First go kart Project

[Peter16]

Well as you may know from my other thread, this is my first time building a kart from scratch and completely home made.
If you have any suggestions or comments, would love to hear them.
so here are a few pictures.
Frame:

Spindle holders and engine in position:

Spindles:

tie rods threaded so they can be adjusted:

steering column and foot rests will have a floor soon:

Not going to use the steering wheel any more, as it is to difficult to mount so we are going to use handle bars with a throttle and brake setup similar to a motor bike. (the steering wheel was a hospital bed tyre with a few spokes cut out to look like a racing wheel lol it was comfy but didnt work out unfortunately)

So there it is, we are getting a brand new trike chasis on tuesday, so we want to use its complete axle and handle bars.

 

[AutoMX]

is that a 4 speed chinese 110cc motor? if so, nice choice. i know you're going for simplicity but i'd highly suggest suspension of some kind. especially since the rear will have to be chain driven anyway.

 

[Peter16]

yeah we are contemplating susepnsion, but we it will be semi off road, and it isnt to bumpy where i live.
The engine is a Jianshe quad engine, so im pretty sure it has 4 gears and maybe reverse if we are lucky, we will work the gears like a handbrake leaver. (your handbrake leavers might be different in the US)

 

[crazycart]

I would redo those welds on the steering etc..not to be mean but they look like tacks..it would suck if they broke doing 40+

 

[sayre315]

sweet shoes you skate?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

You need to re weld those spindles, use a 7014 rod at a high amperage and fill it in up to the edge of the bolt head. The control arm on the spindles look weakly welded as well, they are very prone to breaking off in my experience. If one breaks you lose all control of the cart other than brakes.

I came within 3 inches of hitting a tree with no helmet or seat belt because my control arm broke off a new spindle I made to replace the one that the axle ripped off of the spindle (my fault hit it with a hammer to tighten it up). And its a good thing I was going pretty slow and in a turn when my axle broke off, other wise I would have rolled or flown into a fairly busy road.

Most of the frame welds look alright but the spindle mounting bracket weld worries me.

 

[THE_REAL_RAT_FINK]

Ya, don't mess with poor steering or braking. I was driving my 1923 T Bucket (like a go kart) down a busy road when my steering arm "nut" came loose and fell off. My T went across the other lane and onto the other side of the road. I nearly hit a telephone pole.

 

[Jerryburger]

That looks like it's going together nice. This is your 1st ground up project- It's off to a great start. Of course we're all gonna want video, you realize!

Here's a "sticky" for the DIY forum rules...

1.) Have crazy idea.
2.) Make sure you have a working video camera, capable of being dropped.... a few times.
3.) Build kart. Keep spouse in the loop, but not fully aware of the dangers you're preparing to put yourself and others through.
4.) Post pix.
5.) Work out the horribly obvious and embarrassing bugs.
6.) Post video.

 

[Peter16]

dont worry as soon as we start it up for the first time ill have the camera rolling.

Thanks for the suggestions about re welding. my friend assures me its strong enough, but i will try and convince him to add a little more to them. which parts should i focus on? where the bolt is welded on? as well as the piece of metal ?

Peter

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Where the bolt is welded on and where the arm is welded on.

 

[Peter16]

Run into a problem

Most fuel tanks are positioned above the carbie so grafity can feed the fuel downwards, how ever, it is impossible to mount our tank above the carbie. so we have decided to put it next to the engine in some spare space, how ever this is well below the carburetter.

So my question is. how can i get fuel from the tank to the carbie? would a bulb work? like the ones on small outboard tanks ? or should i just buy a small fuel pump. where? how much?

if you have any other suggestions would love to hear them. here is a quick layout sketch:

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

You need a small fuel pump, you can get small ones that operate on the crankcase vacuum for not to much.

 

[THE_REAL_RAT_FINK]

Get a fuel pump. It will look cool especially with a sweet looking fuel tank.

63.00 --way too much
http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/index.php

22.99 or the better for 32.99
http://www.accelerationkarting.com/fuel.html

24.50
http://www.gokartracing.com/ecommerce/product.asp?ProdId=1640&CatId=63

20.00!!!!
http://www.piedmontkart.com/default.php?cPath=50

30 and 35.00 bucks
http://estore.websitepros.com/768505/Categories.bok?category=Fuel+Pumps

Now that I think of it, you're going to need some major flow to that 110 cc engine. That will require much more flow than the little pump.

 

[jr dragster T]

Get a fuel pump. It will look cool especially with a sweet looking fuel tank.

63.00 --way too much
http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/index.php

22.99 or the better for 32.99
http://www.accelerationkarting.com/fuel.html

24.50
http://www.gokartracing.com/ecommerce/product.asp?ProdId=1640&CatId=63

20.00!!!!
http://www.piedmontkart.com/default.php?cPath=50

30 and 35.00 bucks
http://estore.websitepros.com/768505/Categories.bok?category=Fuel+Pumps

Now that I think of it, you're going to need some major flow to that 110 cc engine. That will require much more flow than the little pump.

Are you kidding me man? That round dual feed mikuni pumps is what we use on jr dragster's and it supplys MORE than enough pressure for that 110 cc. And I own a 125 cc 4 speed and its NOT major flow at ALL. and Im willing to bet it will make that 110 cc carb puke out the overflow from too much pressure.

 

[Peter16]

well the "full trike except engine" turned out to be a quad with jack all.

we are thinking of getting rid of our steering and using the quads steering. we cut the front half of the chasis off and intend to use that. it has front hubs with brakes, and suspension.

do you think it will be possible to mount / weld this to our frame some how ?

 

[Tyler #41]

G'day Mate! Whats doin Pete, i made a profile aye! Umm yeah that quad was disappointin, allwell Syhit happens, but we should defo be able to weld that quad assy on!

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

well the "full trike except engine" turned out to be a quad with jack all.

we are thinking of getting rid of our steering and using the quads steering. we cut the front half of the chasis off and intend to use that. it has front hubs with brakes, and suspension.

do you think it will be possible to mount / weld this to our frame some how ?

You have a welder, anything involving metal is possible.