Flipped It On The Street!!! OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[metalthrashinman]

Well, last week, the guy that gave me his broken kart came over for a few drinks. He is a reckless bazztard, and very impressed with the 169cc engine and Comet 30 that I just installed on his old, broken down kart. After his relentless begging, I agreed to let him take the kart for a spin even though it was midnight and pitch black out. He pulled out onto the road and proceeded to FLY by me at top speed (54 mph) several times. On the last pass, he hit the brakes and did a perfect 45 degree turn stopping the kart pointing perfectly at my driveway. I guess he had more than a few of those drinks, and decided to attempt a donut in the middle of the street! He cut the wheel all the way to the left and FLOORED the kart. He made it 1/2 way around, and the kart came right over on top of him. Standing only 4 feet from the idiot, I ran over and pulled it off of him, engine still running.

I asked if he was okay, and he said yes; so I drove the kart into the garage. Hindsight tells me that he should not have been driving my kart, and should have been wearing a helmet. He was very bloody with lots of road-rash. I had to look at his azz for him to make sure that there was not too much imbedded gravel. I've known him for over 24 years, and this is not the first time I've had to do this!! He'll be okay -- AGAIN!!! Hell, he almost killed me 4 times; but he is still my best friend.

Anyway, the kart is okay. The front alignment was knocked out -- easy fix, the seat is torn on the top -but not too badly, BUT; the right side guard arm is bent upwards. I need some ideas on how to bend it back down. The pictures below are before the accident, and the arm is not bent that badly; but it is enough that I want to fix it. How should I bend this thing back down?

 

[devino246]

Id heat the bent piece with a propane blowtorch and whack it with a hammer a few times.

 

[fowler]

i wouldnt bother with a propane torch, just jump on it till it realines

 

[Blazkowiez]

If by guide arm you mean nerf bar then just get a big hammer (16 pd) and have someone of decent weight hold down the other side of the kart while you are bringing the pain. Manco made a tough kart, it may take some serious force.

 

[devino246]

If by guide arm you mean nerf bar then just get a big hammer (16 pd) and have someone of decent weight hold down the other side of the kart while you are bringing the pain. Manco made a tough kart, it may take some serious force.

Will this hammer be big enough?

 

[metalthrashinman]

If by guide arm you mean nerf bar then just get a big hammer (16 pd) and have someone of decent weight hold down the other side of the kart while you are bringing the pain. Manco made a tough kart, it may take some serious force.

Yes, I meant nerf bar. So you say smack the shi#t out of it until it is straight again? Looks like you are right that a lot of force would be needed with the support bar welded to it and all...

My buddy really is an idiot. Can you imagine how I felt watching him be so DUMB?????? Nevermind seeing him the next day with all of the physical evidence of stupidity.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Yeah, typically with something that large our first resort would be getting a big hammer and hitting is hard.

On the bright side you have the power of knowing you are smart enough not to do what he did.

 

[porsche930dude]

id bend it back with a big pry bar or pipe or whatever wedged in there. youll need someone big on the other side. But yea a big hammer always works too

 

[metalthrashinman]

Yeah, typically with something that large our first resort would be getting a big hammer and hitting is hard.

On the bright side you have the power of knowing you are smart enough not to do what he did.

Thanks, I will try it and let you know (when the bronchitis subsides).

He really is a dope. Evel knievel he aint, but I do love him like a brother.

Hey, how about pressing it down with a backhoe? I do have access to some large tractors...???

I am worried about bending the rims, though.

 

[Randy]

I had to bend a couple frame bars on my kart. I sat it on a work table and set up some ratcheting straps to pull and straighten the bars. It worked great. I looped the nylon webbing over the kart bar and hooked the hooks together either under the table or hooked directly to to the table frame. Then ratchet way! It is a steady process that is damage free. Tighten the straps just past the point where you want it because when you release the straps it it will pop back a bit.

I wish I had used straps that had rubber over the ratcheting handle because it did hurt my hands after the straps got really tight.

Be very careful when you release the straps because you will have pulled them tighter then you thought and I had a hook come loose off of the table nearly change my voice.
I love the idea of smashing the sh** out of stuff. It seems that whenever I have used a pry bar or a hammer I do more damage.

 

[fowler]

Hey, how about pressing it down with a backhoe? I do have access to some large tractors...???

I am worried about bending the rims, though.

put wooden blocks under the frame. As if u hit it with a hammer than all the force wil go to squishing the tyres and bending axils,
the backhoe will work great but u could use that to pin it to the blocks while u beat it with a hammer.
i dout the side bar will withstand the hammer

 

[Hendersonjk]

dont hit it direct with the hammer put a piece of wood on the bar cause if you dent it your stuck with a dimpled up bar I`d try the straps, pry, then hammer

 

[Blazkowiez]

If you actually care about dings, a block of wood will help with that, it really depends on how much cosmetics bother you. It may be something worth leaving a bit of damage on to remind your friend what he did every time he visits.

 

[GreyhoundOfYerfDogs]

Don't use a hammer for this. It will dimple the area you hit, but not bend the whole nerf bar.

Get a 2X4 8' long to bend that back. Put another 2X4 at your fulcrum point so you don't start bending that.

A propane torch is useless here, but depending on the bend you might need a "blue wrench." (That's oxyacetylene torch. )

Grain alcohol and motorsports don't mix. Neither do sober friends and expensive toys you (not they) own, I've found the hard way, over and over and over in life. (I still keep letting them use my stuff, though. )

 

[metalthrashinman]

It may be something worth leaving a bit of damage on to remind your friend what he did every time he visits.

HA HA! Well, I have decided to leave it alone. I thank all of you for your great input. There were some VERY good ideas here! Strangely enough, take a look at the picture below. It was taken before the accident, and the bar seems to be bent there as well. Maybe it was bent that way all along, and I just did not notice. The kart DID land directly on top of him (I wish I had a video!). Look at the right side nerf bar -- It's raised, right? Other earlier pics show scratches on the bar, and the right front wheel was bent out of whack when I got it meaning it was probably flipped at least once before he gave it to me. I think HE may have absorbed 90% of the impact (poor sucker)!

Thanks again!

 

[Mzguns]

is that a manco kart , did thay make a 2 seater also ? the one that was flipped.

 

[Blazkowiez]

They've made several dozen models of 2 seater karts.

 

[migel101]

great story,: sorry no advise on pipe bending that isin't already here, nice kart

 

[ricklester]

54 MPH and no rollbar? Man, you guys are brave to the point of insanity.

 

[metalthrashinman]

54 MPH and no rollbar? Man, you guys are brave to the point of insanity.

More like stupidity when you factor in total darkness + alcohol + reckless crazy driver -(minus) helmet!

This was awhile ago, and he has healed. He HASN'T, by the way, driven the kart since!