First kart project.

[Gopedude]

Wider axle. Possibly narrower frame, too. How far apart are the rails?

Frankly, if there's a bunch of screw holes in the lumber, it's probably best to start with fresh lumber.

Roughly 3 ft wide. There is not an overwhelming number of holes, but there are several

 

[Gopedude]

If I were you, I would put plywood gussets on both sides of each corner and joint, like in this picture.

As for the axle, do I recall that you are planning a single drive wheel? If that is the case, you can get a pair of cold rolled steel rods that are the same size as your current axle. Then you can make a box like the one in the picture below to mount your new axles in. You should be able to pull it off without welding anything. I am not going to suggest anything that requires welding, but keep in mind that you need to make sure that you 1) keep the speed way down, and 2) check your bolts before every ride.

I picked up some 90 degree metal supports. Should help.
So, that box holds the spindle? Link?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

36" Wide? Wow... That's a whale! Most classic style karts are well under half that wide. There's going to be a lot of torsional stress on that.

 

[Gopedude]

36" Wide? Wow... That's a whale! Most classic style karts are well under half that wide. There's going to be a lot of torsional stress on that.

Really? I thought 3ft was small. How small can i go and still fit two people?

 

[DaiSan76]

I picked up some 90 degree metal supports. Should help.
So, that box holds the spindle? Link?

I was actually imagining that you would make one out of a couple of chunks of 4" x 4" square steel tubing and a hole saw. If you are willing to knock on doors you should be able to find a shop with a scrap bin that will let you have/buy a couple pieces of their scrap.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Really? I thought 3ft was small. How small can i go and still fit two people?

Think thin!

With everything else that has gone on, I missed the fact that you want a 2-seater. If this is indeed the case, you MUST seriously extend the track width. That's gonna be tippy as all he// with the current configuration. Get the wheels OUTSIDE the frame rails!

 

[OzFab]

I picked up some 90 degree metal supports. Should help.

Not those ones. To be effective, you need brackets about 4 times that size. Better to go with daisan's plywood option...

In fact, if you cover the rear of the frame with a single piece of ply (between the two rear rails) you have the makings of an engine mount

 

[traxxaskid]

Is this a joke??? I'm speechless! So far I see a chunk of a hand truck, crappy pine littered with holes, the thought of 2 people!?! So you don't just want to kill yourself you wanna take someone else with you! Ughh words can't describe..... Anyway I think you'd be better off with the refrigerator box!

 

[OzFab]

Is this a joke??? I'm speechless! So far I see a chunk of a hand truck, crappy pine littered with holes, the thought of 2 people!?! So you don't just want to kill yourself you wanna take someone else with you! Ughh words can't describe..... Anyway I think you'd be better off with the refrigerator box!

Dude, we've ALL been there & moved on; please follow suit...

 

[Gopedude]

I was actually imagining that you would make one out of a couple of chunks of 4" x 4" square steel tubing and a hole saw. If you are willing to knock on doors you should be able to find a shop with a scrap bin that will let you have/buy a couple pieces of their scrap.

Ill look into it.

 

[Gopedude]

Think thin!

With everything else that has gone on, I missed the fact that you want a 2-seater. If this is indeed the case, you MUST seriously extend the track width. That's gonna be tippy as all he// with the current configuration. Get the wheels OUTSIDE the frame rails!

Im either going to make the width of the frame the width of the tracks, or im going to find a whole new wheel system.

 

[Gopedude]

Not those ones. To be effective, you need brackets about 4 times that size. Better to go with daisan's plywood option...

In fact, if you cover the rear of the frame with a single piece of ply (between the two rear rails) you have the makings of an engine mount

Dang. I was thinking those metal mounts would help
I plan on using the actual wagon which is a piece of steel to mount the engine on.

 

[Gopedude]

Is this a joke???

Nope. This is for reals.

I'm speechless!

Awesome!

So far I see a chunk of a hand truck,

The heck is a hand truck?

crappy pine littered with holes,

We actually dont know what kind of wood it is.

the thought of 2 people!?!

Its not a thought anymore.

So you don't just want to kill yourself you wanna take someone else with you!

Jesus has helped me out of that depression. So no

Ughh words can't describe....

Its a pretty simple design. You play with rc trucks. Those are pretty complex.

Anyway I think you'd be better off with the refrigerator box!

crap. Threw it out last week. Bummer

 

[mckutzy]

In all this forget the wagon. Get a piece of 1/4" even 3/16" plate just an inch or so bigger than the footprint of the motor(I dont remember what the footprint was off hand) and use that. mount that to what ever you contraption is going to be.
The wagon's sheet metal is going to move and eventually warp from the vibration and torque.

 

[Gopedude]

In all this forget the wagon. Get a piece of 1/4" even 3/16" plate just an inch or so bigger than the footprint of the motor(I dont remember what the footprint was off hand) and use that. mount that to what ever you contraption is going to be.
The wagon's sheet metal is going to move and eventually warp from the vibration and torque.

when i get to the engine process ill do this. So should i go to a junkyard to get some scrap metal?

 

[Gopedude]

a hole saw.

Do you mean drill?

 

[traxxaskid]

Sorry about that I just read this thread.

 

[Gopedude]

Sorry about that I just read this thread.

if you have the same opinion still of the current frame, then you will have the same opinion it the earlier pics.

 

[mckutzy]

Junk, scrap, metal yard, somebodies metal fab shop, where ever. Try to ask some small local shop before going after the bigger places. most places wont deal with you unless you are a bit persistent but not rude. It also helps to have some drink(in your case non alcohol) like pop or water to ease the bartering. when people see that, sometimes they are more willing to help you out.
Who knows, hand a few drinks out and they might let you take what you can carry. so have a bit of a plan involved. You might get the jackpot coming to scrap.

 

[Gopedude]

Junk, scrap, metal yard, somebodies metal fab shop, where ever. Try to ask some small local shop before going after the bigger places. most places wont deal with you unless you are a bit persistent but not rude. It also helps to have some drink(in your case non alcohol) like pop or water to ease the bartering. when people see that, sometimes they are more willing to help you out.
Who knows, hand a few drinks out and they might let you take what you can carry. so have a bit of a plan involved. You might get the jackpot coming to scrap.

the art of bartering
My dad knows a guy who works on cars and welds, so he might have some scrap. If hes willing, and has enough scrap, i might be able to get him to weld me a frame. Not likely, but possible. For now, im going through with herbie.