Hello from 2 Sisters Keisler!

[2S Keisler]

Hi All,

I'd like to introduce my company and product. My name is Shafi and I have started a company for my daughters called 2 Sisters Keisler. The company's mission is to provide niche products and services to the enthusiast market. I own and operate a manufacturing and sales company for muscle & classic car component manufacturing now, and hope to see my young girls take an interest in making parts and building an enterprise as they get older.

Our first product is a high quality reproduction of the HPE Muskin Dune Cat (circa 1972-74). At this time, we are producing just the bodies. We intend to expand this to included a complete D-I-Y kit with frame and all of the components to fully assemble a Dune Cat go kart, less the engine which can be purchased locally. Our focus with this approach is to first service the folks that have aging, broken or worn out bodies with a high quality brand new body. Then later in the second phase when we have frame/chassis kits, we plan to supply these with detailed video assembly instructions to encourage parents and kids to build these together. The intent is to provide a hands on learning element of what the components in the kit do, how to service them, how to upgrade them, etc.

My girls have been educated in the Montessori system, whereby kids learn by hands on experience lessons physically instead of just reading lessons. I have seen first hand the benefits of this method, and believe that if we get our kids learning and building hands on that they will be more capable and independent people when they reach adult hood.

Here are some photos of the bodies we are making.

Skywalker Blue Metallic Flake

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_BL1.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_BL3.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_BL4.jpg

Tangelo Orange Metallic Flake

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_OR1.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_OR2.jpg

Body in White

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_WH2.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/skeisler1968/Dune Cat/2SK_NewDuneCat_WH3.jpg

Our next step in the project is to design a new frame. I hope to learn some good information on this site to improve upon the original frame - especially, suspension.

Thanks for a great site for all us DIY folks!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Nice work! Welcome to the forum.

 

[2S Keisler]

Thank you Chris.

I read with great interest the threads on suspension design, including Ackerman setting. Would the Ackerman setting, along with installing the kingpin angle in-line to the center of tire tread make a big difference to how this kart handles on pavement with the knobby tires?

I have been exploring the posts here from over the years about independent suspension design. I would LOVE to put independent suspension on this Dune Cat. However, space is tight with the fenders so I am considering a couple of compact approaches:
- torsion spring, perhaps using the urethane-in-tube approach like GoPed
- push-rod coil-over shock

Do you have any advice to get me going in a good practical direction that will provide some suspension/shock absorption while keeping the construction fairly simple and lightweight?

I will post a couple pics of the frame without body so you can get a better idea of the baseline.

thanks!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

To begin with, why don't you start up a thread in the go kart section, and we will start addressing your questions there.

 

[2S Keisler]

Roger that!

Here is the link

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum Shafi. Your bodies that you are manufacturing look really sweet. You should do well, as there are many of these Cats around

 

[fowler]

Welcome

I read your thread on the dune cats and thought
"Dam that looks really professional for a DIY job"

Makes sense now

 

[2S Keisler]

Thank you Fowler. It has taken some months to get to this point, but the bodies are coming along nicely. I need to get the frame rolling so I can offer a body + frame.

I really like your avatar. It reminds me of the Formula SAE shifter karts here in the USA. I would like to build one of those because I autocross race locally and the shifter kart would be ar blast.

Talk soon!

 

[2S Keisler]

Welcome to the forum Shafi. Your bodies that you are manufacturing look really sweet. You should do well, as there are many of these Cats around

Hi Paul,

Thank you! I never saw one of these until last year, but I lived in the country and had a Craftsman/Carter Bros 2 seater growing up. I bet these were popular in southern California.

Shafi

 

[OzFab]

I haven't read this entire thread, I don't need to, I've seen enough...

One word sums it up: NICE!

 

[spyder1968]

nice work ! and welcome to the forum !