going to be buildn my first kart soon

[Go51oKart]

Ok so I'm going to be building my every first kart soon I was thinkn in mind of use 1-1/2inch square tubeing for the frame and some what a 8hp or higer engine just to be able to push the big guy which is me will this work with me I will be riden on road and a lil on dirt. Any help idea adivse well be helpfull thank oh and will be usen a lincoln electric 140 welder that I have

 

[souperman000]

im sure the 8hp will be enough depending on how elaborate/heavy the frame + you + other parts are

 

[Doc Sprocket]

With tube that big, watch your wall thickness, so it doesn't end up too heavy. Do you have (or have you drawn up) a set of plans, yet?

 

[Go51oKart]

No haven't done so but was thinkin of usen .125 wall thickness or 16g

 

[Doc Sprocket]

.125? Oh spit no!!! 1/8" Is incredibly heavy!!!

A suitable tube size and thickness does depend a lot on overall frame deisign, so it's probably best to sketch out the dimensions first...

 

[Go51oKart]

Well do the sketchin out first before even buy any metal first so what's. A good gauge. To use with the 1-1/2 sqaure tuben just need to know but will do some sketch first thou

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Probably 16ga. But overall tubing size should depend on design plan. For example- a basic ladder frame will require larger, heavier tube than a spaceframe (fancy, triangulated, lotsa small tubes) Building a spaceframe out of 1 1/2" tube (even 16ga) would end up much bulkier and heavier than need be.

 

[questseeker]

i agree go with the tubing and extra bends will make for a better cart handling and roll over this will take more time but well worth the effort if you want i can send you some piscs of our carts from how we bought them too what we have done to themspace fram is the way to go

 

[Go51oKart]

Sure any pics idead or anything would be great would be great

 

[FlatFootRacing]

1.25 DOM tubing will work well. You can use a .080 or even a .063 wall thickness. thats what we use on racing karts and it holds up really well. Square will be easier to get joints and angles setup. you wont have to fish mouth the tubing!

 

[qtband]

Make sure you post some sketches and listen to what these guys say. I built mine out of 1.25 heavy wall square and the kart weighs a ton. (Just an expression,not 2000 lbs.) Then, I found this site! Wish it were the other way around.
Follow their suggestions and you'll end up with a fully functional kart on your first build.