Hi, Im Skitz

[LilSkitz]

I'm 44, and am from Western Maryland. I have enough mechanical skill to change the oil and brakes on a car, swap out an alternator, and know when I'm in over my head and need to get help. I also know nothing about go karts.

My 7 year old daughter is on the edge of outgrowing 12v powerwheels, and instead of going down the rabbit hole of spending a fortune to get bits of plastic to go 10 or 15mph, I decided to get my kids a cheap coleman gokart off marketplace. My 5 year old son quickly claimed it as his, and I told my daughter we would get her one for herself. She picked out a very interesting one, which is going to be the topic of most of my upcoming posts.

So it's nice to find y'all, and thanks in advance for any and all help!

The first Pic is my daughter in the first cart we got. The 2nd is the one she picked out for herself.

 

[Hellion]

to the forum. Good ol' DIYGK. How did you find us, an internet search?

Your new kart is an old USA made CLASSIC fun kart. It's a Kartco kart, probably the 475: https://www.gokartsupply.com/kartco.htm
Looks like it has the original Tecumseh engine on it.

 

[LilSkitz]

That's it! Thank you, I was striking out finding out anything about it!

And yeah I found you through Google.

 

[Denny]

Welcome! Too late, you just ran down that rabbit hole you wanted to avoid. You just don’t realize it yet because you took a different path.

 

[LilSkitz]

I'm good with this one though, the power wheels route would have been spending about $300 to upgrade the plastic gearboxes, motors, and wiring to 24+ volts, getting an electronic speed control, and bigger batteries. This would have been usable by my kids for 4 more years, 5 tops.

It seems like I can spend about the same amount (not conting safety related stuff in that) on this cart, and have something that will last til both of them are in real cars. So it's a better investment!

 

[Denny]

I'm good with this one though, the power wheels route would have been spending about $300 to upgrade the plastic gearboxes, motors, and wiring to 24+ volts, getting an electronic speed control, and bigger batteries. This would have been usable by my kids for 4 more years, 5 tops.

It seems like I can spend about the same amount (not conting safety related stuff in that) on this cart, and have something that will last til both of them are in real cars. So it's a better investment!

You are a wise parent!

 

[panchothedog]

Welcome. Boy are you ever right about NOT trying to modify the plastic kiddie kar. With a bit of elbow grease you can have that kart looking like the one in
Post #2. You almost forgot to mention that you will need a 3rd go kart, or a mini bike ( that's what I bought ) to chase them down, or start them when they stall or the many other malfunctions that can occur. Keep them out of traffic, long pants and shoes and helmets. Even though your daughter has a helmet on, PLEASE for her safety get her hair up and under the helmet. Chains, sprockets, and long flowing hair can be a deadly combination.