How to build electric go kart?

[Tpdingo]

I can't trust eBay.

It isn't 1998. eBay works just fine 99.99% of the time, especially with Chinese sellers that have a half-billion stars.

 

[tgus3]

I can't trust eBay.

I get most of of my stuff there including phones and I haven't had a bad experience yet.

 

[Functional Artist]

I can't vouch for eBay, as a whole, but you don't have to worry about working with Alfa Wheels
(the seller of the kit I linked)

I get ALL of my motors from them (I have lots of electric toys) & NEVER had any problems
…& Miguel (with Alfa Wheels) is even a fellow DIYGK member

*IIRC, mention that your a DIYGK member & get a 10% discount

 

[jeffmorris1956]

My shop teacher is a cheapskate - he won't spend more than $500 for the kart. I know that the motor kit and batteries are the most expensive parts. I checked out Alfa Wheels website but I'm confused about rear axles, sprockets, disk brake rotors, and hubs. I want each rear wheel to turn independently of each other. I don't think that a drill motor is strong enough. Any suggestions?

 

[sikbrik]

I'll put in another vote for alfawheels on eBay once you're at that stage. The 15ah 12v SLA batteries that Functional Artist uses are around $100 shipped for 4.
1800w with controller and batteries for $200, it doesn't get much cheaper.

You could look at this:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showpost.php?p=450124&postcount=87 I have no idea how well that could work for you.

It's okay that you don't want a live axle...you just won't actually spin both wheels. You can still find a fixed axle kit with all the things you need.

 

[Functional Artist]

My shop teacher is a cheapskate - he won't spend more than $500 for the kart. I know that the motor kit and batteries are the most expensive parts. I checked out Alfa Wheels website but I'm confused about rear axles, sprockets, disk brake rotors, and hubs. I want each rear wheel to turn independently of each other. I don't think that a drill motor is strong enough. Any suggestions?

Nope, a drill motor ain't gonna do the job
...unless your a 50 lb. 6 yr old kid

For more info check out the !Arriba! kart
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=37852

It uses a fixed axle & individual hubs.
(see post #12 for info on rear axle parts)

It has Dual 48V 1,000W motors
...same concept just (x 2)

* Oh ya, & it pops wheelies too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9I5fhBZ1zo

 

[jeffmorris1956]

Functional Artist, I checked out your thread on building your kart. I'll build the rear axle your way. I'm not sure about brakes that contact the tires.

 

[jeffmorris1956]

The shop teacher gave me a Pride Mobility Elite Traveller Plus scooter. It is missing batteries, battery case, and charger. I found out that the top speed is only 4.5 MPH. Is it worth converting the scooter into a go kart?

 

[sikbrik]

I'm not an expert on this but I would think every component is rated for 5mph. Doesn't seem like the best idea.

That's not to say you couldn't repurpose some components.

 

[jeffmorris1956]

I found out that the rear axles are 3/4" with keyways. The size of the rear tires are 9" x 3". I tried to measure the part of the wheel that goes on the axle and I think it is about 2". I would like to replace the wheels and tires with those for go karts. I need to know the tire sizes for 4", 5", and 6" wheels. The scooter has three wheels instead of four wheels. I found out that Monster Scooter Parts has one at https://www.monsterscooterparts.com...ds/gotrmo/goeltrpl/front-axle-go-go-sc54.html but I may have to build a new frame. Any suggestions?

 

[jeffmorris1956]

I decided to forget about trying to convert the scooter into a go-kart. I'll clean it up, paint the frame, assemble the scooter, and get it running. the shop teacher should have gotten me a real go-kart. He got me a small go-kart a few years ago but it had frozen 2-stroke engine and rear axle. It had a roll cage. I don't know what happened to it after we had to move the woodshop from old building to new one last year.

 

[Functional Artist]

One of the first karts I built was a heavily modified used riding lawn mower.
(I extended the frame, to sit down lower & put a smaller pully on the trans axle, to go faster)

The first couple of karts I built, from scratch, for my kids, used riding lawn mower parts

Look for someone that has an old riding mower to donate to the class
...work with that or just use the wheels, seat, steering etc. & build your own frame

Check out Winston's kart (the orange one) it has many riding lawn mower parts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ6bcBy1O1M

 

[voided]

My shop teacher is a cheapskate - he won't spend more than $500 for the kart. I know that the motor kit and batteries are the most expensive parts. I checked out Alfa Wheels website but I'm confused about rear axles, sprockets, disk brake rotors, and hubs. I want each rear wheel to turn independently of each other. I don't think that a drill motor is strong enough. Any suggestions?

Most teachers where I’m from come out of pocket for their needs/ supplies other than, books, paper, and other small things in the classroom.. If that $500 is coming out of his own pocket, wether it be $10 dollars or $500 you should be grateful with whatever he’s trying to help you with. Most schools won’t budget anything like that, so the funding is coming out of that teachers personal account.. calling him a cheapskate is a low blow on something that he doesn’t necessarily have to do. It sounds like it’s time to start bartering your time and effort and try to match the teachers budget with your own budget. If you wanna build something great..


I’ve seen a pocket bike powered by a 20v drill.. gearing is everything. It hauled a adult at roughly 10mph. Cool to see what a simple drill can do..I’ve even seen rc motors power some karts in the series I’m in, all of which have a $500 budget when on the track during race day.

 

[Quinc]

What he said^^^ People are building some pretty cool race karts under 500$
http://www.powerracingseries.org/

 

[voided]

What he said^^^ People are building some pretty cool race karts under 500$
http://www.powerracingseries.org/

That’s the series I’m in, along with a few others on this forum ..

Even tho race gearing for some tracks are 21-25mph some have gotten their karts into the 40mph without much effort .

 

[jeffmorris1956]

I already have a motor from https://www.robotshop.com/en/12v-5310-rpm-cim-brushed-dc-motor.html and motor controller from https://www.amazon.com/Sydien-10V-5...eway&sprefix=motor+controller,aps,125&sr=8-18

I tested the motor and controller using 18V battery pack for cordless drills and they worked. If I want to build something similar to 4-wheeled mobility scooter, would the motor be powerful enough if I use 6:1 gear ratio and 10" or 12" tires? I would like the cart to go about 20 MPH. If I buy another motor and connect two motors to one controller, is the controller that I bought be good or do I need different controller?

 

[voided]

I helped a team use mobility scooter motors. Unless you have access to some machining tools and to machine some parts. Those motors won’t get you to 20mph.. if your controller is brushless and can run sensorless. You can modify a used car alternator into a brushless motor.

I just got one running on a vesc controller, And was fairly easy

There are so many places to find brushed dc motors used... 36v being common in cordless floor buffers.

 

[jeffmorris1956]

I have seen videos and instructions on converting car alternators into brushless motors. Which car alternator is best? Which controller to buy?

 

[voided]

It’s been done with a few different ones. People try and find the cheapest used because they are just gonna open them up and cut some stuff out to wire them up..

See if there are any “ you pull em/ pick a part , junk yards” around you..

Look on YouTube and see if any of the videos match what you can get in your area.

I used a prestolite alternator . It had a removable/ replaceable voltage regulator so it was easier to power the field..

 

[Allforj]

I'm in Monroeville Pennsylvania