Getting back in the loop....new go kart :)

[raptormessiah]

i just recently picked up a lil project im tryin to get going....its a thunderkart single seater with 6HP tecumseh powersport. its about 8 years old and last time it ran was about 9 months ago. Previous owner said it was bought new and after a near collision, she stopped riding it....tires are almost like new and still hold air, seems highly likely this gokart had very little use. only things that are wrong are that the throttle cable is broke and they lost the key (its pull start, just has key for some odd reason). anyway, been sitting for awhile and was wondering wht yall would recommend me do before i try to crank it up. any suggestions welcome. thanks

will post pics tomorrow

 

[T-man]

change fuel, oil, lube chain and bearings. check bolts and nuts in steering set-up. Make sure the brakes work.

 

[r97]

add get new kill switch to that.

 

[raptormessiah]

i forgot to mention that the chain tensioner seems to be a sort of bearing wrapped in rubber, well, after tryin to make it roll forward to loosen rusty chain, rubber fell of, so now its just a metal bearing against the chain....where can i get a new one?

 

[redsox985]

You may be able to get by with out a tensioner. Is the motor mounted on the rear swing arm? If so, you don't really need it with proper adjustments. Is the key for an turn key electronic start?

 

[raptormessiah]

i will try to see if i can make it work without the tensioner...and i think r97 is right in sayin the key is just for a killswitch since its pull start.

 

[r97]

depending on your setup (i'm sure blaz can tell you more about it) you can either put washers under the engine, slide the engine forward, or if the chain is really loose, remove two links and install a half link, or if the rubber(and bearing) is still good you could always glue the rubber back on, if not it prob isn't a big deal to find a replacement piece of rubber.

 

[redsox985]

Even a skateboard wheel can work. Most electric stats will have a pull start as a back up. A keyed kill seems like overkill. Does it have a battery?

 

[Blazkowiez]

Well, every time we get one of those karts in for service we throw the belt tensioner in the trash, they were neat when they were new but they really get worn out after the years of use.

I can tell you very little about your kart without look at pictures. I'd bet if you had gas in that tank you'll be needing to rebuild that carb.

Any local lawnmower shop can get the key for you, they're like a dollar at max. The key was a style issue, many karts used this as a kill switch.

 

[raptormessiah]

i appreciate all the help and suggestions...will post pics in the morining cuz its dark out and its sitting on my trailer. i do believe key switch is for cosmetic purposes cuz it doesnt have battery or starter. will keep yall posted. thanks again.

 

[raptormessiah]

**pics**

Here are some pics as it currently sits...will clean it up later today.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Yeah, you do have a newer model than I had thought which is nice, its a Karting International Thunder Kart. Nice little kart. You might consider some lower profile wider tires like 13x6.00-6 for street/grass use since it is a one seater to give it a wider profile, it'll improve safety a bit.

I'd take all the time apart and scape off the old paint, brush off the rust, and re-paint them. Split rims are getting expensive and yours still for the most part look salvageable.

Obviously as we mentioned earlier remove the chain tensioner, none of the other kart companies use it, I'd also consider removing the throttle down braking system, when the wire solidifies it can cause some linkage issues and it has the tendency to teach children improper driving procedure that they can press the gas and the brake at the same time.

If you have problem finding the key or the cable PM me, I can recommend some places or see how much they are etc.

 

[raptormessiah]

Any chance i could use a bigger tire on rear? sort of like on the Dingo brand go karts. i just wanna know if that will affect power or chance top speed or acceleration....also what is the length of the throttle cable? and where is the cheapest place i can buy it? sorry for all the ?s. thanks in advance.

 

[Blazkowiez]

You've got a one wheel drive kart. Its also a single seater, have a real chance to switch to larger tires easily. Yes, you could find an 8" drive wheel, but its hard to get a sprocket that will work with it and it'll change the center of gravity dangerously and making it easier for the kart to turn over. Dingos have a fat rear end which makes them a bit safer than other one seater karts with large tires but they can use the larger wheels/tires because they've got the ability to change the gearing using a torque converter. Unless you switch to live axle this will not be an option.

 

[raptormessiah]

thanks for the info....i DO believe this go kart has a live axle. i took of the wheel on left side to clean chain and sprocket and when i turn the left wheel the right turns with it. the rims are mounted onto hubs which are hooked up to an axle that runs the width of the kart inside a tube...correct me if im wrong, but i think this may be a live axle.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Yep! That's a live axle! Bonus. The pics are decieving, though- really does look like a one-wheel-peeler from here. Must be the tube thing. Armed with that info, I would advise you to inspect that arrangement closely. I suspect there may be bushings in the tube, instead of decent bearings. Check for wear, and maybe see if replacements are available. Perhaps even order up some bearings.

 

[raptormessiah]

Ok so I made good progress today...changed oil, cleaned plug, replaced carb with rebuilt one, and about a dozen pulls later, bam! It started! Idles perfect and revs up nicely . I also removed left rear wheel and removed the chain tensioner and moved the engine a few inches forward to tighten slack. I had trouble shutting it off tho, seems like key switch is no good although I checked all wiring and it seems intact...any idea what could be wrong with it? Or should I just replace with kill switch? My only other problem is gonna be hooking up throttle but I'll have to take pics to get help with hooking it up. What kind of lube does the centrifugal clutch use? And what type should I use on live axle? It has places to grease with grease gun...Thanks in advance.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Kill switch- Grounds out the coil. Make sure the wiring from the coil to the switch is good, make sure the switch is grounded, and that the ground is electrically continuous to the engine block. Could be a bad switch. test by temporarily replacing the switch, or checking with a meter.

Clutch- just a couple drops of engine oil on the bushing.

 

[raptormessiah]

Thanks! Will try check this out in the morning, I'm not real good with electrical.

 

[raptormessiah]

ok so, i think ima just replace switch cuz i dont have a way of testing old one...had some trouble with the throttle set up so i gotta go to my local lawn shop to pick up some small parts which im hopin can make it work. thats really all i need to get this thing ono the road. i wish i could of gotten it going today cuz tomorrow im goin to a friends house and there are tons of dirt roads, oh well, maybe next week. i will post some pics of the throttle setup and if yall have any suggestions as to how i should hook it up, im listening cuz i want to get it going. thanks advance.