Hi

[Butterland]

New here, building my first gokart with the kids.
posted a Q in the gokart section. The build has been focused on spending as little as possible. Engine is not able to spin the chain.

Google searches kept sending me here. I am hoping to get some more specific help.
thank yall!

 

[Butterland]

 

[panchothedog]

Don't want to rain on your parade here, BUT. That engine may move a pocket
bike, I seriously doubt it would ever move what you have built. It doesn't have
enough torque. NOW let's look at what you have built. Are you really planning
on putting your children on that. Someone should call child protective services
on you. Where are they going to sit. And the gas tank. I understand that you are trying to do this on the cheap, so why not buy a 2nd hand go kart. I am not some kind of Nanny Zelot. I had my oldest grandson ( now 18 ) driving a kart
before his 5th birthday. But it had a roll cage, seat and shoulder belts, and
padded bucket seats. I now own 5 karts. One for each grandkid. I mean really
man, you can do better and SAFER than that. And if you can't for the sake of your kids go buy some baseball gloves and balls, or some jump ropes. That
P.O.S. looks very dangerous.

 

[Denny]

Welcome! I have to agree with Pancho. Take a look around here for a while and do some research. We can build it safer and help you learn new skills. We’re not trying to discourage you, just help you. This is a kid friendly site also so no cussing or other stuff. So if your kids want to ask questions also we will do our best to help them.

 

[Butterland]

For the record i wouldnt put my kids on it at this point. Id hAve a seat, gas tank and itstable befire the kids hopped on.

i didnt figure itd be fast, but i thought it would push 5-10mph.

 

[Butterland]

I guess the next step is find a frame & new engine

 

[Denny]

Make sure you can bolt atleast a 224 Predator on it with a 30 series TAV II CVT. If the kids are young and inexperienced do not remove the governor.

 

[panchothedog]

The wheels on your trike are medium sized go kart wheels and just have a lot more rolling resistance compared to a 2" wide pocket bike tire. As much as
I 'd like to see you put that thing in the trash or at least where your kids can't get at it, if you are only looking for 5 mph or so it might be doable. You will need a much lower gear ratio. It looks like the sprocket on the engine is already
Very small so that means a bigger one on the axel. Also your chain looks to be
kinked badly as well as too long. The kinks will cause more rolling resistance and you already have too much. The chain should roll smooth as butter. If you have a larger sprocket and can adapt to the axle give it a go. If you don't have one already, I wouldn't spend very much on one. On its best day it is going to be very disappointing if you can get it to move at all. While the engine may turn
real fast it just doesn't have enough torque. If you don't know what torque means let's just call it GUTS, or UMPH. Like Denny sugested, do some research, look around at what others have, familiarize yourself a little with the hobby. Then between Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Offer Up find something in your price range that has a welded manufactured frame. Flat and punctured tires can be used just by adding a innertube. Ripped and torn seats can be fixed with a $7 piece of nagahide and some staples. And a weathered rusty frame can be made to look like new with a couple of sheets of sandpaper and a $11 can of Rustolium brush on oil base enamel. Even a brand new Predator engine, one of the most popular in use today is $150 when NOT on sale. Depending upon age you can get your kids involved in all aspects of refurbishing an old tired CHEAP kart and it can be a very good learning and satisfying project for Dad and the young ones. There are many VERY knowledgeable members on this forum and we are more than happy to help out the other guy when he gets stuck on something. That is the whole point of having this forum.

 

[Butterland]

The wheels on your trike are medium sized go kart wheels and just have a lot more rolling resistance compared to a 2" wide pocket bike tire. As much as
I 'd like to see you put that thing in the trash or at least where your kids can't get at it, if you are only looking for 5 mph or so it might be doable. You will need a much lower gear ratio. It looks like the sprocket on the engine is already
Very small so that means a bigger one on the axel. Also your chain looks to be
kinked badly as well as too long. The kinks will cause more rolling resistance and you already have too much. The chain should roll smooth as butter. If you have a larger sprocket and can adapt to the axle give it a go. If you don't have one already, I wouldn't spend very much on one. On its best day it is going to be very disappointing if you can get it to move at all. While the engine may turn
real fast it just doesn't have enough torque. If you don't know what torque means let's just call it GUTS, or UMPH. Like Denny sugested, do some research, look around at what others have, familiarize yourself a little with the hobby. Then between Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Offer Up find something in your price range that has a welded manufactured frame. Flat and punctured tires can be used just by adding a innertube. Ripped and torn seats can be fixed with a $7 piece of nagahide and some staples. And a weathered rusty frame can be made to look like new with a couple of sheets of sandpaper and a $11 can of Rustolium brush on oil base enamel. Even a brand new Predator engine, one of the most popular in use today is $150 when NOT on sale. Depending upon age you can get your kids involved in all aspects of refurbishing an old tired CHEAP kart and it can be a very good learning and satisfying project for Dad and the young ones. There are many VERY knowledgeable members on this forum and we are more than happy to help out the other guy when he gets stuck on something. That is the whole point of having this forum.

The last part of your message is more where I meant I want to save money. The idea is me and the kids build a gokart, teaching them you don't need everything pre-made and how to think through project problems. The first gokart we made the frame and it was stolen from the driveway. Instead of being mad I taught them it let us learn from our mistakes and move forward.

The chain wasn't aligned great, I was able to get it pretty close maybe a bit better than that picture, but never great.
Planning to take that gokart apart and start on #3.

 

[Butterland]

Ill keep looking around here, most of the info and issues I ran into I was able to figure out reading here.

Go Kart #3 plans include : predator 212 engine
Live axle I have with the same rear wheels.
The frame is the hardest part-I'm fairly competent with wood but would like a metal frame.
problem is I don't have a welder... I saw somewhere a gokart made from a metal radio flyer wagon. it looked like it worked well. Other option would be to buy a frame-so far the ones I've seen are kinda expensive.

GoKart #3

 

[panchothedog]

As far as the frame goes, that's why I suggest buying a used kart. Wood is good for furniture but not for motorized vehicles. Even if it seems rigid at first
it will not hold up to the constant movement and bouncing a kart will put on it.
If you watch those websites I mentioned something will come up. You are looking for something someone has given up on, or tired of looking at in the backyard that their kids outgrew 15 years ago. I mentioned that I own 5 karts,
one of them I bought new 14 years ago, the other 4 were all purchased used from one of those 3 websites over the last three years. I don't weld. I am a retired carpenter. The reason for a ( even tired ) manufactured kart is a good solid welded frame, STEERING, spindels, tie rods, ( even if bent ) steering shaft and wheel, seat, motor mount, ect, ect. Even if it has no engine or a completely
dead one, what you are looking for is the basic car. New frames are quite expensive and there really isn't a good selection out there. FWIW all of the karts that I bought were 2 seat, live axle and with a roll cage. Safety as well as the ability for an adult to ride along the first time or two until they get it figured out and you are comfortable turning them loose on their own.

 

[Butterland]

Hello again,

The motor will be the predator 212, it’s 6.5 hp and $150. And lots of doo dads to upgrade later

This lets you see a bit more of the frame, and potential stability bs instability. The front wheel was terrible and will be redone.

Do the body & rear axle appear solid enough? I can say I am 250 and sit on it with 0 feeling of give. I do understand that sitting still is much different, but not sure how to test otherwise.

the other option is to buy a $100 metal gokart frame from a friend, it has the roll cage. My friend bought it used from someone he knew. I have not seen the kart, so condition is unclear. No engine, no wheels, exclusively metal frame.

.
I would have preferred no roll cage, ( basing this want on the race gokart a I’ve seen) I don’t want a race gokart. I would like for my 3-11yrar old kids to ride it, I’ll have to make some sort of variable throttle governer, thinking something to block the gas pedal from full compression.

And I would like for me to be able to ride it, do donuts, have fun, so I would like it to be solid.

So option =

#1) Rebuild front end of gokart #2(in pics)
#2) buy ~$100 frame, with roll cage,
#3) radio flyer wagon as a frame

I know I can buy frames, but the ones I have found are out of my price range. Price range for frame is between 50-100. I have wood and am more than capable to use wood to build

 

[Butterland]

As far as the frame goes, that's why I suggest buying a used kart. Wood is good for furniture but not for motorized vehicles. Even if it seems rigid at first
it will not hold up to the constant movement and bouncing a kart will put on it.
If you watch those websites I mentioned something will come up. You are looking for something someone has given up on, or tired of looking at in the backyard that their kids outgrew 15 years ago. I mentioned that I own 5 karts,
one of them I bought new 14 years ago, the other 4 were all purchased used from one of those 3 websites over the last three years. I don't weld. I am a retired carpenter. The reason for a ( even tired ) manufactured kart is a good solid welded frame, STEERING, spindels, tie rods, ( even if bent ) steering shaft and wheel, seat, motor mount, ect, ect. Even if it has no engine or a completely
dead one, what you are looking for is the basic car. New frames are quite expensive and there really isn't a good selection out there. FWIW all of the karts that I bought were 2 seat, live axle and with a roll cage. Safety as well as the ability for an adult to ride along the first time or two until they get it figured out and you are comfortable turning them loose on their own.

Ok ill make a Facebook and check those out as wlel

 

[panchothedog]

From what you have posted option #1and #3 are a no go. Wish you had a picture of the $100 frame, it would make it easier to give you an opinion. But
That is a step in the right direction. At 250 lbs do you really think a radio flyer
is going to hold up while you do donuts?

 

[panchothedog]

With small children I don't understand why you wouldn't want a roll cage. That
allows you to use both seat belts and shoulder harnesses, a big plus for saftey.
Without the cage you don't want those. You would want them to come out of the kart on the case of a roll over. Think about it. Kids learn fast and then love to push it. Ask me how I know.

 

[Denny]

The $100.00 frame sounds like a bargain. It gives you the ability to teach your kids how to build using found items. Like Pancho said I wish you had pictures of it though. All the advice he has given you is the best we have to offer and we can and will advise you on the best course for completion. We love daddy kid projects here, this is a kid friendly site also. So you can have them look up old threads and do their own research to learn about different things. We don’t tolerate cussing or bullying and bad advise is quickly called out. Pancho has years of experience with kids and karts and so do I and many others. Good luck!

 

[Butterland]

With small children I don't understand why you wouldn't want a roll cage. That
allows you to use both seat belts and shoulder harnesses, a big plus for saftey.
Without the cage you don't want those. You would want them to come out of the kart on the case of a roll over. Think about it. Kids learn fast and then love to push it. Ask me how I know.

the only reason I don't want a roll cage is size. Ideally the kart would be semi small frame. Ill look and see if I can get the $100 frame from a friend. I really thought the frame I build (not the front wheel portion) would be solid enough for a gokart, dang

 

[Butterland]

I do appreciate all the advice. I have no one around me with knowledge of this type of stuff and out of my friends I'm the only one into garage projects, and building stuff. The reason I wanted a wood frame is I have always been more competent with wood, and I don't have a welder.
Looks like the $100 frame is the idea though.

My colleague said her husband has some pressure washer engines he will give me, he thought they should work. I dont konw what they are or anything, but he has a construction business, so I assume they are decent. Looking online they range around 3-15 hp. Im not sure how that transitions to a gokart but may be worth a shot.

He is also able to weld, so I may ask him to weld and teach me how to weld a basic frame.

I'm trying not to overload this chat with useless repetitive stuff, but will certainly update when I get the engine and the frame.

I think the predator 212 would be the better option. But for free I figure the pressure washer is worth a shot.

Thanks again for the advice. I do get what you mean with the roll cage. If i buy that one from my friend I think it has a roll cage. If I make one weld or bolts? it probably won't have one.

If I end up with the 212 predator it will probably be the next time it goes on sale. Cost is $150, and I don't ahve the cash to burn on that just yet

 

[Butterland]

Dang you don’t even think the back end is good? Like those last pictures? Metal pipe and 2x4.

 

[Denny]

Sorry but for kids we are always on the side of safety. Especially for new drivers. What good is a kart if a kid rides it and gets badly hurt? The other kids see it. Then the kart just sits in the garage because no one will ride it. The same goes for a kart that always breaks. Nobody has any fun then.
You wanting to learn how to weld is one of the smartest things you said so far. A lot of decent karts have been built with a Harbor Freight flux core wire feed welder and some water pipe. Your still doing yourself a disservice by not posting pictures of the frame your buddy has so we can tell you if it’s good or not. Pick the biggest engine that has a horizontal crank shaft that is not tapered on the end.