Hi, new to the site

[Timtreo]

Yeah bighead definitely. I just cleaned out a little building/shed on my property to set up a welding station. I got the welder and of course I couldn't tell you if it's a good one or not but it does work. I played around with it for about an hour today and made some nice sloppy welds. I'm looking into taking a welding course offered not too far from me. But yes I am definitely still interested in the whole setup you described in post #18 (minus the shocks). Did you get my PM with phone #? Thanks again, Tim

 

[bighead]

yah I go it.

 

[Timtreo]

I got my little welding shop setup today. It took 2 days of cleaning out junk and pulling falling down insulation off the ceiling. Bug bombed the million spiders after I came across one of these wolf spiders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niqelW3b6io&feature=related freaked me out when I smashed it. I never saw anything like that.

My welder seems to work pretty well. I've been practicing, I don't have much scrap to practice on so I've been welding a bunch of bolts together .

 

[OzFab]

Could use a bit more light & ventilation... No, seriously, those fumes are toxic

 

[Timtreo]

Yeah I know, I'm going to get another 1 or 2 48" shop lights in there. I got a Miller auto darken mask and it's pretty awesome, it's one thing I didn't want to take a chance on with an unkown company. It's hard to see in the pic but there is a fan in that little window blowing air in and across the room from that there is a big window with another fan blowing air out. The air really blows through that room. Thanks Fabroman

 

[bighead]

Okay I got all the parts sorted out. I have all you will need to do the FL250 Honda Odyssey front Suspension conversion.

I need to break the beads and remove the tires before shipping. I just wanted to get some pics to you so you can see what we are dealing with.

You get

Wheels
Hubs (hubs are on wheels in pics)
J-Arms
Spindles
Tierods (fix or repair mock up set only)
Steering column
Steering shaft
Steering wheel (no plastic cover for wheel)
Brake cable
Throttle Cable
Skid pan (will need some pounding out but good condition)

I was able to find a bad set of tierods. They will need work but gret for mock up. Both cables are okay condition but will need some lube. Ody cables are extra long so this will work well on your kart. There are beefy cables as well. If any luck the throttle cable will hook to your carb. I added all the little stuff like washers,hub spacers,J-arm washers and pin,rubber caps for end of j-arms. Also caps for the spindles. In the pics there is only one rubber j-arm cap but I do have another one in the junk pile in back. I will also send you the cut off front end from one of the frames in the junk pile of parts. I will sawzall lots of the frame off to save lbs if I can. (check with me before you grind everything off the front bar for I have a idea.)

This is still going to be heavy as heck to ship. But I think I can get lots of it in a $14 flate rate box. Like the wheels,hubs,tierods,cables and the ltttle stuff. Then send the bigger stuff in another box. I will check that then check the price to send it all in one box.

Send me $110 to cover parts and shipping. So thats $35 shipping. May be more but I will cover that. I want to see a person do this conversion bad. IMO your getting a great deal. And you will have a rock solid front end. Nothing cheesey about this setup. Perfect for the power your going to have in your kart.

I will PM you my number and pay pal address. Or we can ebay it for a $1 and go from there. I still have to take the tires off and buy sawzall blades. So it may take me 2 to 3 days to get it out the door. If I get home to late I cannot work in the shop for wife freaks.

Again kit is complete. Sterring wheel controls to wheels. No surprises.

 

[bighead]

Are you sure you do need the shocks?

 

[Timtreo]

Looks awesome! PM sent. Thanks so much bighead I will start a build thread with pictures in the new projects section when I get all this. Some other parts I've ordered have started to come in

I also just got (3) 8' 1" square steel tubes from Craigslist for $20. That and the angle steel I got will definitely come in handy to strengthen up the frame.

I am starting to think about a drive sprocket. The one on there will not work with my motor sprocket. I would like to get more low end torque, more power instead of speed (but not super slow). I won't be needing to do 110 MPH in this thing.
Will I need a bigger or smaller sprocket for that? When I had my GSXR 600 stuntbike it had a huge rear sprocket but that was just to get the front end up quick while going slow. I am confused with a go kart??? Thanks for any help with this. Tim

 

[Timtreo]

Paypal sent bighead. Thanks so much again. I'm excited to get started on this project!

 

[bighead]

Looks awesome! PM sent. Thanks so much bighead I will start a build thread with pictures in the new projects section when I get all this. Some other parts I've ordered have started to come in

I also just got (3) 8' 1" square steel tubes from Craigslist for $20. That and the angle steel I got will definitely come in handy to strengthen up the frame.

I am starting to think about a drive sprocket. The one on there will not work with my motor sprocket. I would like to get more low end torque, more power instead of speed (but not super slow). I won't be needing to do 110 MPH in this thing.
Will I need a bigger or smaller sprocket for that? When I had my GSXR 600 stuntbike it had a huge rear sprocket but that was just to get the front end up quick while going slow. I am confused with a go kart??? Thanks for any help with this. Tim

Your going to have to ask the gearing guys. Lots of members here have done street bike conversions. Again going to have to ask them about what kind of sprockets. First find out what size chain your sprocket is on the 250cc engine you have. Then you got to find the correct tooth sprocket and hub.

Lots goes into gearing like RPM's,tire size,weight.

I am sure if you asked others members will help you much better than I just tried to do. LOL

Have you seen the other threads on this site where members added bike engine into buggie or karts?

Also whats your plan for shifting and the odyssey wheel? Shift left handed? You cannot take your hand off the throttle lever to shift? Or just use the wheel without the levers? Whatcha you thinking?

Also that brake caliper you have? Not even going to cut it with 250cc Ninga engine. No way friend. Start all over as far as your caliper goes.Your going to have to get a hydrolic disc brake setup.No eceptions IMO. With those large tires that mechanical brake will not stop you.

 

[landuse]

That is a great deal you have gotten from Bighead. He has been wanting someone to do this for a long time.

About the gearing, Anderkart anf r97 are very good with bike engine gearing. I unfortunately am only good with industrial engine gearing. Sorry about that.

 

[bighead]

That is a great deal you have gotten from Bighead. He has been wanting someone to do this for a long time.

About the gearing, Anderkart anf r97 are very good with bike engine gearing. I unfortunately am only good with industrial engine gearing. Sorry about that.

Anderkart seems to know where to find and buy the sprockets you will need.

 

[bighead]

This ody front end is going to look sweet on your kart. It will lift the front end up lots for much needed ground clearence.

You are going to want to mount that bike engine as low as you can in the frame. No matter what you do figure out a way to get that engine low. Trust me you do not want a top heavy mini buggy.Get it low. Even if you have to put the engine at your side sidewinder style. This would be perfect for your short kart. but hard with swingarm suspension. Well not sure about perfect but just shooting ideas your way.

Anyway that ody front end is going to look sick in your kart.

 

[Timtreo]

Ok thanks guys, I'll give Anderkart a PM tomorrow (getting late here on east coast again. As for the steering wheel bighead I'm going to go with the original idea of up and down shifter levers (there is one in the pic) on the wheel. I can make them work on that wheel. And then I'll have gas, brake and clutch pedals. And yeah I'll take your advice and send the mechanical brake caliper back and get a hydraulic setup. Til tomorrow guys, goodnight.

 

[Timtreo]

I agree it's going to look cool! Are all those buggies your projects? Pretty awsome.
Edit, oops never mind you were just showing me pics of the sidewinder style. I'm getting tired. I'm out, for real...

 

[Timtreo]

Have you seen the other threads on this site where members added bike engine into buggie or karts?

How do I find those threads? Thanks

 

[anderkart]

Hi anderkart, I have a thread going about a build I'm starting http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17538

Some of the guys told me to ask you about the gearing. I'm using a 2011 Ninja 250R motor and am wondering about what size axle drive sprocket I should use and where to get one. I want to get more power/torque instead of speed but I don't want it to be super slow either. The stock ninja chain is 520 size. The rear wheels on my kart are 22X11-8 and the axle size is 1" diameter. Thanks so much for any help you might be able to give. Tim

Hey Tim, I got your pm.

I found the rpm, transmission & primary-ratio specifications we'll need
here at this link: http://www.rcramer.com/bikes/ex250/specs.shtml

But before I start calculating I had a couple questions for ya:

Do you have a 14-tooth countersprocket on that engine now? And what top speed do you want?

I think you'd still have awesome power/torque if we geared your kart for around a 60mph top speed in 6th. That's probably what I'd do if it was my kart, but we could gear it higher/lower, its your choice...

 

[Timtreo]

Hey anderkart, thanks for responding. I just checked the motor sprocket and it is 14T. That setup you mentioned sounds good to me. I don't think I'll ever go 60mph but it would be nice to know it's there. I guess I would need a bigger sprocket than the stock 250 Ninja rear sprocket? I haven't ridden a new 250 street bike but I remember the older ones be pretty gutless when it came to power, I guess they are more geared for speed. Thanks again for the help.

 

[fowler]

If u wAnt some good info on mini buggys then go look at WA superlites forum
There's everything from setting up suspension to frame building to milling your own transmission gears

 

[anderkart]

I guess I would need a bigger sprocket than the stock 250 Ninja rear sprocket?

Yep, I'd go with a 63-tooth/#520 sprocket, available here:
http://www.gokartgalaxy.com/racing_sprockets_for_larger_chain_sizes.htm
I'd suggest you call/email them to ask what hub you should order to fit your axle and that sprocket.