Custom off road kart design

[DMCdesign]

my grand father passed away more than a month ago.... and I wanted to dedicate something to him. So I thought about an off road kart. my uncle had said that there was a wrecked scooter (150cc) whose engine I could use. its power ranges from 9ps to 17ps(not known exactly). my final exams ended last week and I started modelling the kart from pvc pipes. I thought of a light weight design and modelled.(pic 1- the main frame, pic 2- twin a arm mount site, pic 3- swing arm with engine cavity)

 

[DMCdesign]

here is my inspiration

and here is the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc4gcDhCm9Q

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum!! Not to sound rude at all, but you are really going to have to know what you are doing if you are going to be using PVC. 99% of people trying this will fail.

I suggest you have a look at this thread to get some inspiration. Even this build we are not too sure of

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21082

 

[DMCdesign]

you might have come under the wrong impression. this PVC model is the basic model of the go kart which will be made out of steel (remember the clay model of the car before it is actually made?). would you recommend any other changes?

 

[DMCdesign]

how about black widow plans with full suspension and bolt on roll cage

 

[J_Walker]

My 2cent, may it be worth it or not? Dunno. with off-roading around here means sand.. Deep/soft/sand... And guess what? MOAR SAND!! I see "off road carts" and there maybe 4/6 inches from the ground! :0 Where would you be driving "off road"?? Sounds more like packed road to me..!

So, my 2 cent? have "at least" 14 inches of space between the lowest point of your kart and the ground. I understand its a kart and not a car.. but even karts get stuck in sand, and digging your new awesome "off road gokart" out of a pile of sand, lets just say, you feel pretty dumb... lol But I suppose you can do what you like.

 

[DMCdesign]

whoah! I don't live near a desert or something and I wouldn't off road that hard core. Yes, but it should have decent ground clearance. I had found this kart built out of a scrap auto rickshaw and the frame should be easily clonable with a 1x2''

 

[DMCdesign]

I went to my scrap yard. It was a scrap metal heaven and I brought (sneaked actually) and stored 1x1 tubing. I am planning of making the base of the kart in the following week.

 

[DMCdesign]

finally made some progress on the kart. here are the photos-

the place where I got the steel from



Newly cut parts ready to weld

 

[landuse]

you might have come under the wrong impression. this PVC model is the basic model of the go kart which will be made out of steel (remember the clay model of the car before it is actually made?). would you recommend any other changes?

I see. Nice start.

 

[DMCdesign]

finally started on the chassis. it is made out of 1x1" 1mm thick wall square. will post photos ASAP. on the contary, would the 1mm thick wall be too weak? should I use 3mm thick steel tubing for support beams? please reply ASAP

 

[landuse]

finally started on the chassis. it is made out of 1x1" 1mm thick wall square. will post photos ASAP. on the contary, would the 1mm thick wall be too weak? should I use 3mm thick steel tubing for support beams? please reply ASAP

1mm might be too thin. I used 2mm (or was it 1.6mm) on my minibike. I wouldn't use 3mm. That is just way too thick. It would work fine, but you will have one heavy kart!!

 

[DMCdesign]

by support beams I don't mean support beams for the roll cage. I had pretty much gotten the base frame modeled after the edge raven and by support beams I mean the main areas like the width support, seat brackets and suspension parts. Right now I only have the budget to get a roll bar built into it

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I would call 1mm (0.039") far too thin for a ladder frame. Either construct a space frame, or source tubing more 1.6-2mm. I suppose that a third option would be to double up the tubing on the main framerails and crossmembers. By this I mean two pieces of tube, stacked. It may not be pretty but it will be strong. Clamp the two tubes together, and tack weld every few inches up both sides.

 

[DMCdesign]

space frame? I blew up my mind brainstorming and came up with this idea-



I need answers on this ASAP

 

[DMCdesign]

Did some updates on the plans. Here are the photos- need advice ASAP.

 

[landuse]

You won't get much luck with people answering at this time of the day. Most of the American guys are safely tucked away in bed. You are unforrtunately going to have to wait a little bit.

I still think the 1mm wall tubing is a bit thin. You will blow through that quite easily with your welder, leaving holes. How good is your welding experience?

 

[DMCdesign]

yeah, I am getting it welded from fabricators here. so I am thinking of getting 3 mm crossbars built from one corner to the other and another 3 mm bar welded below the assembly to further strengthen it and provide a mount site for swing arms. then I will think of sheet metal (or aluminium panels) for it. I think It will be fine then. what do you think?

 

[DMCdesign]

got the frame welded and gave it some cross bars to weld will get the frame today if I am free -





Since I wanted simple but rigid swing arms for both ends, how about welding angle iron to it for pivot points?

 

[DMCdesign]

Now since I have my frame made, I can think of adding suspension or not. I need suggestions and answers ASAP