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bastardkart

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I just got into go karts for my kid. found a heavily backyard modified (not so much in a good way) kart a couple days ago. anybody know what kind it is? thanks for the help in advance.
 

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Denny

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Welcome! What I see there is a ton of work and money. Hope you got it cheap. No I’m not making fun of you or trying to discourage you. Just trying to let you know it is a very ambitious project. What is your skill set? Can you weld? Fabricate? Bend tubing? Read a ruler? Have about $2,000 in your pocket burning a hole? We can talk you through it but it won’t be easy.
 

bastardkart

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I work on forestry equipment for a living. this is a piece of cake fun down time stuff. lol. I don't think I'll need 2 grand. it's just gonna be a little off road buggy for an 8 year old. just curious what kind it is. it was very cheap.
 

Denny

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Don’t really know. Theirs not a lot left there to identify it by. You’d be surprised at the cost once you add everything up. Then once you get it done and decide you need more power (and you will) then it will start to get really expensive. Then you’ll need to buy another kart for the kid to ride because you took that one away from him for yourself! Welcome to the slippery slope!:ROFLMAO:
 

bastardkart

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that's why I only took a picture of the front end. I think that hasn't been touched. the back half has been butchered pretty bad. I figured the cost out in the beginning. I figure if I buy 2 new hammerheads I have an 8000 ish budget. Well that's what I told the wife anyway.🤣for an 8 year old I will probably be good with the gx270 that came with it for a while. f I get this one done by spring I will probably buy a used hammerhead and cut it in half and extend it.
 

panchothedog

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That thing is pretty rough, but it sounds like you know what you're doing. When you go do get a 2nd kart ( and believe me, you will ) if the Hammer Head is what I think it is ( modern Chinese kart, electric start, GY-6 style engine, reverse gear, lights, ect. ect.) Do yourself a favor and don't. They are a rolling electrical nightmare. Stay with older used karts that use an industrial style engine like the Honda you have. A LOT more reliable, and a lot easier to work on when need be.
I have 4 older 2 seater karts and they are pretty trouble free for the beating my Grandkids give them. Also welcome to the forum. You picked a great project to develop father and son bonding.
 

bastardkart

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That's smart! Welcome to the forum. I'm completely clueless on this one, never seen one like it.

That thing is pretty rough, but it sounds like you know what you're doing. When you go do get a 2nd kart ( and believe me, you will ) if the Hammer Head is what I think it is ( modern Chinese kart, electric start, GY-6 style engine, reverse gear, lights, ect. ect.) Do yourself a favor and don't. They are a rolling electrical nightmare. Stay with older used karts that use an industrial style engine like the Honda you have. A LOT more reliable, and a lot easier to work on when need be.
I have 4 older 2 seater karts and they are pretty trouble free for the beating my Grandkids give them. Also welcome to the forum. You picked a great project to develop father and son bonding.
that's exactly what it is. I think Polaris makes them now. I would never buy a new one. I almost bought a complete used one that had wiring issues yesterday. I just couldn't get a trailer lined up. they appear to be about the biggest karts. I'm 6'4" and have trouble getting in this stuff. if you have other ideas of bigger kart models I would love to hear them!!!
 

Denny

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I hear the Polaris version is a little more reliable. How much more I don’t know. But with those I would rather buy new and maintain the hell out of it than buy used and have to figure out then fix all the problems and then have to try to maintain it. Having snowmobiles taught me that. And it’s much cheaper in the long run!
 

bastardkart

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well the good news on the kart I guess I will only build it once. it has an 1 1/4 live axle. the jack shaft has a 40 series 3/4 bore driven pulley. I guess I will order a driver pulley 40 series and stick this little 11 hp gx 340 I have sitting here leaking oil on the garage floor. I will probably have the most money in wheels and tires unless I can score a used set off marketplace. 11 hp is probably too much for a kid but he will grow into it I suppose. I may start a build thread on this.
 

panchothedog

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At 6' 4" you're probably going to have to stretch most any kart you find. But you're probably up to it. Pretty easy to limit throttle travel whether at the carburetor or at the gas pedal while your young one gets acclimated to it. But you might be surprised at how quickly they learn. If you do decide to buy one of those electronic messes, I would take Denny's advice and buy brand new. Then keep it in the garage and never wash it with water or let it get wet. I'll admit that I am pretty biased against these things, but by far the most common problem on this forum is people having electrical problems with this style of kart. In my opinion, they just try to put too many gadgets in them, and the wiring system or harness isn't up to the job.
 

bastardkart

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At 6' 4" you're probably going to have to stretch most any kart you find. But you're probably up to it. Pretty easy to limit throttle travel whether at the carburetor or at the gas pedal while your young one gets acclimated to it. But you might be surprised at how quickly they learn. If you do decide to buy one of those electronic messes, I would take Denny's advice and buy brand new. Then keep it in the garage and never wash it with water or let it get wet. I'll admit that I am pretty biased against these things, but by far the most common problem on this forum is people having electrical problems with this style of kart. In my opinion, they just try to put too many gadgets in them, and the wiring system or harness isn't up to the job.
I can't justify the money they want for the new ones. I want to take it out in the mud and beat the snot out of it. if I buy something I want the one that people are selling cheap cause they can't fix it. I would just re-wire it. I fuel injected an old V8 bronco I built using GM throttle body fuel injection I got at the junk yard. pulled the junk yard harness out and kept what I needed. Ran like a champ on 4.3 liter injectors. 🤣
 
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