Heavy axle!!

[JMack1995]

hey guys, i have come across a possible problem :S
i have bought 35mm bearings, sprocket hub and disc hub for my cart and finaly got the axle today. the axle weighs around 8-10kg meaning the back of my kart is pretty dam heavy!! with such a heavy rear end would it possibly burn up my max torque clutch and would the hydraulic breaks wear down fast? would one break be enough to stop this weight?

 

[r_chez_08]

The axle will be fine for the hydraulics, i have hydraulics and a 30mm axle, no problems ever.
Burning up of the clutch depends more on gearing. What sprockets do you have, how big are your tyres and what engine do you have?

 

[sideways]

It'l be fine, if you're really concerned then go up a few teeth on the axle sprocket.

The weight of your wheels and tyres will make more of a difference than the weight of your axle ever will.

8-10kg isn't really that heavy.

 

[JMack1995]

i have a 219 pitch max torque clutch with 16 teeth and a 219 pitch 66 tooth sprocket. i know this isnt the best of ratios so i might get a 90 tooth for the back or something later on. and i have an old suffolk super colt which i am hoping to trade in or just buy a bigger engine.

 

[r_chez_08]

What size tyres and what motor? The ratio doesnt sound great. Where you located? I have a 93t 219 sprocket which i ran with a 16t maxtorque style clutch on my kart. It is used but you can have it for shipping cost.

 

[JMack1995]

Oh yeah that would be great, although I live in Melbourne, Vic, Australia. The engine Ian going to work, it's only 70cc and 1.1 hp

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Dang, that's a wee little engine. Don't expect much.

 

[JMack1995]

The tires are 10 inch

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Is that OVERALL diameter, or just rim size?

 

[JMack1995]

Over all diameter, they could be a little bigger

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Hopefully not. Smaller is better in this case.

 

[JMack1995]

Why is smaller better? I was thinking of putting those wheels on the rent and getting slightly smaller but wider wheels for the back

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Weak engine. Need to keep weight, rotating mass and gearing in check.

 

[JMack1995]

Yeah true I will eventually be getting a strOnger engine one day.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

No doubt. But meantime, don't go any bigger with the tires- this will help make the best use of your current engine. Big tires take more power to turn, even with an equivalent gear ratio.

 

[JMack1995]

Yeah I'll keep the wheels that I already have and get that 93 ooh sprocket that r chez 08 was offering me

 

[r_chez_08]

That eqates to 18mph if your motor revs 3600rpm max.
May be ok. I am interested to see what this 1.1hp motor is, and how you mounted the clutch.
Only problem is that you will get very little ground clearance.
Toystory: smaller is not better in this case, the sprocket is 9" diameter!
You may be better off getting a stronger engine and bigger tyres.

 

[JMack1995]

So is it 18mph with the 66 tooth or the 93 tooth sprocket? And I remeasured and the wheels are about 13 inches so there will be enough ground clearance for sure. The engine is an old Suffolk supper colt lawnmower engine and is about 40 yrs old. My pa it out of his garage put some fuel in, primed it up and it pull started first shot!! Bloody unbelievable seeing as he hadn't started it for about 20 years.

 

[r_chez_08]

Now 24mph with 93t. Good luck!

 

[JMack1995]

Thanks so much for helping out guys