Hello from Greenville NC

[Beakersloco]

Lets see where to start

I was laid off a few months ago and in March got into scrap metal and in april saw this kart at a local county run dump site when I was driving by. It apparently had not long been dropped off and the attendant had it off to the side. We were not able to get it to run so the attendant let me have it for $25 he had wanted $45. I got it home and ended up hurting my back getting it out of my SUV. I googled info on brakes because this thing has none or to be honest scrub brakes are missing the part that goes up against the wheel and I found this site. Since I was hurt I rolled it under deck and left it.

Well it sat until 2 days ago. I pulled it out and played with choke and poured gas into the carburetor and she cranked up. I was able to run her around the house a few times. Still trying to figure out the choke and what the ring in front of the air filter does.

She needs the scrub brakes fixed,new rear tires, new throttle cable and the part that holds the steering wheel needs to be modified as its too wide for an adult to be comfortable riding. Since my kids are 6 and 12 not quite sure how this will be modded so both kids can reach gas/brake pedals comfortably.

Future plans .. convert to a live axle because my kids will primarily be riding this in the grass in our yard and a different brake system since I dont like the idea of scrub brakes.

An recommendations will be much appreciated.

My skill set is I am computer tech by trade, I can work on my own vehicles, I label myself a parts changer (alternator, starters, cv joints etc.) but can diagnose some issues.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

[B man]

i would convert it to live axel(beef up the rear-end) and get the kart a roll cage and seat belt and seat. new clutch(not saying yours is bad,but you never know when they will go out.)new chain. new tires.change the oil in the engine. clean the engine up. and as for brakes you could go with a band brake. easy to setup. or mechanical disc brake. about as easy. get a smaller steering wheel. replace ALL cables and wires(such as a kill switch.)

and new paint. and you will have one nice looking and working kart!

 

[Beakersloco]

Band Brake ... I will have to look it up.p...... Kill switch .. whats that lol ... i need to locate that .. so far I have been killing the engine by moving the choke

Paint is on the list ...this may become summer project with my kids (6yr boy and 12 yr girl). Then I am hoping to talk a family member out of a dingo kart that they have not rode in years.

 

[landuse]

First of all, a kill switch just makes things a lot safer. You should see some wires coming out of your engine that you can hook a kill switch up to. If not, someone here will give you some better direction than what I could. You could also do a search on the forum for 'kill switch'. The problem with not having a kill switch is that if something like your throttle gets stuck in the open position, you can kill the engine easily. If it is behind you and you are going 20mph......you got a problem.

What make of engine have you got. From the pics it looks like a Briggs flathead, but I am not too sure.

Band brake are pretty easy to install. What they basically are is a drum that gets fitted to the axle or wheel hub, with a band that goes around it. When you press the brakes, the band tightens over the drum and that friction slows the kart down. Here is a link that you could maybe look at.

http://www.mfgsupply.com/GoMiniBrakes4.html/mv_session_id=z579HuEH

 

[T-man]

hey beakers
ever think of hydraolic brakes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=149AxnAMMrQ

 

[B man]

hey beakers
ever think of hydraolic brakes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=149AxnAMMrQ

arent those a bit over kill for his kart? lol

 

[B man]

hey i just relized im not to far away from you beaker.