Erik Magnus
New member
Hello
I am a complete newbie in the world of go karts and need some advice.
I want to make a two-seater go kart for me and my 8 year old daughter to ride in around the yard. I have been learning how to weld and am in the very early stages of making the frame. My plan is to have a 1” live axle mounted to the frame with pillow block bearings. The motor will probably be a 6.5 HP Kohler. I have a centrifugal clutch, a sprocket and sprocket hub, chain, and band brake. Aside from the wheels and axle, I want to make everything else (seat, spindles, tie rods, etc.).
I live in southern Mexico (for about 5 years now), where there are no go kart shops anywhere that I can find. I have seen parts on the internet here, but they would have to be shipped and are extremely pricey. The sprocket, hub,etc that I mentioned earlier were purchased when I was back home in NC a few months ago on a visit. The things that I need to buy now are the axle and wheels. I managed to find a machine shop that said that they sold the cold rolled 1” steel bar and could cut a keyway in it for me. So, I am good on that. Now, it getting some tires. Go kart tires are not available anywhere near me, so I thought about lawn tractor tires. I looked into the new ones, but they are very expensive. Most people around here don't have riding lawn mowers since there lawns are very small. I question whether or not I will be able to find any used ones. I will continue trying until I run out of leads. I have also thought about wheels from a mototaxi - three wheeled contraptions used for taxis in small towns. I don't know whether they will work or how expensive they are, but I will try and find out. Now to my actual question: It may be that the only affordable option to me for tires are wheelbarrow and/or hand cart tires. As I understand from reading the forums that the bearing cannot take the abuse. So, with that being said, if the bearings are changed, will they be adequate for front tires? Other than the size (1 3/8” OD and 5/8” ID), what type of bearings should I ask for? Also, since the rear tires will only rely on the pillow block bearings of the live axle, is there a way to attach them to the axle without welding to the axle? I have seen a post here that talked about running a bolt through, but does anyone have any ideas/theories on making a hub that could be welded to the rim, but attach to the axle using the keyway and tightening screws to hold it?
Thanks for suffering through the long post. Any help will be appreciated.
Erik
I am a complete newbie in the world of go karts and need some advice.
I want to make a two-seater go kart for me and my 8 year old daughter to ride in around the yard. I have been learning how to weld and am in the very early stages of making the frame. My plan is to have a 1” live axle mounted to the frame with pillow block bearings. The motor will probably be a 6.5 HP Kohler. I have a centrifugal clutch, a sprocket and sprocket hub, chain, and band brake. Aside from the wheels and axle, I want to make everything else (seat, spindles, tie rods, etc.).
I live in southern Mexico (for about 5 years now), where there are no go kart shops anywhere that I can find. I have seen parts on the internet here, but they would have to be shipped and are extremely pricey. The sprocket, hub,etc that I mentioned earlier were purchased when I was back home in NC a few months ago on a visit. The things that I need to buy now are the axle and wheels. I managed to find a machine shop that said that they sold the cold rolled 1” steel bar and could cut a keyway in it for me. So, I am good on that. Now, it getting some tires. Go kart tires are not available anywhere near me, so I thought about lawn tractor tires. I looked into the new ones, but they are very expensive. Most people around here don't have riding lawn mowers since there lawns are very small. I question whether or not I will be able to find any used ones. I will continue trying until I run out of leads. I have also thought about wheels from a mototaxi - three wheeled contraptions used for taxis in small towns. I don't know whether they will work or how expensive they are, but I will try and find out. Now to my actual question: It may be that the only affordable option to me for tires are wheelbarrow and/or hand cart tires. As I understand from reading the forums that the bearing cannot take the abuse. So, with that being said, if the bearings are changed, will they be adequate for front tires? Other than the size (1 3/8” OD and 5/8” ID), what type of bearings should I ask for? Also, since the rear tires will only rely on the pillow block bearings of the live axle, is there a way to attach them to the axle without welding to the axle? I have seen a post here that talked about running a bolt through, but does anyone have any ideas/theories on making a hub that could be welded to the rim, but attach to the axle using the keyway and tightening screws to hold it?
Thanks for suffering through the long post. Any help will be appreciated.
Erik
To make some hubs for the rear will be EASY for the machine shop you mentioned. All you need a is a short hub machined to 2" in length, about 2" in diameter, and a hole through the center that their axle will slide on to. You can weld a key IN the hub , on the outside ends. Then ,180° from that, drill and tap 2 holes for set screws ,about 1/2" in from the ends. ( 1"apart - 1/2" off center both left and right. Make sense?) 