Hello from South Lyon, Michigan

[kwhmopar]

Hello everyone, just came across the forum while googling some information on go karts. I recently discovered that this is a serious illness. It started with mini bikes and now has crossed over into go karts. Please let me know if there is help available. LOL Thanks, Kevin

 

[BaconBitRacing]

No help for the illness, we only make it worse! Welcome to the forum, I love your name, we have quite a few Mopar fans around here. In terms of advice, lots of it around, you have some interesting setups on your karts. Have fun! The first picture is… intriguing. Looks like a lawnmower engine and a right angle gearbox. You got some good vintage karts here. If you want suggestions on where to start, second red one first! Was this a package deal?

 

[kwhmopar]

Thanks for the welcome. Yep, been a Mopar fan all my life. We'll talk cars another time. When I saw the vertical shaft kart, I had to go look at it. Of course it fit in the truck bed, so it came home. All the karts were separate acquisitions.

 

[Denny]

We are enablers here. Welcome! The nurse will be by with your coloring book and crayons shortly.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

The best feature of that first kart is what's missing: Brakes. Just a go pedal is all you need.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

The best feature of that first kart is what's missing: Brakes. Just a go pedal is all you need.

I can only imagine the handling of that kart, it’s the most box shaped kart I’ve seen to date. And what‘s the handle on the left? Who set this up? Why? Can you put a 18 or so hp engine from a ride on mower on this? I have so many questions.

 

[kwhmopar]

The best feature of that first kart is what's missing: Brakes. Just a go pedal is all you need.

LOL, it technically does have brakes. Scrub brakes operated by the red lever on the left side next to the seating area. I have not had this kart running. I just dropped off the main frame for stripping this morning. The way this kart works is, first you start engine. Throttle speed is controlled by the silver small lever on the left. When you step on the foot pedal, it moves an idler pulley against the belt between the engine and gear box. I am not sure if the gear box is just forward or more than one speed yet. I don't think this kart moves very fast. I just hope someone will recognize the brand. So far nobody has seen one like it. It definitely is not home made. Too much clean engineering. It's not cobbled together. I took many pictures before disassembly. I found no markings or decals. I started cleaning up the engine and parts and will update as the progress is made. Thanks for the interest. Kevin

 

[BaconBitRacing]

LOL, it technically does have brakes. Scrub brakes operated by the red lever on the left side next to the seating area. I have not had this kart running. I just dropped off the main frame for stripping this morning. The way this kart works is, first you start engine. Throttle speed is controlled by the silver small lever on the left. When you step on the foot pedal, it moves an idler pulley against the belt between the engine and gear box. I am not sure if the gear box is just forward or more than one speed yet. I don't think this kart moves very fast. I just hope someone will recognize the brand. So far nobody has seen one like it. It definitely is not home made. Too much clean engineering. It's not cobbled together. I took many pictures before disassembly. I found no markings or decals. I started cleaning up the engine and parts and will update as the progress is made. Thanks for the interest. Kevin

Looks like a home built contraption to me, but I could be wrong. Cool setup, though.

 

[kwhmopar]

I think if it was home built, it would be all square corners. This is square tubing bent by machine, look at the corners. I'm sure it was some sort of kit. The area where your feet go was just thin wood. There are no extra holes than the ones used for assembly. Believe me, I have looked this thing over. It is somewhat store bought.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

I think if it was home built, it would be all square corners. This is square tubing bent by machine, look at the corners. I'm sure it was some sort of kit. The area where your feet go was just thin wood. There are no extra holes than the ones used for assembly. Believe me, I have looked this thing over. It is somewhat store bought.

Oh, I was referring to the engine and gearbox assembly. But I think this is a rare kart, and even with some of the more popular karts online info is hard to come by. But that's what this forum for! Maybe this was a kart shop special, lots of kart shops were around in the 60's. Just throwing out guesses. The engine must have been on this straight out the factory, not a lot of room for horizontal shaft.

 

[pearl111]

Welcome to the DIY fourm, l keep looking at that carpet under your kart and thinking that you have a serious oil spill.