I can't push my kart when it's off... Yerf-Dog Spiderbox

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nonissan

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I've searched high and low, and I'm coming up empty. I spoke with the folks at BDX, and they didn't really have any insight

My Spiderbox runs and drives fine

She has a very tight turning radius, and I often have to push her to turn around...

The issue is... when she's not running, the rear wheels are locked... so I have to lift her up and move the back-end in order to point her in the right direction

I don't have a reverse gear, if that matters

TIA, please let me know if I need to post more information. Hopefully this helps others down the road
 
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panchothedog

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I don't follow the connection between tight turning radius and needing to push the kart. Are you saying that where you ride the turns are sharper than the kart can turn. Your kart has a live rear axle, and they usually don't turn very sharp. They push the front end around. Your kart also probably has a torque converter. With both the chain and the belt to overcome, it is normal for the kart to be a little bit difficult to push. It should NOT lock up the rear wheels. You need to put rear end up in the air and start going over the drive train. Something is wrong.
 
Hellion

Hellion

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nonissan said:
The issue is... when she's not running, the rear wheels are locked... so I have to lift her up and move the back-end in order to point her in the right direction
Click to expand...

Are the wheels locked solid (not turning) or is it just extremely difficult to push? That Yerf-Dog "kart" is a heavy pig compared to a classic racing or yard kart so naturally they will be difficult to push due to weight. You may need to start lifting 💪. However...

nonissan said:
She has a very tight turning radius, and I often have to push her to turn around...
Click to expand...

That's normal for karts with a solid live axle and not a differential. A live axle can’t handle turns well because the outer wheel needs to spin faster than the inner wheel. To do that, one wheel must either break traction and/or the inside wheel must lift and that happens with weight transfer to the outside of the turn (don't lean into the turn). Turning a live-axle kart in loose dirt or snow is easier because the tires can slip or break traction as needed but on pavement it's difficult. You need power and momentum to turn and it's harder to turn at low speeds. Just one of those crazy things we deal with....

The kart most definitely has a torque converter if it is this exact same model: https://www.bmikarts.com/PDF/GX150_Service_Manual.pdf
 
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