Hamilton Lightnin' Karts?

[jray0517]

Hi, new member here. Joshua.
I recently picked up what i think is a Hamilton Bro's yard kart from the 70's (maybe). I cant seem to find any info on them, parts, or anything else. If anyone has any direction or info on rebuilds id love some help. This is my first build.

 

[Hellion]

Kool kart! Have heard of them but don’t see them around much. The internet is HORRIBLE now for info. Atlanta GA eh? (Read the decal)…

I bet @JimD of Max Torque fame might be able to dredge up a brochure or catalog.

 

[Hellion]

Good thing about yard karts is that they took very common ‘generic’ parts that are still around today. Looks like you have plenty of steering wheels though. Start a thread in Go Kart Discussion or Project Log, post lots of photos so the members can eyeball it real good and we can go from there.

 

[Denny]

Welcome!

 

[JimD]

I have two brochures and this was the one with the most information. I will let someone that knows what they are doing make the brochure appear, my luck I will delete it.

 

[Hellion]

Thanks JimD, you’re the man!

I turned JimD’s Hamilton 1 and Hamilton 2 into images. The others didn’t apply. So I guess the OP jray0517 has a Trailmaster 250XT... I wonder who was the first manufacturer to do an off-road fun kart that looks like that. Because everyone would call that a Manco Dingo on first glance. Anyways...




You’ve got your tire sizes [and rim sizes] listed on the brochure and the rest of the specs. Your 250XT looks mostly complete except for an engine [unless it’s just removed and out of view] and some seat vinyl, etc.

You’re going to need a torque converter, looks like it might have been a 30 series but JimD would know or some of the other fellas.

Before you do anything, take a snap shot of that intact decal and lay a ruler beside the length and width as you do, or just tell us the dimensions. You’ll be doing a restorer-someone down the line a solid favor. You could do a full restore, sell it on Bringatrailer and get megabucks!

Edited to add: the “detachable custom bar over engine" is gone, so much for completeness. Maybe you have that too?

 

[JimD]

Manco by far was the biggest by the 1990's. They put out a lot of karts and they were quality karts.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

The front end, high side bars and the roll bars dont look like Manco Dingo. The only resemblance would be the big rear tire. IMO