first DIY cart!

[papistinklburgr]

Alright guys, so me and some buddies decided we want to make a kart/buggy instead of buying one. Tubing, something like 1 1/4in square or round? Engine, 8hp briggs/stratton with a comet 40, would that be good or 18-20in tires? Budget is a little tight but it doesn't need to be some beast of a thing just something to go out on the weekends and ride trails/back yards. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[OzFab]

You've provided lots of info, which is good but, we need more:
Do you have a design in mind?
Are you building off a bought plan or did you design it yourself?
Single seater or two?

Nodroz is currently building a Dirt Devil, maybe you could PM him & ask how much it has cost him...

 

[papistinklburgr]

Design wise I was thinking a single, looking like the Edge Trax II and the plans i drew up myself. I added room for a small cargo area behind the seat in between the engine wall too for longer trips and such.

 

[GregMartin]

It's not really the same as an edge trax ii but here is a link to the build I did you might find some useful info especially if this is your first build
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18728

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Go larger on the engine. Between the rolling radius and the large rotating mass, the 8hp will be weak with tires that large. In it's last incarnation, my kart featured 18" tires, an 11hp Honda GX 340 and Comet40. Any less power would have disappointed. Maybe because I'm a nutjob behind the wheel...

Do you already have the engine?

 

[OzFab]

Can you show us your plans? I promise we won't steal them

 

[papistinklburgr]

So they aren't really plans, just kind of drawings that I made up. No measurements or anything like that, first gotta figure out the engine/wheel sizes and such... and now that I drew them up the forum won't let me post them... awesome But measurement wise I was thinking about 7-8ft long and around 4 1/2-5 wide? something around there perhaps with a 15hp engine to go with the bigger wheels

 

[papistinklburgr]

hope this uploads

 

[Aladinbama]

Boy, that's BIG!
That's 10 foot by 7 1/2 foot - many cars aren't that big. I guess it would be fun though!

 

[mysteryboy28]

find yourself a 340cc or bigger sled and use the motor and clutches, as well the motor mount part of the frame. you'll be really happy with the power then!

 

[papistinklburgr]

yea, COMPLETELY disregard the dimensions on that , my buddy was throwing numbers at me and i just picked some, didnt even realize it was 10ft. I reworked the design so its down to about 6 1/4 long but im not sure how wide to make it then or a 2 man. Sorry the plans pretty much got gutted last night so in order to power the new design: 2 man at around 6 1/4 long by ? wide using 1 1/4 DOM tubing would a 212cc be enough?

New design

 

[mysteryboy28]

if the driver and passenger each weigh 100 lbs max the 212cc would work. lol. think 390cc-420cc and comet 40, or 340cc sled motor (much better!).

honestly, you can't go wrong with a sled motor. just hack the motor mount part of the frame off the sled, weld that on, then slap it back together. you can weld a 10 tooth sprocket onto the jackshaft of the sled motor, then run that to your 50 tooth axle sprocket. use #50 sprockets and chain.