SCcrashinv
New member
I'm new to the forum. My grandson has decided he wants to build his own kart. I look forward to learning how to as much as my grandson.
David
David
Hello
- Thread starter SCcrashinv
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TT540
Newb
Welcome. And hope that fun is had.
andrecht
Jup, picture = me
slicksonly
Mechanical Member
WELCOME;
For the Grandson, go for a kart kit with 6 inch tires and a small gas motor from harbor- freight. I was thinking the same for my Grandson he will be six this year.---(
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For the Grandson, go for a kart kit with 6 inch tires and a small gas motor from harbor- freight. I was thinking the same for my Grandson he will be six this year.---(
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anickode
Active member
WELCOME;
For the Grandson, go for a kart kit with 6 inch tires and a small gas motor from harbor- freight. I was thinking the same for my Grandson he will be six this year.---(
6" tires might be a wee bit small... I'd go 10" tires; typical hand truck/utility wagon size. 4.10/3.5-4, but don't use $4 hand truck wheels from harbor freight (or cheap hand truck wheels in general). Every part of them will fail in short order. Bearings disintegrate, the spun-together hubs will break apart, and the tires will wear out in a matter of hours. If you feel compelled to use hand truck wheels, find decent quality ones with one piece rims, and put home high speed bearings in it (they use the same 1⅜" OD bearings as go kart wheels).
The plans on the diygokarts front page are a nice simple design for entry level karting. KartFab's free plans are a little better and more in-depth, IMO. Just basic tools (angle grinder, drill, wrenches, etc) and a welder required.
Or find an old frame on Craigslist or marketplace to fix up, if you don't have access to a welder
Or if money isn't a big factor, you can buy new frames and parts kits from places like Gopowersports or Azusa, though shipping can be insanely expensive if you don't live within driving distance. It would cost me an extra $450 to have a $450 gopowersports frame shipped to my house. $450 is pretty crazy for an American Express clone frame, but $900 would be ridiculous.
Welcome!!
SCcrashinv
New member
Thanks for the warm welcome. My grandson is 12. He insists on building from the ground up. We are ordering most of the parts from go power sports.
welcome;
great that he insists on building it, that means he is actually more interested in
spending time with you making something than into just hopping into a kart and driving it
awesome!
I can only fully agree with all anickode said..
if you never build a kart frame before, don't just wing it, a good set of plans might be less unique, but they're more or less guaranteed to work in the end.
So yeah, KartFab's plans are a very good starting point...
in case they match the style of kart you and your grandson had in mind that is
In any case: if you need help, or just a second opinion, don't hesitate to ask.
'sid
PS Slicks, did you mean 6" rims by any chance?
great that he insists on building it, that means he is actually more interested in
spending time with you making something than into just hopping into a kart and driving it
awesome!
I can only fully agree with all anickode said..
if you never build a kart frame before, don't just wing it, a good set of plans might be less unique, but they're more or less guaranteed to work in the end.
So yeah, KartFab's plans are a very good starting point...
in case they match the style of kart you and your grandson had in mind that is
In any case: if you need help, or just a second opinion, don't hesitate to ask.
'sid
PS Slicks, did you mean 6" rims by any chance?
slicksonly
Mechanical Member
Yes 6" inch rims, the kart kits offer 5"- 6"- maybe 10" inch wheels, a 6" inch tire fits a 6" wheel maybe 
My Grandson and I were in the shop putting my 6" slicks together and he ran out of the shop because of the loud noise the tires make popping on the rim. So I'm thinking for most young men a kart kit is a good safe way to go.
A. Schultz in Michigan
thank your mechanical mind
this is the tire I bought for my build, not 12" inch tall more like 10 1/2" ?? too soft the fin'ger- nail test shows you can cut into them, they won't last on my gravel roads, but there cool.
http://www.bmikarts.com/6-Unilli--SlickRacing-SL-12-x-900-6_p_5062.html
My Grandson and I were in the shop putting my 6" slicks together and he ran out of the shop because of the loud noise the tires make popping on the rim. So I'm thinking for most young men a kart kit is a good safe way to go.A. Schultz in Michigan
thank your mechanical mind
this is the tire I bought for my build, not 12" inch tall more like 10 1/2" ?? too soft the fin'ger- nail test shows you can cut into them, they won't last on my gravel roads, but there cool.
http://www.bmikarts.com/6-Unilli--SlickRacing-SL-12-x-900-6_p_5062.html
nope never!Yes 6" inch rims, the kart kits offer 5"- 6"- maybe 10" inch wheels, a 6" inch tire fits a 6" wheel maybe
A wheel is a rim-tyre combination (tubed or not ignored)
not a rim
A 6" wheel is either 6" tall (OD of the tyre)
or 6" wide (width of the tyre) depending on what was asked for
it never says anything about the rim size!
10" or 11" wheels can be had with either 4" or 5" OD rims
12" wheels can be had with either 5" or 6" OD rims
And a 5" rim can be 7" wide and have a 11" diameter 9" wide tyre mounted.
calling that a 5" wheel is frankly a bit insane
Anywhoo back to topic..
on paved ground a 10" wheel [3.5-4" wide on 4 or 5" rim]
will do very nicely (runs much smoother than larger OD wheels)
on grass you might want 11-12" knobby wheels just for the extra grip.
(again 4-5" rims do nicely here)
offroad some more serious wheels may come in handy,
say 15-18" (on 6" or 8" rims if that's for the oddest reason the size you think about)
'sid
slicksonly
Mechanical Member
ok; sid
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