Hi from England

[firemanjim]

Man, I hope we didn't scare him off......
Ok, we are here for you ol chap!
So you have any more pics of the downhill racer? I assume it's being built from steel, cause putting an engine later would do not work......

 

[davidbooth1991]

Was it something we said oooooooo don't let fabroman find out...

 

[firemanjim]

Was it something we said oooooooo don't let fabroman find out...

 

[OzFab]

Was it something we said oooooooo don't let fabroman find out...

Ahem...:toetap05:

 

[firemanjim]

Ahem...:toetap05:

He's here! RUN...........

 

[2SlickNick]

He's here! RUN...........

 

[davidbooth1991]

 

[gnomadix]

Hi

I haven't gone away I'm just getting some pics together of the kart

cheers

 

[davidbooth1991]

Ok dude.. We will behave now its jim and poboys fault anyway.......can't wait

 

[firemanjim]

Ok dude.. We will behave now its jim and poboys fault anyway.......can't wait

Uhhh, NO.... Doug started it, you kept it going, and I just fell victim to peer pressure....... I mean


While we wait for the pics, can you tell us more about your racer?

EDIT well crap..... I DID start it...... Post #3 is where we took that wrong turn...... Lol

 

[gnomadix]

Hi Guys

thanks for asking, and actually you guys were pretty funny if I may say so

I'm building a downhill racer for my kids: its got to be light because we are all small and light
so I've used 20mm box section and welded it with my Clarke 90 MIG (first time welder)

I've setup the steering and it works OK (well: it steers anyway)

They tried it out yesterday and had some fun on but it was very slow, so I'm trying to replace the back axle and bolt some pillow block bearings and maybe change to different wheels

and at some point I might put a small engine on it if they show enough interest

Sorry I haven't posted any proper pics yet but we've been out all the time


All the best
Simon

 

[davidbooth1991]

Hi simon. There are pillow block bearings out there that don't have a grease nipple. Don't get them you need to get grease to your bearings.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/320887516146?nav=SEARCH

 

[gnomadix]

Thanks David

I'll make sure I get those pillow blocks
Could I ask you about the back wheels? I got these ones:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141085618184?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

because they were bigger size
but they are not very easy to attach to the axle (its just a 16mm steel bar), please could you recommend any others?

Thanks again
Simon

 

[davidbooth1991]

I'll have a look mate. There's a lot too consider on wheels though ( to do with gearing). Also do you know if its a 16mm bolt. Or bright bar
Or just 16 mm mild steel. I'd try to weld 8.8 grade bolts on as there are a perfect size and there high tensile tempered. Not too expensive. Might cost you a tenner from a workshop..

Edit:
That's all dependant on wether you go with a live axle or not.I personally wouldn't. As your steering will suffer. But you'll get more traction. Its up to you. When you decide on whether you go fixed or live axle decide on the wheels...

 

[OzFab]

Could I ask you about the back wheels? I got these ones:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141085618184?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Well, there's your problem; the reason the kart was a bit slow is because those wheels only have bushes, not bearings...

 

[gnomadix]

Thanks for your help

I would like a fixed axle and the wheels rotate: the axle I bought is a 16mm steel bar

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181308547442?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

So far the only wheels I found with bearings that would fit are

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231182509516?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

with a 26.5cm diameter for 16mm diameter axle

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Drifter-K...87?pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item27e9893ed3

The first looks to be too small for any speed (although faster than my wheels?) and the 2nd option means buying the full axle set and also using a wider wheel

given that, what do you think would be best?
(apart from sticking it in a tip)

Cheers
Simon

 

[davidbooth1991]

Thanks for your help

I would like a fixed axle and the wheels rotate: the axle I bought is a 16mm steel bar

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181308547442?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

So far the only wheels I found with bearings that would fit are

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231182509516?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

with a 26.5cm diameter for 16mm diameter axle

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Drifter-K...87?pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item27e9893ed3

The first looks to be too small for any speed (although faster than my wheels?) and the 2nd option means buying the full axle set and also using a wider wheel

given that, what do you think would be best?
(apart from sticking it in a tip)

Cheers
Simon

I would just go with the wheels you have found in eBay. But get a lot of four as it will save you money. Thete better than the ones you have because your not fighting the friction of the bushes. You could always swap the bearings. If you have the opportunity to make or you can buy some hubs I'd recomend these.....

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/141296460407?nav=SEARCH

 

[OzFab]

You may have seen some of us carry on about "cheap Harbor Freight wheels", they're very similar to the first wheels you posted, only the rims/hubs are a little more robust, the tyres still won't last long at speed &, IMO, they're a bit overpriced...

Having said that, they should be ok for a downhill racer/unpowered kart, just be sure to upgrade them when/if you mount an engine to it...

 

[gnomadix]

Thank you both

your advice is great: saves me a lot of money and pain!

I have ordered the ebay wheels as a set of 4 for £22
and will change to a fixed axle, and weld the 8.8 bolts on

The harbour freight style wheels are in the trailer wheels
section of UK eBay and are bit out of my price range

I will muck about on this cart, and if catches on I'll rebuild the frame and change to a proper 25mm Go Kart axle and (Briggs Stratton?) engine

Please can I ask one more question?

I've bought pillow blocks as rear bearings: do I actually need to fix the axle from rotating and what the best way to do that?

All the best
Simon

 

[Poboy kartman]

No. ....I wouldn't for a downhill racer......if the friction from the wheel bearings is great enough to cause the axle to rotate. ....then you are just eliminating a cause of speed reduction. ......

Motorized may be a different story. ....it's different. ...but could still work.....IDK....if I am understanding this correctly. .....that would be a dead axle set-up....with an unpowered.....unattached. ... (to the wheels......rotationally).....live axle. ......hmmmmmm.......