Go kart live axle conversion

[Revlimiter]

since it is winter and snow is on the ground, i like to drift in my cart. I drifted with my one wheel drive cart till my bearing broke again and i got tired of it breaking. So i got some parts from bmi karts to convert my cart into a live axle.

before:

after: (not completed)
starting cut off half of cart

added extension pieces

did some more work

added seats. bought them at the thrift store. best place to get seats with metal legs is at the thrift store. the chairs costed 6 dollars each!

most recent photos taked (3/31/2014)
moved the engine back because of chain tension

last thing to do is buy some axle nuts and a throttle/brake cable for the brakes. then im ready to ride!!@#$%

 

[88nightrider]

IMO that looks really good so far

 

[mckutzy]

Im curious, did you weld in some rods in the joint of the extension or just weld on the extension to existing frame??

 

[landuse]

Im curious, did you weld in some rods in the joint of the extension or just weld on the extension to existing frame??

I was just going to ask the same thing. How did you connect the back end you have made to the existing frame. Did you just butt weld it on or have you got some sort of reinforcing there. I would have gotten a piece of round tube with a OD the same as the ID as the existing frame and the new frame. It slips into both sides and welded in to create stability. Something like the pic, but with round tubing

 

[Poboy kartman]

That makes 3 of us......so far. .....It won't look pretty, but you could weld on another piece of steel.... (angle iron? ) ...on the outside ....or cut it off and fix it as above....but it is definitely a weak spot if butt welded.....

 

[mckutzy]

I reckon death trap......

..well go with weak spot.

 

[Poboy kartman]

I reckon death trap......

..well go with weak spot.

Let's not go overboard. ....most likely it will break- but not completely. ...We all want everyone to be safe- but death is a bit of a reach.......

Just saying-

 

[Felineman]

Yup I had to scab together some of my current frame because I was short because I lengthened it 200 mm I added the inner pipe not gonna take the chance with my buggy and a kart doesn't have the 1.5 inch tubing that I use.

 

[OzFab]

IMO that looks really good so far

Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion, however, mine differs from yours...

Apart from the point made above, why is the engine so far back? It should be in front of the axle to balance the kart; in this config, you're gonna have steering issues due to lack of weight in the front, not to mention the complete lack of any steering geometry...

 

[Half-breeder]

... why is the engine so far back? It should be in front of the axle to balance the kart; in this config, you're gonna have steering issues due to lack of weight in the front, not to mention the complete lack of any steering geometry...

I 'too' have just replaced my axle and CoG was a key role in my designing of the rear. I know that spinning 2 wheels is gonna cause steering issues... so I designed around that factor(to slide more weight to the front vs. rear...