Fat man in a little kart

[txluke]

I picked up this kart, a tiny 50cc 4wheeler, a bunch of lawnmower tires and a Honda pressure washer for $40 yesterday. Got it home and started on the kart. It has a 6.5 briggs. The gas tank was full of water so it and the carb came off to be cleaned. I tried to fire it up but it had a stuck valve so the cover came off and a hammer fixed the problem. With the engine now running I climbed my 6"2' 325lb frame in a kart that is too small for my 10 year old. I let her rip and just sat there in a giant cloud of smoke. I had flashbacks to the last Willie Nelson concert I went to. The guy I got it from had hosed down the clutch with penetrating oil so he could get it off. That had to be pulled and cleaned up. Another 10 min of me trying to get in was followed by me leaving huge trenches in the yard as the drive tire spun like crazy. I thought something must be wrong with the kart because all I could hear over the engine was a high pitched shriek. After I realized that noise was me and not the kart I quickly turned my attention to the fact that I was stuck at WOT and the scrub brakes were about 1/2 of an inch from touching the tires even with the brake being slammed on by all of my massive weight. The chattering of the front wheel bearings were growing so loud that I cut my prayer short and remembered that I shouldn't have put off connecting the kill switch. My saving grace was the low spot in the yard that always holds water. While the kart was spinning out in the mud trying to bury me, I was able to reach back and hit the choke and kill it. As the sun was setting in a blazing orange ball of glory I set there covered in mud, wedged in the seat on this tiny kart, looking like big ol Donky Kong in Mario Kart, I called my neighbor and told him we are taking this thing on the road tomorrow and see how fast it will go.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Uh... Interestingly hilarious!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!
That's why you hook up a kill switch folks!
Uh, I REALLY hope you hook up a kill switch and brakes before you take it on the road.
I can see the headlines:
6'2" 325 lb. man riding ill-maintained go kart smears himself all over neighbor's Ford F-150
Seriously though, that sounds like pure, adrenaline-fueled CRAZY FUN! Redneck style...

 

[txluke]

The neighbor was partying hard last night. His kids were in town visiting. As soon as he wakes up we will get on this and take some pics.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

I did get the brakes to engage last night. I had to adjust linkage. Only 1 side would touch. The other one was about 1 1/2 inches from the tire. I shoved a 1x4 between the good one and the tire and used a sledge to pound the other one down. Now they both touch at the same time. I am also adding a better spring for the throttle return.

 

[BigWes]

Cool...sounds like stuff I do!

 

[txluke]

We got it on pavement and it started throwing the chain because the wheel bearings we making the wheel wobble. I did the smart thing and shut it down so I wouldnt destroy my vintage Manco rims. I saw those on Ebay and just 1 of the rim halves is worth more than I paid for the entire kart. I will see about ordering new bearings and possibly a band brake.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

...just 1 of the rim halves is worth more than I paid for the entire kart.

They're the Shelby Cragars of go karts!

---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:56 PM ----------

PS - How much did you get it for?

 

[txluke]

$40 for kart, a 50cc 4wheeler, a bunch of tires, and a pressure washer with a 5.5 honda.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Lucky...

 

[txluke]

Lucky...

All you need to do is ask. Get the word out. That is how I end up with whatever I need.

 

[txluke]

They're the Shelby Cragars of go karts!

---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:56 PM ----------

PS - How much did you get it for?

So much for my Shelby Cragers!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Ohh, the regret!
$40 was a KILLER DEAL.
Trevor, Craigslist is the land of scam and rip-offs, and the occasional crazy deal. My kart was listed for either $150 or $100 on CL, not sure which, but in the end I bargained him down to $60.
Patience, young padawan, patience. That is the key...

 

[Tpdingo]

Ohh, the regret!
$40 was a KILLER DEAL.
Trevor, Craigslist is the land of scam and rip-offs, and the occasional crazy deal. My kart was listed for either $150 or $100 on CL, not sure which, but in the end I bargained him down to $60.
Patience, young padawan, patience. That is the key...

I roamed CL for 3mo before I found my Dingo for 50$. It was supposed to be 100$, but he disappeared for two days and came back with "if you can pick it up in the next 3 days it's yours for 50$"

 

[Dingocat]

I roamed CL for 3mo before I found my Dingo for 50$. It was supposed to be 100$, but he disappeared for two days and came back with "if you can pick it up in the next 3 days it's yours for 50$"

My dingo was 50$, i asked my grandparents to get it so 50$ it was. And the two latest ones 150 for two almost complete karts, some assembly required as well as more parts

 

[txluke]

I refuse to get new rims that cost more than the kart. I found that the bearing will fit in the sprocket hole. Now my inner bearing will be in the sprocket and not the rim. I just need to shorten the axle and weld a longer bolt on so that it will still line up with the clutch.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Hmm, very intuitive...
how many teeth on that sprocket?

 

[txluke]

60 teeth.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

What size wheels/tires?

---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

From looking at it, I wanna say 4.10/3.50x5 carlisle tread. Maybe Cheng Shin.

 

[txluke]

I think so.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

If it is, those are my fronts!
I think the last owner put too big rear wheels on my kart.
I noticed recently that the fixed axle and scrub brake shaft have been bent away from each other. Thus I think it was designed for 12 inchers front and back. But I'm not sure I wanna fix it 'cause I like the FAT rears.