Clueless Noob from Iowa

[RUMyMommyX3]

Hello there. I am a mom to 3 kids. Oldest being 10. While out Curb shopping today in a local town, my oldest found a Go Kart. It appears to be a Fox II? No Roll Cage. 2 Wheels were off and laying to the side and they all need air. The motor appears to be intact. But I have NO Clue about motors or Go Karts! LOL my only experience with them was a Lawn Mower my dad made us without the deck under it. The only experience my husband has with them is from watching his brother blow up motors on the ones he had AND watching him catch a clutch pedal with his face! Not good experiences at all. but my son is DEAD SET on fixing this thing up and making it run! LOL What are some good pointers to give him? Where is a good place to get parts? CHEAP. Anyone Local to the Des Moines area that would want to teach a kid?? I homeschool so I want this to be a learning experience for him. If he is going to keep it then I want him to KNOW how to take care of it and fix it himself. but I have NO experiences with small motor repair and such other than watching my dad. So I know it can be done. I just never learned. My dad is 4 hours away and can not teach him. and Honestly I don't trust my Brother in Law to teach him either! he has not shown he actually knows what he is doing. Hence the Blown motors and clutch to the face! LOL We will be bringing it home tomorrow from the place where we got it. Hoping this is not going to be a money pit for him. We don't have a whole lot of money to throw into a Go Kart. But he was VERY excited to find it and is determined to learn!

 

[Felineman]

From what I see the engine is missing air filter and pull start the front has no spindles and the tires are from a riding mower. may or may not have an axle in rear need pictures from all sides with proper pics of engine and steering looks like your gonna put a few hundred into it to get it running, its a two seater though and they hold there value so you will always break even on them if you keep them in good shape.

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum!! You got a great find there. Post some more pics of the front end of the kart where the wheels should go, as well as the back. Some better pics of the engine would also be good.

Even if you decide not to fix it up, you could make some money selling things separately. BMI Karts usually has the most reasonable prices

 

[itsid]

Hi and

What you have appears to be a Manco 415-391D White Fox II
to help you identifying missing/broken parts: here's the manual:
http://www.amsportworks.com/pdfs/gokarts-minibikes/model-415/415_operatorsmanual_415391415241.pdf

And just because it looks like it's still the original engine,
here's the engines user manual as well:
http://www.amsportworks.com/pdfs/other/old-engine/old_tecumseh.pdf

Now,
this thing never came with a roll cage! it came with a brush guard..
it's perfectly okay to go without the brush guard (no structural necessity)
but without it, do not buckle up.. loose the belts as well!
it's safer to be thrown out of the kart than to be tied to it when it flips.

What you're obviously missing is the front lh spindle. part #8020 which unfortunately isn't available new anymore.

So that'll be something you'll need to trace down or find a proper replacement for.
a good source for manco parts is:
http://www.gokartsrus.com
They do carry different manco spindles still (just not the exact one you need )
maybe they can be of service to get a decent replacement.

I think, you should start (or let your kid start) a build thread;
I'm sure all the forum members will be happy to help the best they can;
even if not close enough to come over

'sid

 

[KartFab]

Hoping this is not going to be a money pit for him.

It is a money pit, but its better than video games!

 

[itsid]

It is a money pit, but its better than video games!

Sorry, I disagree..
it looks to be in good shape except the few missing parts of course.
And if the engine, brake and tires are still in good condition,
I think it'll be safe to drive within let's say 50 bucks and a bit of work.

On the second picture it even appears that the spindle is indeed still there..
just not connected to the tierod

So nothing compared to the lesson and the fun he gains

But true, in the future there will be more maintenance and improvements
that will cost a buck or two every now and then.
But here's the point:
he will learn a lot along the way because of the reward driving his kart in the end.

'sid

 

[OzFab]

It is a money pit, but its better than video games!

I tend to agree, to a point; ATM, we (or you) have no idea what condition the engine is in &, without a pull starter, it's not going to be easy to find out...

... & what about the brakes, chain, clutch? Until we see more pics, we can't really tell what it will cost but, IMO, it's all about the process...