Do I really need this ugly "roll hoop"?

[JTSpeedDemon]

You can see in the pictures the janky "roll hoop"(more like a backrest) on my go kart.
Not original.
And you can also see the original backrest welded into it.
Ugly.
I was talking with my dad, and he seems unsure of letting me cut off the roll hoop for safety reasons.
Here's why I think it should be removed:

1. It's REALLY ugly
2. Extra weight
3. I think my head is higher than it anyway
4. It makes me have to dismount the engine to remove the blower housing
5. I thinks someone already tried to remove it anyway, since there are a few wedges cut out of it near the bottom
6. And the cylinder head literally touches the hoop when it's mounted
7. And karts are very hard to flip anyway

I'm basically just trying to get ammunition to convince my dad to let me remove it.
'sid, I know you think it's ugly, but I want to know how many other people agree with 'sid and I.

 

[Hellion]

You shoulda made your thread a poll for us to vote on. Might give your argument extra ‘weight’ and validity... but then again, would your daddy-o even care what a bunch of interwebz dorknuts think?

I agree with you though. It looks like complete bollocks; but if anything, saw off the half moon hoop itself and gravity-feed gas tank. Then again the whole thing interferes with the engine, so. Remove it all!

Now your “tie rods” and steering setup is beyond janky to me...

 

[Panhead5496]

I'm guessing it's to protect the engine if the cart flips. Or perhaps it's to protect the seat back should you flip.

I would personally leave it on, but that's just me. Heck, if nothing else if you take it off and then get hurt, even in an totally unrelated manner on the cart, your dad is likely to go on and on about it lol!

 

[landuse]

Most of your points would not convince me to let you cut it off. Just saying. Weight?? The weight of that hoop is going to do nothing to your kart. Karts not easy to flip?? Think again. Why would you want to reach over to the blower housing whilst seated anyway?

 

[anickode]

I'd cut it off just on the principle of my head constantly banging against it. Even with a helmet on, that'd get annoying quick.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Honestly i would modify it some like cut it and weld a better cage. its your kart though if you have even ever went karting. the budget go kart was a drifter and tried to flip once on thicc pavement so be careful where you drift.

 

[Hellion]

I definitely don't like full roll cages, especially those that were added retroactively to the older frames, but the half ones or the “cage over engine” (actually a descriptive term for a Manco 485 model) thingamabobs are AOK with me.

To me, it looks like your roll hoop needs some tubing and bracing in the rear, for better looks if anything. Take off that gas tank though—that’s gotta go.

 

[Dingocat]

If you do flip it you don't want to be covered in gas

 

[Budget GoKart]

I definitely don't like full roll cages, especially those that were added retroactively to the older frames, but the half ones or the “cage over engine” (actually a descriptive term for a Manco 485 model) thingamabobs are AOK with me.

To me, it looks like your roll hoop needs some tubing and bracing in the rear, for better looks if anything. Take off that gas tank though—that’s gotta go.

Thats what i was thinking but remaking the main hoop its fricken ugly

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Most of your points would not convince me to let you cut it off. Just saying. Weight?? The weight of that hoop is going to do nothing to your kart. Karts not easy to flip?? Think again. Why would you want to reach over to the blower housing whilst seated anyway?

I don't reach back to the blower housing.
I go to the back of the kart, and I try to remove it, and the center brace always gets in the way.
And yes, I definitely should've posted it with a poll.
Maybe you mods can help me put one up with three options: Keep, Tastefully Modify, and Remove. If you can.
Yes the gas tank is horrifically ugly, the previous owner says it's off a lawn mower(go figure).
I just REALLY want the whole hoop assembly gone tbh.
P.S - As a sidenote, the seat back(the original little one) has already been cut off and moved back by the previous owner.

---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 AM ----------

Now your “tie rods” and steering setup is beyond janky to me...

The previous owner says it used to have some sort of "ball joint" steering system, but it was too unreliable and he removed it.
Probably didn't know what he was talking about.
But yeah, the tie rod system is not the greatest.
But, for the sake of polishing my precious turd, I sanded the "tie rods" so they kinda look like stainless steel/chrome, kinda cool I think.
I think the tie rods, with the play in them and the zero bushings or padding, I think that's part of the reason it torque steers so bad.
That and the one wheel peel setup, and the fact that the rear wheels basically have a teeny bit of toe out.
someday this thing will hopefully be nice.

 

[Dingocat]

It's the one wheel peelthat's the reason for the torque steer, was riding one that belongs to my friend, almost hit a different friend's audi when I let off the gas. And it most likely had regukar tie rods before but the PO took them of because they were seized. Seen it before. Aka on my dingo.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Yea I know the 1WD is the cause, but the other stuff probably just makes it worse.

 

[Dingocat]

My friend with the one wheel peel, his tie rods are thin walled pipe flattened on the ends with bolts through them. and the steering wheel, the bolt that was suposed to go through it was too big and he broke it off inside the wheel. For a good couple months it just had a bolt in the other hole taped on. As in with electrical tape.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

My friend with the one wheel peel, his tie rods are thin walled pipe flattened on the ends with bolts through them. and the steering wheel, the bolt that was suposed to go through it was too big and he broke it off inside the wheel. For a good couple months it just had a bolt in the other hole taped on. As in with electrical tape.

Man, that makes my kart look like a primo perfect kart.

 

[Budget GoKart]

On budget gk my og kart i had ductape and a self tapper holding my throttle cable on. Also ductape and zipties held the gas tank on. It was permanent.

 

[Dingocat]

And it had harbor freight death wheels. Still has them on the front, grass only kart. and his scrub brakes, the pads are wood with old tire screwed to them. And the engine is mounted on squarestock and 2in. To the left to make up for the wierd wheel spacing.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

And it had harbor freight death wheels. Still has them on the front, grass only kart. and his scrub brakes, the pads are wood with old tire screwed to them. And the engine is mounted on squarestock and 2in. To the left to make up for the wierd wheel spacing.

I think you're talking about your buddy's kart, because none of that applies to mine.

 

[Dingocat]

Yup. But as to yours I say move the tank and maybe run it off a pulse pump. And for the hoop, when I flipped my kart it landed on the seat back, same kart as budget go kart V 2. Betterr that than your head.
And I agree with Hellion, make some sort of cage over engine type thing. Maybe move the seat and hoop up a bit to move it away from the engine

 

[Budget GoKart]

Couldnt agree more dingo cat

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Yup. But as to yours I say move the tank and maybe run it off a pulse pump. And for the hoop, when I flipped my kart it landed on the seat back, same kart as budget go kart V 2. Betterr that than your head.
And I agree with Hellion, make some sort of cage over engine type thing. Maybe move the seat and hoop up a bit to move it away from the engine

I have a Mikuni/Briggs branded pulse pump intended for dirt speedway karts, so I plan to do a pulse pump eventually anyway.
I just want the hoop gone, and a steering wheel hoop-type piece in the back might not be a bad idea to protect the engine, since it's my baby.
But I'm most certainly not moving the seat back much closer to the pedals, since I'm a long tall Texan.