how does this sound?

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

I am just starting my first build and I have the frame cut and am about to weld it. my question is with the frame being about 180 lbs and my weight being around 170 lbs is a 16hp with 6:1 gear ratio on top of the 40 series tc, will I have the power to climb hills and also have a fair exelleration? keep in mind the cart ia a single seat small buggy not realy a "go kart" what do you think???


any responce is apreciated

 

[OzFab]

180lb sounds a bit heavy; is that including engine & running gear or just bare frame?

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

it is just an estimant and I rounded up so...
it is just the frame but it is probably lighter than I originally said
also I would like to run 18" tiers would that be realistic?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

My first question is- What does that 180lbs include? Is that the total, finished curb weight? Rolling chassis? Frame only?

Anyways, an answer for you- My kart (before I started the major mods) weighed a little over 300lbs complete. My own weight brought it up to about 450. This was with a GX340 (11hp), Comet 40, 4.8:1 gearing, and 18" tires. It did fairly well, topping out at 46MPH. The gear ratio should have been a little deeper for hills, etc. So with your 16hp and 6:1, I think you'll be fine.

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

that weight is just the frame

 

[OzFab]

Great input from toystory but, IMHO, I would consider shedding some weight from your frame. Have another look at the design & see where this is possible without weakening it, use lots of triangles (if you haven't already).

Also, what material are you using?

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

I will try to shed some weight but like I said it is probably lighter than I orriginally said and it is made out of 1.25" and 1" square tube

anybody have an Idea about how fast this rig could go

 

[mysteryboy28]

I am just starting my first build and I have the frame cut and am about to weld it. my question is with the frame being about 180 lbs and my weight being around 170 lbs is a 16hp with 6:1 gear ratio on top of the 40 series tc, will I have the power to climb hills and also have a fair exelleration? keep in mind the cart ia a single seat small buggy not realy a "go kart" what do you think???


any responce is apreciated

post pics of your design, maybe we can suggest some changes before you build it.

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

it is the arachnid design or as some people call it the "ah-crap-nid" I have read most of the threads I could find on them but I did not see any that actually completed and reviewed their build so I just dont know how well it will preform once it is finished.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

This might sound anal, but I actually use a bathroom scale to weigh my stuff. I will put an axle stand on the scale, zero it, and put the rear of the vehicle on it, and record the weight. Then do the same for the front and add them together. I started doing this because not only can weight be critical, it is often decieving. I recently laid hands on a commercial digital scale, the type used in shipping/recieving.

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

the only reason I don't use this method or weigh the frame now is it is at my school where I am building it their equipment is wayyy better than what I have at home so I figured I would try to finish the frame befor school gets out so that this summer I can try to just be buying parts or somehow receving pre made parts like tiers engine ect.. and just installing them. I will try to have an exact weight some time next week but for the time being even with the weight being an estimant I thought I could find somebody who has done something like this and can give me some info on what I can expect and if I need more power ect...

 

[TheWingnut]

So this is the kart your building?

I am building the Tarantula which is from the same website, and i am in about the same process. And 180 pounds on the frame sounds absolutely off. A 16hp engine and the correct torque converter (which you have chosen) is a lot of power.
My question is why you are using a 6:1 ratio differential and not a live axel?

At the info page (http://www.spidercarts.com/go-kart-plans/arachnid-go-kart-plans.html) it has a video which has many shots of the rear end, and that looks like a live axel.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

My question is why you are using a 6:1 ratio differential and not a live axel?

I musta missed something. Who said anything about a differential? 6:1 should be a good ratio, but I saw no mention of a diff in this thread...

 

[TheWingnut]

Having any ratio above 1:1 means that its not a live axel.
A 6:1 ratio means that the shaft on the differential has to spin 6 times for the wheels to spin once.

 

[souperman000]

Having any ratio above 1:1 means that its not a live axel.
A 6:1 ratio means that the shaft on the differential has to spin 6 times for the wheels to spin once.

Toystory is confused because the OP is not using a differential for his back axle, he just has a TC

My question is why you are using a 6:1 ratio differential and not a live axel?

no differential

 

[klicky96]

Having any ratio above 1:1 means that its not a live axel.
A 6:1 ratio means that the shaft on the differential has to spin 6 times for the wheels to spin once.

1:1 has nothing to do with using a live axle or not. A 1:1 or 6:1 are just gear ratios of what your torque value would be.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Having any ratio above 1:1 means that its not a live axel.
A 6:1 ratio means that the shaft on the differential has to spin 6 times for the wheels to spin once.

Ummm- NO. In our sport, the term "live axle" refers to a one-piece axleshaft that drives both wheels, and has NO differentiation. The fact that the OP is using a combination of sprockets to achieve a reduced gear ratio has absolutely nothing to do with this fact.

Perhaps you use different terms elsewhere, but if you dig deep into this forum, you will find these terms consistent in their use. And, not to be rude or anything, but- I think I've got a pretty good idea what I'm talking about.

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

sorry about the confusion it is a live axle I was just refering to the gear ratio from the tc to the axle I was going to use a 10 tooth on the tc with a 60 tooth sproket on the axle just as the plans show
the more I think about it I believe my weight is way off

 

[CAPTAINCAVEMAN]

TheWingnut those are the plans I am talking about I have also added ten inches to the main part if the frame for leg room because with a seat in there I would only have enough leg room for my 7 year old cousin

 

[Doc Sprocket]

sorry about the confusion it is a live axle I was just refering to the gear ratio from the tc to the axle I was going to use a 10 tooth on the tc with a 60 tooth sproket on the axle just as the plans show
the more I think about it I believe my weight is way off

No confusion here. And- got a scale? Anyway, again- 6:1 is pretty safe, you should have plenty o' power with that CVT.