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 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

 

[Hellion]

If anyone has any direction or info on rebuilds id love some help.

More photos would help us help you, but just take it apart and assess what you have. I’d venture that it has its original rims on all four corners (just mix master tires on the rear) and posibly the original front tires.

It looks like it may have had indoor storage or under a lean-to, but you might be knuckle-busting taking some of the fasteners apart. Just take your time and use penetrating fluid, blowtorch heat and the like. An impact wrench does wonders... A great winter project!

 

[jray0517]

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...

View attachment 165100
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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 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?

I dont have the over engine bar, but I may replace it during the restore. Why do you say measure the decals? I can do that and post it if its just something someone is interested in. Should i preserve it? It does have an engine but i doubt it is the original.

 

[Hellion]

Why do you say measure the decals? ....Should i preserve it?

Many have been known to tape or mask off decals and cut the tape right on the edge, then paint. Although these are fun karts, many people will take great pains to restore them as near to factory condition as possible. The decals and stickers very rarely survive.

Please photo graph it top-down, bird’s eye view.

I’d spot paint your kart (paint it where it needs it only), it’s only original once...

 

[jray0517]

Ahh, ok. Kind of wish you hadnt told me that lol. I wasnt going to keep it original i was going to attempt to mod it out with a few upgrades. here are some more pictures as requested.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

2175 Piedmont Rd in Atlanta. That location is a self-storage place today. From where I am I could make a right and 2 lefts and be there in 20 minutes.

 

[Hellion]

Thanks for all the photos before you dive in and butcher it

 

[Hellion]

Thanks for all the photos before you dive in and butcher it And thanks for the decal. We can tell the frame is quality made and you just don’t get to see details like that or Hamilton karts in general on the web. And most people photograph their stuff from 8ft away. Your thread instigated a Hamilton Brothers search and good JimD (R.I.P.) had a brochure. Just adding to the forgotten manufacturer list. Amazing.

The engine is a Predator Hemi, judging only from the fuel tank. I didn’t know a Honda motorsports cap (or whatever that is) will fit a Predator tank.

Do those bar stools work better than sawhorses?

S2175 Piedmont Rd in Atlanta. That location is a self-storage place today. From where I am I could make a right and 2 lefts and be there in 20 minutes.

Cool beans, Ez2. Just on coincidence I was looking at the former site of Manco Inc. in Fort Wayne Indiana yesterday and trying to imagine how it was back then. As members here keep saying, the US of A had a lot of go kart and minibike manufacturers, some big corporations and some that were “cottage industries”.

Anyway…

 

[Hellion]

Just curious, what’s the tooth count on the axle sprocket, and if the engine has a clutch whats the tooth count on it? Definitely will need a TC/Torque Converter unless you’re creating a parking lot basher or neighborhood terrorizer.

 

[jray0517]

Thanks for all the photos before you dive in and butcher it

See, why you gotta do that? im just trying to build something fun, if its a collectible or something im totally willing to sell it or trade it to someone for something less collectible

 

[jray0517]

Thanks for all the photos before you dive in and butcher it And thanks for the decal. We can tell the frame is quality made and you just don’t get to see details like that or Hamilton karts in general on the web. And most people photograph their stuff from 8ft away. Your thread instigated a Hamilton Brothers search and good JimD (R.I.P.) had a brochure. Just adding to the forgotten manufacturer list. Amazing.

The engine is a Predator Hemi, judging only from the fuel tank. I didn’t know a Honda motorsports cap (or whatever that is) will fit a Predator tank.

Do those bar stools work better than sawhorses?



Cool beans, Ez2. Just on coincidence I was looking at the former site of Manco Inc. in Fort Wayne Indiana yesterday and trying to imagine how it was back then. As members here keep saying, the US of A had a lot of go kart and minibike manufacturers, some big corporations and some that were “cottage industries”.

Anyway…

By mod it, I only mean upgrading the axle and brake system aside from that Im just planning to make something cool i can take my daughters riding on. Are you asking for 8ft away picks bc I can do that too. And yes sawhorses I have are too wide for the rear to fit around the tires so it was useful for lifting it up for pictures. When i start working on it ill probably build a platform to put it on.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

Itsfa pry-vit propatee!

 

[Hellion]

...just planning to make something cool i can take my daughters riding on

Take your daughter riding sort of implies *at the same time* so a two-seater sounds like more your speed.
Daughters, plural? Then there’s you and a mother/wife/S.O.? Uh oh, sounds like you are several karts too short.

I’m not going to talk you out of your project BUT the Trailmaster 250 (this kart) could be yours and there’s got to be other karts in my humble opinion. At the very least another kart that’s a two seater. @panchothedog could advise better. He has a kart horde.