So I have a 1735 model Carter brothers kart and on my front tires witch are 145x70-6 when I try to turn around the kart wants to keep going straight and I don’t know how to fix this issue. When I am driving it and just making little wide turns it does great. My rear set up is a live axle on 18x9.50-8. So if there is a solution to this that I am just blind, and don’t see it please help me
Front tires traction when turning
- Thread starter Tristan14
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bthompson224
New member
I drove a friend's race kart for a season. First thing he told me was if I didn't throttle through the turns it would keep going straight, due to the live axle and the very wide rear tires. And it would. Maybe some weight on the nose would help.
And not sure what kind of front tires you have, we have the same size and they are the balloon looking ones. Not much tread actually hitting the pavement. Next set will be the flatter turf savers.
And not sure what kind of front tires you have, we have the same size and they are the balloon looking ones. Not much tread actually hitting the pavement. Next set will be the flatter turf savers.
Hi, I have had the same issue with my kart for a while, but I’ve found ways that help slightly. I have a Yerf 32001, single seat. The issue is that there’s more weight at the back of the kart, most likely just how it was designed. (Pictures will help here)
First think that will help is adjusting the toe, meaning instead of the wheels pointing straight, they should point different directions when they steering is centered.
Sorry but this might help: when wheel is straight the left wheel would be pointed slightly out to he left and the right would be pointed slightly to the right. Somewhat like this \ /
Now that small image is more angle than you would use, but I hope it gives the idea.
Second if that doesn’t work I would say new tires. I use simple Carlisle turf tires, but pretty much any tire with a decent treat should help.
Third is terrain. And with this you have to change your driving style. Such as swing the back end out when turning and get a small drift in. Lean into your turn, use body weight to your advantage.
Now some guys on here might say shift the engine forward, or the seat, but that’s not always possible, as in my situation. So I use these three things and it’s greatly improved handling
*edit* if any of this is confusing let me know and I will try to better explain
First think that will help is adjusting the toe, meaning instead of the wheels pointing straight, they should point different directions when they steering is centered.
Sorry but this might help: when wheel is straight the left wheel would be pointed slightly out to he left and the right would be pointed slightly to the right. Somewhat like this \ /
Now that small image is more angle than you would use, but I hope it gives the idea.
Second if that doesn’t work I would say new tires. I use simple Carlisle turf tires, but pretty much any tire with a decent treat should help.
Third is terrain. And with this you have to change your driving style. Such as swing the back end out when turning and get a small drift in. Lean into your turn, use body weight to your advantage.
Now some guys on here might say shift the engine forward, or the seat, but that’s not always possible, as in my situation. So I use these three things and it’s greatly improved handling
*edit* if any of this is confusing let me know and I will try to better explain
mckutzy
Well-known member
I remember a few years back a guy here had helped correct a bit of this problem by bolting a few weights from a dumbbell set... help even out the oscillations of suspension recoil....
Ahh yes I forgot to mention that !
Whitetrashrocker
Inmate #952016
Yup. I did the dumbbell thing for a test run. It worked well so I permanently added some lead ballast to the front porch. 25lbs of lead did the trick for me.
jandj
Active member
apples and oranges.. a yard kart is not a race kart
and yes race karts need speed to properly turn (they lift the inner rear wheel doing so at speed)
yard karts do not do such thing (or at least are mot meant to!)
Instead you need proper Ackermann geometry in order to turn a yard kart as easily as possible
Carters usually are pretty good unless someone messed it up
Please post a pic of your front end and we can talk your through!
large offsets might only be fixable with some minor welding though.
Short:
draw a thread from the kingpin of your spindles to the center of the rear axle
(unobstructed)
with the front wheels straight the tie rod end must lay on that very line of thread
on the control arm
'sid
PS since your rears are quite wide, it might help reducing understeer
if you overinflate the rears slightly (to reduce the grip a hair)
and yes race karts need speed to properly turn (they lift the inner rear wheel doing so at speed)
yard karts do not do such thing (or at least are mot meant to!)
Instead you need proper Ackermann geometry in order to turn a yard kart as easily as possible
Carters usually are pretty good unless someone messed it up
Please post a pic of your front end and we can talk your through!
large offsets might only be fixable with some minor welding though.
Short:
draw a thread from the kingpin of your spindles to the center of the rear axle
(unobstructed)
with the front wheels straight the tie rod end must lay on that very line of thread
on the control arm
'sid
PS since your rears are quite wide, it might help reducing understeer
if you overinflate the rears slightly (to reduce the grip a hair)
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