father sons project

[skyj]

Hello all, I figured I would start a thread on this little project my three sons and I have got going. I'm new to the forum, but not new to fabrication and building, recently we finished building this jeep ( jeeps are never done) all work was done by myself and my boys.
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/sethcrae/jeep pics/IMAG1441_zps8a71c1c5.jpg
Just never built a kart before. I have a major passion for metal fab, jeeps, and motor sports.
Enough introductions my boys and I have an idea to build a budget go kart using their old POS Chinese atv while combining it with this Whites 10.5 hp lawn mower.
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/sethcrae/jeep pics/IMAG1476_zps3ba00638.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums...8-15af-4ec0-8939-aed0d08b18a7_zpscf98ac8e.jpg
I have lots of 1"x1"x 3/16" wall tubing left over from a project which I think is enough to build a pretty stout frame. The biggest challenge I see is coming up with a design we want to use that will work great for my 6 yr son to take with us when we go camping.
Since we are passionate about offroad and jeeps we want it to resemble a jeep buggy. Any thought or suggestions on using the atv and lawn mower for parts? I do believe the mower is a vertical shaft drive so that may pose a challenge. We have pretty much all the tools we are going to need to build this I have a welder, chop saw, drill press , and have access to a tube bender. I love to learn new things so if I'm going about it the wrong way let me know, there is lots I dont know about the mower and its transmission and if I can use these things to make it perform better or if im just a nincumpoop spinning his wheels....
We are on an extreme budget and would like to utilize everything we can from thse two wrecks to make one fun ride so my kids can look back on their childhood and say my dad was fun and taught me something.

 

[skyj]

father son buggy

So I guess I waited to long and they closed my prevoius thread. so we shall start anew. This has been a project in the makings for a while and it has finally come to some actual progress. Just thought I would post and get some constructive critisism Anyways we started with a old lawn mower handed down to us from my FIL it had a rear engine with a 10.5 brigg and stratton motor we hacked it up and built a front axle using a pivot axle from a craftsman mower. then we aquired a suzuki quad runner 300 for free and all **** broke loose on the build. We scraped the lawn mower chassis and utilized everything we could from the quad. Here is were we are at now. its too long and we have lots more tube to add for strength and stability. plan to shorten up the rear swing arm to bring the wheelbase closer together.

 

[landuse]

I have merged your two threads together

---------- Post added at 09:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 PM ----------

You should be able to just continue with this one

 

[skyj]

Lol thanks, it's been a while since I've been on here. Thanks.

 

[bighead]

Try to shorten it even more. Your turning radius is gonna be a mile circle. Looks good though. Does that engine have reverse?

 

[skyj]

Try to shorten it even more. Your turning radius is gonna be a mile circle. Looks good though. Does that engine have reverse?

Yes I hate how long it is I'm going to shorten it like 8+ inches, trying to match a razr wheelbase. Yes it has reverse it's a simple lever to pull.

 

[Daniel Sheffield]

That thing is sick. I would leave it that way and put a bed type thing over engine. Like a stadium truck.

 

[skyj]

That thing is sick. I would leave it that way and put a bed type thing over engine. Like a stadium truck.

Thanks buddy! Got lots left do, but it's coming together. Probably add a cooler rack on the back for beverages, gotta add some weight to slow this thing down it's gonna rip with a 70# kid behind the wheel..
Just not sure how to tie in the upper portion of the quad frame into the chassis we built, I want it stout so a hard landing won't crumple, but also able to remove the motor in case we need to rebuild it.

 

[skyj]

its been a little while since I updated this build, we've been plugging away at it. shortened up the swing arm about 5" and took 3" ouf of the front it now has decent wheelbase still long but managable at least it will be stable. pulled the motor to finish final welding. going to pull the head and check the cylinder on since the guy left it outside without a carb on it for a few years exposed to the elements. got some more tube for triangulation and support but its ready for welding then paint. I think I've got the steering figured out Im going to use the steering gears from the craftsman tractor or may go with a rack and pinion unit, it needs to be stout since my flesh and blood will be riding this thing.

 

[Loweguy]

Awesome!

 

[skyj]

I got the steering almost complete, ended up using the steering off the craftsman tractor . thinking about adding a ujoint to the shaft so we can raise and lower the wheel since all three of my boys may drive it and may need it to move up and down. If the gears end up being too sloppy then we may just order up a rack and pinion for our setup. here is a picture of what we used that I grabbed off the internet

 

[skyj]

so I may or may not have actually spent money on this build. I just bought some rzr take offs for it. I will need wheel adapters but thats ok I got these for cheaper than buying one tire so I just had to do it, besides I havent spent a dime on this build yet. its going to look so bada**!! I also worked on the front fender arch today and according to my measurements it should all still work with the rzr tires. Ill gain another 4inches of lift with these bad boys

 

[landuse]

It will be awesome to see this thing complete!!

 

[skyj]

It will be awesome to see this thing complete!!

thanks I hope to kick it into high gear since summer is upon us and my kids want to drive this.

 

[skyj]

I still need adapters but I just set the wheels up next to it and fell in Love. it should sit about 2 inches higher than where its at now.

 

[skyj]

have'nt done much to the kart for a while still trying to find time to do final welding on it. there are a lot welds to do on this thing. been chipping away at it slowly and collecting more parts hope to have the motor back in it and running soon, but hunting season is coming up so updates may slow down.

 

[MrC.]

Great lines on that buggy.
keep digging you will get there.
MrC.