Hello! New here.

[Kristina]

Hello everyone,
I'm Kristina and I have a Carter K1945 go-kart. I've had it for 15 years now and its finally time to do some major fixes. My plan is to basically replace/redo the entire kart, so that it can last for another 15 years lol.

Here's a picture of my Go-kart



I have lots of ideas for my project, but I'm not sure what will work and what won't.
I would like to change out the seat with an actual racing bucket seat that more comfortable and a 4 point harness.
I am also wondering if I can put bigger tires on it, would it mess with the speed because the engine has to work harder to turn the tires? or will it give me better traction and grip?
Also I want to put a new engine on it, I have a 5.5hp, what is the biggest I can put and still run around in the woods with low maintenance lol. Thanks for any advice!

 

[OzFab]

Hello everyone,
I'm Kristina and I have a Carter K1945 go-kart. I've had it for 15 years now and its finally time to do some major fixes. My plan is to basically replace/redo the entire kart, so that it can last for another 15 years lol.

Welcome to the forum Kristina...

Can I assume you're of the female persuasion? We don't get many of them around here...

I would like to change out the seat with an actual racing bucket seat that more comfortable and a 4 point harness.

Excellent idea, maybe a little overkill but, better to be safe than sorry...

I am also wondering if I can put bigger tires on it, would it mess with the speed because the engine has to work harder to turn the tires? or will it give me better traction and grip?

You can, yes & yes...

Let me elaborate:

Putting bigger tyres on will affect the gearing between the engine & the rear axle; it won't affect either but, it may destroy the part/s in between, ie: the clutch. Which reminds me, does it have a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter?

Also I want to put a new engine on it, I have a 5.5hp, what is the biggest I can put and still run around in the woods with low maintenance lol. Thanks for any advice!

How deep are your pockets?

You can put a 13hp engine on it if you really want to but, by the time you do the necessary mods & buy a suitable clutch setup, it's gonna cost you...

The smartest idea is to replace it with a Harbor Freight 212cc Predator engine; it's cheap ($100 or less on a good day), reliable (for the most part), rated at 7hp (20-30% more hp than you have now) & there's loads of spares & performance parts available (not to mention all the free mods you can do...)

 

[Poboy kartman]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Kristina]

Yes I am a female lol, I guess that's a rare thing on here lol. I figured the seat would be overkill but if you can't tell in the picture I posted I'm basically sitting on sheet metal with a fake seat padding...

To be honest, (and im totally pulling the girl card) but I don't know if I have a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter... what's the difference and I can tell you what I have... lol

I definitely don't have a lot of money to spend on this project, I'm changing out the front spindles at the moment, the right one got broken when I went literally up a tree, figured I might as well replace the whole front....
Next will be the tires, the rims are bent up and the front tires are pretty worn down.
I also want to rebuild the roll cage, the one I have now is too low and even though I am only 5'4 I hit my head on the top lol.

 

[firemanjim]

pic is kinda fuzzy but I assume you have a Torque Converter due to size of the rear tires. Are you wanting bigger tires for more grip/traction or ground clearance? If it's for traction, maybe try dropping the air pressure down in the rear.
As for the engine, I highly suggest the 212 predator, as Tony suggested. It's a great motor, and can be modded to put out 9+ hp for next to nothing, and still be as reliable as not being modded..... Of course, you can buy an 8hp and mod it to put out 11+ hp but then you out power standard tc's for a 3/4" engine shaft. Just stick with a 212cc, you will be glad you did. We can show you how to mod it, just ask when you're ready..... Happy
O yeah, please fill out your profile so we know where you're from. You only need to put general location, not an address..
EDIT pic not fuzzy now..... ??? Hmmph...

 

[Kristina]

So with the engine...

Can I just unbolt it from the kart and put the new one on? Or I am gonna need to start researching how to take this sucker apart lol.


I don't know much about engines and doing mods, so sorry for all the questions..

 

[firemanjim]

It's cool..... Yes, you just un bolt it, and the TC from the engine. Then install new engine same way, just in reverse. It's not real complicated and takes an hour, more or less....
EDIT well hello fellow Texans! We are adding up on a weekly basis..... We got members close to you. If need be, I'm sure you could get plenty of hands on help....

 

[OzFab]

To be honest, (and im totally pulling the girl card) but I don't know if I have a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter... what's the difference and I can tell you what I have... lol

This is a cent clutch setup

& this is a torque converter

with the belt missing...

Oh, don't worry, you would be amazed at how many clueless guys we have here... Granted, some of them are a bit younger but, only some of them...

I also want to rebuild the roll cage, the one I have now is too low and even though I am only 5'4 I hit my head on the top lol.

It shouldn't be hitting your head, it should be hitting your helmet

Fitting a racing seat will only make that worse because the seat will sit higher...

EDIT pic not fuzzy now..... ??? Hmmph...

Must've been your eyes Jim

We got members close to you. If need be, I'm sure you could get plenty of hands on help....

Oh, I'm sure you will

 

[Kristina]

Ok I definitely have a torque converter, and you are right I do have a bad habit of just hopping in my kart and going for a ride without a helmet, lol.

I also plan on redoing the roll cage, after looking it over I am thinking I can just buy longer bars and have them bent to the specs of the smaller bars, I'm thinking 6 inches higher and then anyone can ride without hitting their helmet lol.
I'm still debating on the racing seat, I know my *** would be thankful if I replaced the sheet metal seat I now have, but at the same time I like to drive through the mud and water and I don't want to spend a hundred something dollars on a seat that isn't going to survive the elements...
I did find that 212cc Predator engine at Harbor Freight and I'm going up there later today to pick one up, It's on sale! yay!

 

[firemanjim]

You can buy the cheaper race seats like mine, for about $50 but the seat cover ( which makes it cumfy) is like $60. You can just add some weather resistant padding (neoprene? ) to give it some cushion. It's really only the back that makes you sore with no padding. Just run a strip down from head to just above your button/hip area.
As far as the bars go, you got the right idea.....
O it just hit me.... BMI sells USED kart seats, you might find something you like, on the cheap.....
You are gonna like that 212cc...... got a lot of oomph..... Easiest mods to get more HP out of it is a free flow air filter with an adapter to fit the engine. (I can make the adapter ) and a free flow exhaust/header/muffler.... Ehh,just get a header.....Now take the main jet out of the carb and open it up about .003-006" to allow more fuel. Now you're pushing 8+hp easy. Remove the governor, and 9+ hp is is on tap, ready to be unleashed......

 

[OzFab]

You could just make a seat with padding, it's not that difficult; all you need is some foam, material & plywood, there are 1 or 2 threads showing how to do it...

Having a new cage made may not be as cheap as you think, unless you know someone with a tube bender; post some more detailed pics of the kart & we'll see what we can suggest...

 

[Kristina]

Ok Here's some more pictures of what I've done so far...
I've taken the front wheel off because I am replacing the right spindle and I have also taken the roll cage off... I didn't get anything done today lol too cold.

 

[OzFab]

Now those pics are fuzzy; was it that cold you couldn't stop shivering

 

[firemanjim]

Got a dumb question..... What PART of the roll bar are you hitting? I have an idea that may help, but I need the answer to my question first, in case it's dumb..... LoL

 

[Kristina]

Yes bahaha it was freezing and I took um quick and ran back inside lol. Sorry they are definitely fuzzy!

On the roll cage, from the third horizontal bar back to the head rest I've hit my head lol. I could just take off the third bar but, I still hit those two side bars, and I could just imagine hitting a rut and jumping up and my head ping longing between those two side bars lol....

 

[firemanjim]

that's what I thought..... Why not reinstall the cage as is. Cut the side bars just past the second cross bar, then angle out to the sides of the hoop. Then add 2 curved cross bars, spaced out, to help aid in rolling back over (maybe) but most importantly giving you extra room for your nogging both sideways and overhead......
EDIT.... Or from the first cross bar.....
Did ya get the 212cc??

 

[OzFab]

Cut the side bars

Wait, what? You mean the two main bars? Are you sure that's a good idea?

 

[firemanjim]

Wait, what? You mean the two main bars? Are you sure that's a good idea?

Yep, if done correctly, there will be no negative effects. You can always add more support. For the clearance she is looking for, I think that it's the best bet, next to build an entire new cage..... I'm not talking do away with the side bars, just spreading them out a little. I think those bars are like 11" apart, IIRC. Spread it out to 14" ish......