm sure I'll need some good front brakes. 100+ mph can't be too far off. :cool:
 
drscope

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Be careful where you get cheap! If you go cheap in the wrong areas, you won't have much fun because stuff will always be breaking on you. And when it's broke, it ain't no fun!

Wheels are important and a cheap wheel will fail and this not only ends your fun, but it can hurt you too.
 
Doc Sprocket

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I built my kids' kart pretty cheap, 4hp clone -$100, clutch -$20, two front tires, $10 each, Jackshaft sprockets and hubs maybe $40. Absolutely everything else was sourced free- an old nfg riding mower netted me front and rear axle, all steering components, brakes, rear wheels and tires, front wheels, seat. A free, slightly used restaurant exhaust fan netted me a 3/4 jackshaft and zerk-fitted pillow blocks with good bearings. I found the 1 1/4" SHS tubing being disposed of at an industrial unit. I've got maybe $200 cdn into this thing and that does include a brand new engine.
 
Kaptain Krunch

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Forgot about this thread...i have since build a kart without spending a single penny besides the cost of welding supplies which i already had. Unfortunately since i couldnt be picky the gearing was way off and the suspension sucked... but it didnt cost me anything so its alright haha.
 
T

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mine cost $370 all together

metal:60
front wheels:5
steering wheel:10
motor:115
bearings:20
chain:10
clutch:60
bolts+nuts:20
brake line:10
throttle cable:5
locking collars:5
valve springs:10
paint and primer:40

seat, hydrolic brake and disc, rear wheels, and all the other stuff was free! if you wanna see it.. here it is, ill have a more recent pic up soon cuz it done now im just painting it:)

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6148
 
bajagokart

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cant say mine has been "cheap" lol bought mine preassembled without an engine in it cause the guy i got it from blew a hole in the crankcase after 50 miles lol so i got it for 600 bucks! spent 250 on a 6.5 clone, clutch and new sprocket. made my engine mount and everything else needed to mount it. now ive decided that im tired of doing 15 mph lol so i just bought a 13 hp clone w/ electric start, $300 bucks thanks Princess auto! a comet 40 series torque converter and a jackshaft kit with pillowblocks. ill be making everything i need to mount it so after just spending 500 bucks it brings my total to around 1500 ish lol which still isnt too bad i dont think!
 
sideways

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I'm building 2 go karts with a budget of $10 each. So far, I've spent nothing :D .

I'm just using parts that I find at the tip or are given to me, heres some details:

Go kart 1 (see here for build thread)

Pedal car frame, lengthened and reinforced.
Mac 110 chainsaw engine
Axle/final drive from self propelled mower
Hand trolley wheels on front

Go kart 2

Metal billy kart frame (ie gravity kart)
Briggs mower engine modified to run as horizontal shaft( see here for more details)
Pulley tension clutch
Dead axle one wheel drive
Scrub brakes

This one will probably have more money spent on it though, for wheels and things.

Hayden
 
Kaptain Krunch

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Once you go motorcycle you wont go back. The power is just too much fun. Hitting 50 or so at the top of 3rd is just a great feeling, actually it hurts like hell without suspension but thats not the point.
 
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