Grand Daddyish build

[TNThomas]

OK, officially finished the last of the welds today! The swingarm is finished, with the "redneck reverse" installed. Bench tested it/the starter, and it works great. Took a while to eyeball proper gear alignment and make my marks/cuts/drill holes/welds, but the reverse is on. I'll put a push button switch on it and mount it left of the steering wheel. That way I could get out, push, and engage the reverse all at once by myself if ever needed. Not bad overall just a decent amount of hand fitting. Cheap flexplate ($28) from Autozone. Starter came off a Corvette, got it for $20, and the weldable hub from Nitro chain was about $11 or so. Anybody reading this who is contemplating doing it, the flex plate is about 14" in dia if I am thinking right, and you could definitely weld both the flexplate, and a sprocket from Nitro chain to a single hub. I didn't need to but it would be possible.


Gussets mounted to 2"reciever on the back, on 3 of the corners on the swingarm, one gusset for the alternator bracket, 4 gussets on the bearing mounting plated on the bottom center, and 2 zip tie welds tabs for the brake line. I was looking at the support bracket for the starter and thought it looked real close to the dimmensions of a 30 cal ammo can, so I checked and indeeded it was. I welded in a few gussets that double as holding the 30 cal can in place. Good little spot for waterproof misc storage. Man this thing took a while! I'll clean up the metal and get the swingarm painted over the next few days. Then install all the stuff, then figure my wiring out.

 

[Master Hack]

Where is the AC compressor and condensor mounting? Yer runnin outta room!
Nice work!

 

[TNThomas]

Painting is done, whew! That took a while. Overall I used 9 cans of black base coat, 8 cans of the violet/pearl rainbow metalflake intercontinental, and 9 cans of clearkoat. I flaked the sprocket and reverse flexplate for the heck of it.

 

[TNThomas]

Same piece from two different angles, pretty happy with the color. I can't pickup the color on the phone without blurring the image.

 

[TNThomas]

Getting there!

 

[Denny]

Now you’re starting to get somewhere! Looks good!

 

[TNThomas]

Adjusted the camber/caster, engine, both cvts, jackshaft, sprockets, brakes, chain, chain tensioner, alternator, alternator belt, and belt adjustments made/,mounted. Just need to double check the engi e bolt torque, connect the battery/gas lines, and turn her on! The very last thing will be toggle switches/buttons for the lights and reverse. Oh yes, and the reverse flexplate needed to be ground down a touch as to not engage with the reverse motor as easily. It was barely catching so I ground a little off the side. The hand brake could use just a few bolt adjustments. Also, I adjusted the caster/camber with 190 lbs in the passener5 seat, in addition to me sitting in it. That way it's close when there is a load in it. Took a while to adjust as the I had to take the whole spindle off for each adjustment with whichever one tips the top of the wheel out/bottom in (caster ot camber, I get them mixed up.) But the tie rod adjustment is a breeze as one of the bolts on each side is left hand thread, that way it can be adjusted by hand without tools.

 

[Denny]

Looks great! Now let’s see those driving videos.

 

[SDcarting]

I am ready for some videos. LOL

 

[TNThomas]

OK folks, going dark for a while, I got her up and running. I'll pist vids once I get her to a proper sandbox to play in.

Items of note (mainly so I can remember what to fix):

-It's geared a little tall, but nothing too bad considering I was riding with 400lbs of rider weight.
-The governor needs to go at some point. There is alot of power that is not being used with the governor on.
-She pulls a touch to the left, but that's an easy fix.
-I pulled the reverse starter motor off because I need to grind down the reverse flywheel a bit more to fit. It is sometimes engaging the reverse starter when driving forward.
-The low oil sensor needs to go as well. Shuts off on the bumpy stuff or really hard turns.
-Handbrake once again is a definite win, lots more hydraulic force compared to the foot brake.

On the the next build....

 

[Denny]

After all I’ve gone through to get you to get this kart done and you’re going to leave me hanging? How dare you!

 

[lug-nuts]

AWESOME

 

[TNThomas]

Ok, long time no post. I have been running the engine and driving the buggy around every month or so. The last component is fine-tuning the reverse (just need to grind the reverse flywheel a little), and connecting all the bells/whistles for the electrical. I teach Science, so my department is going to host a hands-on lab covering electrical/ohms law, and a few other things. I'll have my HS students wire up the last bit along with a few middle schoolers. Might as well do two things at once. Our school recently acquired a former mechanics shop with tall ceilings and a roll-up garage door, so I will be using that. We do have an abandoned dirt track as well, about half the width of a standard track, and twice the distance, so that could be a possibility if I cover all my safety bases. I have been considering starting a go-cart building elective course, so this will partially serve as a possibility in getting the idea across to my principal. I'll get a video out once that is finished.

 

[Denny]

Now let’s see some running and driving videos.

 

[TNThomas]

Took the buggy to school today for a 12v STEM activity. Kids wired the circuit for the light bar. Kids enjoyed the analog nature of everything.

 

[Denny]

Great job teach! Now let’s see that driving video.

 

[Cheweyone80]

Wow! I wish I would have seen this thread before I started my build. I would have used a few of your ideas.

 

[diygokart]

Hello! I can't afford to buy the plans for such a kart. I'm 13 years old, I know how to use a welding machine and cut metal. My dad agrees to help me build a Grand Daddy kart. But I really need the plans. Here is my telegram @i_like_diy. I would be very grateful if you send me the plans.