Do I need a TC for a Live axel. 😅

[Vertrees]

Around a month ago I made my first go kart it’s a got a preadator 212 and it’s one wheel drive. It works perfectly and fast on concrete but is an off-road kart that needs a live axel. Do I need a TC to Convert the kart to a live axel?

 

[Denny]

For just a live axle, no. But if you drive on anything but paved roads at anything less than full throttle you will!

 

[panchothedog]

A lot of stop and start driving and low to medium speed ( like off road ) driving
will ruin a centrifugal real fast. A torque converter is perfectly suited for this. How tall are your rear tires? Anything over about 13" needs one .

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Another important thing, can I have a full picture of your kart? If I remember correctly you have a roll cage and a heavy frame. Something lightweight doesn't always need a TC, plenty of light live axle karts came with clutches from the factory, I have one sitting in a shed right now. But a TC is always the better option.

 

[Vertrees]

Another important thing, can I have a full picture of your kart? If I remember correctly you have a roll cage and a heavy frame. Something lightweight doesn't always need a TC, plenty of light live axle karts came with clutches from the factory, I have one sitting in a shed right now. But a TC is always the better option.

It’s around 120 lbs and I’m 140 I’ll add pictures in a sec thanks!

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Every kart will be better with a TC, but that is the best kart for a clutch. Go for the TC if at all possible, but the kart would still function with a clutch if built correctly.

 

[JimD]

Just so you know the facts. The majority of go karts built in the US were clutch karts not t/c. It is the tire size that dictates when you move up to a t/c. Karts go faster with a clutch which is why all racing go karts are clutch karts be it a disk style or a shoe clutch, dry clutch or oil bath clutch. The reason most went with a clutch is price, once karts get over $600 the market got a lot smaller. The advantage of a t/c is you can drive slow with no damage to the unit, it gives you a better low end to get going. Any kart that is going to be in a parade, it better have a torque converter because you will fry a single drive clutch in the first block because you cannot drive fast enough to lock up the clutch so it can cool down.
Once engines on a kart got larger than 7hp the crankshaft goes up to 1" so now you are paying more for the engine it made a lot of sense to put on a torque converter. The tire size went went up now from 16" to huge. The t/c jackshaft should also get a lot larger than 5/8" just because that tire will bend the shaft or the mounting plate when you slam on the brake. These are the cause and effect learned over time by the manufacturers which were smart enough to come up with the changes. Learning curves were all over the place for some of the manufacturers.

 

[Vertrees]

Just so you know the facts. The majority of go karts built in the US were clutch karts not t/c. It is the tire size that dictates when you move up to a t/c. Karts go faster with a clutch which is why all racing go karts are clutch karts be it a disk style or a shoe clutch, dry clutch or oil bath clutch. The reason most went with a clutch is price, once karts get over $600 the market got a lot smaller. The advantage of a t/c is you can drive slow with no damage to the unit, it gives you a better low end to get going. Any kart that is going to be in a parade, it better have a torque converter because you will fry a single drive clutch in the first block because you cannot drive fast enough to lock up the clutch so it can cool down.
Once engines on a kart got larger than 7hp the crankshaft goes up to 1" so now you are paying more for the engine it made a lot of sense to put on a torque converter. The tire size went went up now from 16" to huge. The t/c jackshaft should also get a lot larger than 5/8" just because that tire will bend the shaft or the mounting plate when you slam on the brake. These are the cause and effect learned over time by the manufacturers which were smart enough to come up with the changes. Learning curves were all over the place for some of the manufacturers.

Alright! Thank you, you don’t know how much this helps I’ll start on the live axel with my grandpa in a few days.