Help Adjusting Brake and Steering

[invisame]

Hi All, I am a total newb and cannot figure out how to adjust (tighten) the band brake on a Yerf Dog 3202. I have been looking at the following diagram from the manual (attached image) and trying to loosen/tighten the different parts, but cannot figure it out... The pad inside the band looks pretty good so I think it just needs tightened up a bit to get the brakes working.

I could also use some help with adjusting the steering. It currently pulls pretty hard to the left, but the camber and toe look to be decent. Should I just try to reduce the toe on the left tire or increase the toe on the right (or both)?

 

[jandj]

Toe will wear your tires but doesn't cause a pull.
Check your camber, a few degrees can make difference that you can't always see by eye.
If it isn't the same on both sides it'll pull to the side that has the most positive camber.
Same for caster, it'll pull to the side with the least positive caster.
You can get an inexpensive inclinometer at Ace Hardware, Lowes, etc.
It can also pull to one side if the tire is low on air.
Here's a link for setting toe.
https://www.bmikarts.com/Go-Kart-Steering-Alignment

 

[invisame]

Toe will wear your tires but doesn't cause a pull.
Check your camber, a few degrees can make difference that you can't always see by eye.
If it isn't the same on both sides it'll pull to the side that has the most positive camber.
Same for caster, it'll pull to the side with the least positive caster.
You can get an inexpensive inclinometer at Ace Hardware, Lowes, etc.
It can also pull to one side if the tire is low on air.
Here's a link for setting toe.
https://www.bmikarts.com/Go-Kart-Steering-Alignment

Unfortunately, my cart doesn't have the "3 Quick Camber Adjustment" shock mounting holes. It doesn't look like I have any way to adjust camber without modification/fabrication...

Anyone got some tips or know-how on the brakes? Still can't for the life of me figure out how to adjust the "adjustable" brake cable to make the band tighter.

Thanks again!!!

 

[jandj]

Most non-race karts don't have adjustable camber.
Changing caster & camber on non-adjustable karts requires bending.
Very careful bending.
Applying heat can be helpful but it can be cold bent.
That's where the inclinometer comes in handy.

 

[mckutzy]

Let's see some pics of your brake setup...

 

[jandj]

Show us both ends of the brake cable (the end at the drum, the end at the pedal, and the section where #34 in your drawing connects.

 

[invisame]

Well... I loosened up all the parts (cables and brake pedal connections, etc.) and then redoing them all, I now have a brake (if you can call it that). It isn't perfect, but at least it stops now.

Now onto the steering issue... I decided to try the same with the steering components (take apart and redo), but ran into some questions.

Can someone confirm if the manual is the correct way to connect the tie rods to the pitman arm? Or is the way it is currently setup the correct?

From the bottom up, the picture in the manual looks like the following:

See image #1:
nut(57) -> left tie rod(93) -> right tie rod(not included in pic) -> washer(100) -> pitman arm(65) - bolt running down through(15)

My setup the way I got it, also from bottom up is:
Image #2:
bolt going up(15) -> left tie rod(93) -> washer(100) -> pitman arm(65) -> washer(100) -> right tie rod(not included in pic) -> nut(57)

After simply trying to tighten up everything, the left tie rod popped off the bolt on the bottom (Image #5)...

Do I need to buy new female tie rods ends? If so, are these the correct ones:
https://www.bmikarts.com/Aircraft-Female-Tie-Rod-End-38-24-_p_1480.html ?


Or should I replace the whole tie rod setup? If so I believe these are the correct ones:
Image #3&4:
Left: https://www.bmikarts.com/Short-Tie-Rod-Kit-11--Left_p_1482.html
Right: https://www.bmikarts.com/-Long-Tie-Rod-Kit-21--Right_p_1481.html

Thanks again for all the help!!!

 

[jandj]

I'd go with the way the book shows, it was written by the people who built it.
The pic of yours looks a little cattywompus.
Yes, you need a new rod end.
If it was me, I'd replace them all to be on the safe side.
As long as the rods themselves are straight and the threads are good, they should be ok.
The BMI ones look correct but not being familiar with your kart I can't say positively.
If the assemblys aren't much more expensive than buying the ends separately, nothing wrong with replacing the whole thing.

 

[invisame]

I'd go with the way the book shows, it was written by the people who built it.
The pic of yours looks a little cattywompus.
Yes, you need a new rod end.
If it was me, I'd replace them all to be on the safe side.
As long as the rods themselves are straight and the threads are good, they should be ok.
The BMI ones look correct but not being familiar with your kart I can't say positively.
If the assemblys aren't much more expensive than buying the ends separately, nothing wrong with replacing the whole thing.

Agreed! Thanks again for the confirmation/advice...