Glasscaster's Kart

[Glasscaster]

Here's the kart I'm working on.

I found this on craigslist for 250 bucks and decided it would make a great family project.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums...493_354508798087308_6157288983451831168_n.jpg

My kids are 7 and 4 so a two seater is required. Also I want to be driver/co-driver till the oldest gets the hang of things.

The frame is all stainless, with a wood deck. It has a 1in rear axle with a 66 tooth sprocket. I replaced the wheels and tires with some cheap used ones of the same size(18-8.5-8). I bought a predator 212 and a hillard 10 tooth clutch. I hooked up a throttle cable and away we went. I still need to build a seat and roll bar.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff439/Glasscaster/035_zpspe0hxmch.jpg

After a few spins around the neighborhood at a good clip, I decided to drive through my yard. The kart almost stopped. It chugged through the almost flat yard till it reached the pavement. Once on pavement it hooked up and was off again. I parked it and the clutch smoked for about 10mins.

I ordered a tav2 tc from bmi. Hopefully that will give me some grunt for the dirt? Also I'll be changing the tires to some lawn tractor treads for more traction.

More pics

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff439/Glasscaster/043_zpsfteyx2cb.jpg

Steering

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff439/Glasscaster/041_zpsqpnnawos.jpg

Homemade brake

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff439/Glasscaster/038_zpsrynukqmd.jpg

Wood deck

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff439/Glasscaster/036_zpsp4gdo53c.jpg

The tc will be here tomorrow, I'll post pics and a quick review when it's all together.

Suggestions, questions and comments are very welcome. This is my first kart, I'll be needing help...

Thanks everyone! Great forum.

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum. A TC should help you out a lot compared to a centrifugal clutch

 

[OzFab]

The current gearing is a little steep with 18" wheels, the TAV should fix that...

 

[firemanjim]

I'm hoping that the "glass" in your screen name stands for fiberglass...... Have a good feeling its not though.....
That is a pretty nice ,sturdy kart. It would certainly make a great foundation for something more elaborate, if you had those intentions.

 

[mckutzy]

I had a similar thought, although later maybe he was a fisherman of fine Fiberglas fishing rods.

Not much casting of glass products these days.....

 

[Poboy kartman]

I think he's Greek....you know....takes out the glass with the fireplace ashes.....

 

[Glasscaster]

Actually fellas, I'm an Artist.
I use a kiln to melt glass( until it's almost 1800 degrees F) into molds. That would be making a cast. Thanks for the fun imaginative thoughts though...

 

[Glasscaster]

More current pics...

Slapped a header on it. I also mocked up a jeep body, in cardboard. I haven't installed the TC yet. I need to move the engine about four inches up, and an inch and a half left.

Any suggestions on a motor mount?

 

[planejob]

Cool, a Postal Jeep.

The DJs had 5 slot grills, and all the other Jeeps had 7 slot grills. Keep it 5! Also, I used to have a LHD DJ - it was used by the postmaster and didn't need to be RHD for mail delivery.

 

[landuse]

A steel motormount would be the best for you