Go kart Resto

[sparkyjuice]

Had this posted on another thread, figured it would do better over here.

Ok, where do I begin...

Havent messed with a go kart since my 1/4 midget racing days about 10 years ago. I bought this cart rather cheaply from a kid down the road. It has a newer Grey Hound 6.5 hp

1. 3 different size tires and rims
2. 3 spindles and 1 free spinning wheel on axle
3. throttle cable hook up
4. clutch looks like a shaky, dried up, rusted piece of donkey crap
5. chain is missing masterlink, chain looks like junk anyways

1. how do i choose proper tire size for the rims, am I better off purchasing 4 new rims with 4 new tires do to the awkward combination?

2. the 3 spindles confused me. why not have instead of the free spinning wheel/bearing on the right rear?

3. throttle cable is missing, there is a metal rod from the brake pedal back to the motor. any suggestions on a hookup from that point on?

4. how to choose the proper clutch.

5. where can i get a new chain for the proper sprockets that i have and the other parts i need as well

My intentions for the near future are to take the motor off, re weld the floor piece to the frame, and paint the frame a nice gloss color. id like to get some wheels and tires for it asap so i can roll it around properly.

I have included some pictures as to what I am referring to. Any insight would be wonderful. I dont know where to buy parts, wheels and tires or anything. Thanks!

 

[MrGrim]

will have video on everything you need help with l8ter today

 

[fowler]

the numbers on the tyre in the forth pic is the tyre size

not sure where u are going with the 3 spindles thing
i assume u mean it is one wheel drive and the other three spin freely

u could make it live axle easierly and it will drive better

also going my the look of the kart u should probs check the bearings
spin them and if they sound crunchy and dry they are buggered
or take each hub off and spin the bearings in your fingers
if u can feel rough spots they are buggered

 

[MrGrim]

video is uploading to youtube look up sparkyjuice gokart info

 

[MrGrim]

the numbers on the tyre in the forth pic is the tyre size

not sure where u are going with the 3 spindles thing
i assume u mean it is one wheel drive and the other three spin freely

u could make it live axle easierly and it will drive better

also going my the look of the kart u should probs check the bearings
spin them and if they sound crunchy and dry they are buggered
or take each hub off and spin the bearings in your fingers
if u can feel rough spots they are buggered

heyy do you know who made these karts or how old they are

 

[fowler]

no i dont

 

[sparkyjuice]

thanks guys for the info, thanks for the video as well. your kart is pretty similar in most cases. i see how you have your whole assembly on the left rear for the drive wheel. to clarify how mine is setup, my axle sprocket is actually on the inside of the frame and connect to the axle via a key way so its seperate from the the wheel assembly. 3 of the 4 wheels have the same spindle, including the drive wheel and the spindle on the drive wheel is also connected to the axle with a key way. now the right rear wheel is a different style rim with NO spindle at all, its just a wheel with a bearing on it that spins on the axle freely. so all in all, the dummy who had it before me kind of ghetto rigged it. the front left wheel was the same wheel as the left rear. the right front wheel is a different size rim but has the same bolt pattern with a spindle. and the right rear wheel was the spindless type with no stud holes and spins on the axle. so all in all, the kart has 3 different wheels and 3 different size tires between the 4. is what im saying making sense?

 

[MrGrim]

i would say go with the biggest tire better on bumps and for speed so good luck on the restore

 

[sparkyjuice]

Mr. Grim, im uploading 2 videos as we speak on youtube. They are a better explanation as to how my gokart is setup. My previous posts seemed a bit hard to understand so I figured it would be easier to show you in a video. Here are the links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZvSaPol6P0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GG1l9VO0Zo

 

[MrGrim]

o now i see what your mean lol ill try to find a site for the tires your looking for and the biggest tire i can tell now is a riding lawnmower tire i have to go for now ill post more info l8ter today

 

[MrGrim]

heyy dude hows the kart goin any part i couldnt find at my local hardware store i ordered from http://www.gokartsupply.com/

 

[sparkyjuice]

ok so this is what i decided to do. visited harbor freight and bought 2 of these wheels...but white rims

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-inch-knobby-tire-43612.html

I took off the front hubs and put these wheels on with tires on the front. according to the specs on the previous wheels and tires that were on the gokart, these cheap harbor freight wheels can use more psi as well as hold more weight. I did some research and these harbor freight wheels got a great review for go karts and were able to withstand quite some abuse. for what the kart will be used for, these will suffice.

so now that I have extra hubs and extra larger wheels to go with the hubs, im going to use them on the back. i will buy new tires for those rims. they currently have 13x5.00-6 tires on them that are shot. it would be nice if i could figure out if i can go with a bigger more aggressive tire with these rims. so all in all, the right rear now has a hub on it. I was also able to use that hub and make the right rear wheel a drive wheel as well as the left. so now its a complete rear wheel drive kart.

i stripped the kart down to the frame, pressure washed it, and it is now outback drying. once dry, im going to paint it and than prepare for reassembly.

i checked the chain, it appears to be a 40 or 41 if my calculations are right. i used this site http://www.gizmology.net/sprockets.htm
to determine the pitch and it was 1/2" if not very close so im assuming its a 40 or 41. the axle sprocket is a 60 tooth. im not sure what i should do, can i use a 35 chain? i will try to get pictures on tonight if i get her all painted

 

[sparkyjuice]

here it is with the wheels just sitting on there for reference lol

 

[karl]

heyy do you know who made these karts or how old they are

Its a path winder. I got one.

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13389&highlight=path+winder

 

[sparkyjuice]

awesome karl, looks like you got a great deal as well. i paid 90 for mine with the brand new grey hound 6.5hp motor.

now that I know someone else with the same kart, i cant figure out what chain i need to use. im assuming the 60t axle sprocket has never been replaced. my measurements say its a 40 or 41 chain. 35 seems to be most popular, if u buy a 35, 12t clutch, can u use the 35 with the regular sprocket?

 

[redsox985]

Nope. Sorry. 35 and 40 are incompatible. The first digit is the number of eights of an inch between the chain pins. Measure the distance between the teeth of the sprocket.

 

[sparkyjuice]

i used this site in order to measure my chain that i currently was given with the go kart. http://www.gizmology.net/sprockets.htm

i got half an inch for the pitch, so i just assumed it was a 40 or 41 since they both have 1/2 inch for the pitch.

 

[DANGO]

axle

I am restoring a Path Winder kart for my son and I need to replace the sprocket...does anyone know how to get this sprocket off so I can replace and or repair the one that I have...also I have a list of parts needed for this thing...most of which are nuts n bolts. any good websites to purchase parts from?

 

[sparkyjuice]

I am restoring a Path Winder kart for my son and I need to replace the sprocket...does anyone know how to get this sprocket off so I can replace and or repair the one that I have...also I have a list of parts needed for this thing...most of which are nuts n bolts. any good websites to purchase parts from?

The sprocket on my machine was still in pretty decent shape so I did not have to take it off. But from vaguely viewing through my restoration, I believe it is a solid one piece sprocket, therefore you will have to take the axle off, loosen the clamp that the sprocket is attached to and slide the sprocket off of the axle in whole. I think it has a key way in it because the axle is a solid type, direct drive.

I will have to get pictures up soon for my kart. It is at my fathers right now getting prepped for installing a Budweiser Dale Earnhardt Jr. fiberglass body that we have had in the garage for many years. Other than that, I installed new rims and tires up front, new tires and tubes in rear, painted frame, bolted seat down, new motor mount bolts, new chain, kill switch, etc etc. Last is the body and a throttle cable. It looks pretty cool so far.

 

[sparkyjuice]

ok so here are the final pictures of the kart. decided to sell it so it is now for sale in South Eastern, PA. Not sure what to ask for it. The pictures show the brackets made to accommodate the custom throttle cable on the 6.5hp Clone motor. She needs some minor adjustments but runs very well and is quick. time for the next project. my dad came up with the bracket idea, thought maybe anyone else in the same boat might find it interesting.