Hello everybody!

[Jimmy_B]

I'm Jim, your average dork trying to get through life. I found this site after someone posted a link to a project here from another page I am on. I just had to sign up after seeing some of the cool stuff being built here.

I am not new to karts, but it has been a very long time since I've messed with one. I raced karts for a few years with my son and stepson in the early 90s. In '96 we switched to Jr. Dragsters. That ended in '04 and I haven't touched anything since.

I still have my Radio Flyer I built as a tow vehicle for the Jrs. I don't even have a starter for it anymore as that was sold with the dragster. Someday I'll buy another one and see if the wagon still runs.

Merry Christmas everyone,

Jimmy B

 

[OzFab]

Welcome to the forum Jim.

Sound like you have some great experience, you should fit right in here

 

[souperman000]

Hey,

got any pics of that Radio Flyer?

 

[Jimmy_B]

got any pics of that Radio Flyer?

I built this in '99, so all the pics I have are from 35mm and I'd have to dig and scan for build pics. All I have is this one that was scanned when the wagon was complete and a few I took a couple of years ago where it has been parked for years now.

This started out as spare parts from our jr dragsters and go carts and then got a little out of hand. I did win some award for it at the world of wheels when it was first built.

Chrome moly tube frame and all aluminum pieces including spindles built by me (the exception is the wing-purchased). The motor is a warmed over B&S 5hp with a hardened crank, billet rod & piston, aftermarket cam and decked block & cut head. I did all my own machine and assembly work on this motor. Hydraulic brake with SS lines and floating rotor. Auto Meter Tachometer. Centrifugal clutch to jack shaft/jack shaft to axle chain drives. A recoil type starter doesn't last more than about 10 pulls because of the high compression, so it is set up for an electric starter. The trailer is designed to haul the starter.

I have 2 sets of gears for this. It is currently set up to max out at about 30 mph and is the set up we used for towing. The other set I have only used once and, according to my auto meter tach and a little math, is worth 60 mph on the county road in front of my house. Pretty scary with the quick steering and short wheel base.

When it was first built...... (Pic 1)

As it lives now.....(Pic 2-4)

Here are a couple of pics of our last little monster we raced. 5hp B&S geometry putting out about 50 hp. This crap was a blast.......(Pic 5 & 6)

Here's my son. I think he liked the new motor....(Pic 7)

 

[falcon52]

Welcome! Sounds like you can bring some good info to the site!

 

[landuse]

That is one cool Radio Flyer. I don't think I have seen one that good.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Wow- Dynamite builds, sir!

 

[OzFab]

Holy little red wagon batman, those things are awesome!

Seriously, you got 50hp out of a 5hp B&S: How?

 

[Jimmy_B]

Seriously, you got 50hp out of a 5hp B&S: How?

By throwing $5k at it. ANYTHING will goes fast with enough money. This is all aftermarket parts based on 5hp B&S geometry. The block alone is purpose built for Jr Dragsters. There are a few manufacturers of these blocks. To be fair, I never actually dynoed this motor, but based on dyno sheets from similar motors, it has to be close. The numbers work out about right too based on our ET, MPH and weight. NHRA has a 7.90 second and 85 mph limit for these cars, both of which we could easily blow away. We ran an extra 75# of ballast, throttle stop and took cam timing out of it to keep it legal. Our best run (accidentally, and still not even close to what this was capable of) was 7.52 @ 89.99 mph in the 1/8 mile. That's 660' for the non drag racing crowd. That's a 42mm Mikuni pumper carb feeding the methanol.......same carb used by many HD enthusiasts.


Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Can't believe I didn't find this place sooner. LOTS of cool stuff here.

 

[souperman000]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Can't believe I didn't find this place sooner. LOTS of cool stuff here.

I'm sure lots of people on here could say that.

I'm going to have to agree with Fabroman: Those builds are amazing! That radio flyer is just out of this world. Have you driven it lately? A video of that thing in action would be awesome!

 

[Jimmy_B]

Have you driven it lately? A video of that thing in action would be awesome!

It hasn't been used or even started since '04. That's when we sold our jr dragster operation. The starter that was used for the car was also used for this and I have yet to replace it. It was a Burris unit. I think I'll go order one right now.

 

[OzFab]

By throwing $5k at it. ANYTHING will goes fast with enough money.

Yeah, that'll do it. Well, now we have a new source of info when looking for go fast tips & mods

Our best run (accidentally, and still not even close to what this was capable of) was 7.52 @ 89.99 mph in the 1/8 mile.

That's a seriously quick time based on a 5hp B&S block

 

[Jimmy_B]

That's a seriously quick time based on a 5hp B&S block

That technology is 10 years old now. I can't imagine how much better it is now. Definitely very wicked stuff.

My wallet is now a little lighter. Took me all afternoon to find the same starter I used to have, but I found it. There's a reason for it and I'll post up pics in a week or so when the starter gets here.

Thanks to this site and everyone here for the motivation to get this done. I've said for a lot of years now that I would find one. Better late than never!.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

We could have worse hobbies...

As for speed, yeah- you throw 5K at a can opener, and she'll turn fast quarters. Not to detract from what you did, though- That stuff is dynamite! Especially the wagon.

 

[Jimmy_B]

Hoping my new starter comes today.

 

[Jimmy_B]

Well, I finally got the starter on Friday. I am a little disappointed with it. I was looking for the older style Burris starter like I used to have. The vendor pictures the old style on their website too. I knew it was too good to be true. They sent me the new style like everyone else shows. I'm sure it's better, but I wanted the old style. I made these custom plates for the old starter. The old starter was sold with our last car to a friend. He was kind enough to allow me to switch them back with the original steel plates when he sold everything. I should have ordered the starter years ago when they were still easily available. I think I'll use the new one while I search EBay for the older model. At least I can start my wagon now. When I get some time that is.

 

[TKart]

That thing is bas***!!!