I have a yard, so I got a yard kart

[iamtig]

Hello all. SO... I read through the forums, read the FAQs, the forum rules, put my dot on the world map, even did a test post and now I am introducing myself! Sheesh, this site is a lot of work!!

;^ )

Grew up in Sacramento California. They finally put in a RPM, indoor kart racing not long before I moved south. Living out in the simi-country (2.5 acres) I have been keepin my eyes open for a yard kart for sale. Found one last year at a yard sale, heavy tube frame, huge potential, $130 and I didn't have the cash on me... but the guy next to me did. Found this one last weekend, $150 for the kart and a chain saw. I thought it was a deal even though it’s got it’s share of jury riggin on it. So far I've put in a tube and some fix a flat, ordered a break master cylinder and tightened every bolt on it as well as broke a few. I may have to do some frame reinforcing to keep my butt above the durt, and clean up some rust but it's a start. I got the rider mower out last weekend and drug about five feet of galvanized fence around with an old stump on it to try to flatten a track out a bit. Worked pretty good too and I got some good drifting in yesterday and a fairly nice, self-designed first track if I do say so myself!!

What do I know about ownin a kart? What do I know about 'my' kart? Well... about as much as I have read on this site over the past few days. I will be lookin to ID it if that is even possible, or even to learn, or learn how to tell if it is a home made ball of fun. Thank you all for your time and information. I look forward in chillin with you all!

~iamtig

 

[OzFab]

Hello all. SO... I read through the forums, read the FAQs, the forum rules, put my dot on the world map, even did a test post and now I am introducing myself! Sheesh, this site is a lot of work!!

Thanks for all your hard work; the good news is, now it's time for the fun...

Found one last year at a yard sale, heavy tube frame, huge potential, $130 and I didn't have the cash on me... but the guy next to me did.

Bummer; don't you hate when that happens?

Found this one last weekend, $150 for the kart and a chain saw.

Sounds like a great deal to me...

As for the kart, it doesn't look home made but, it doesn't look like a manufactured kart either... at least, not in it's current form; it's, obviously, been stretched as I've never seen a kart of that design quite that long; the "cage" looks to be a later add-on too, possibly home made, possible adapted from another kart...

When refitting the brake caliper, you may want to consider the path of the hose; where it runs in the pic seems a little dangerous...

Also, just a tip, when you remove the pull starter to tighten the spring rotate the housing two bolt holes to the rear; this makes for easier pulling of the rope... unless you want the ability to start it from the drivers seat...

 

[iamtig]

Good deal, thank you for the advice and the information.

The cage is pretty much a joke. It is attached with 4 or 6" bolts so if I actually did roll, I would break my head along with all those bolts holding it on (you can see one in the upper left of the back side of the engine picture).

I did tighten the spring for the pull starter. In fact, I tightened it so well, it flew out of the casing as I was holding it with all 10 of my thumbs. I finally got it back in there and that is how it happened to go back together. I am glad to report that (for now) it starts like a dream with barely a pull, two at the most when cold. I will work on it!

 

[OzFab]

The cage is pretty much a joke. It is attached with 4 or 6" bolts so if I actually did roll, I would break my head along with all those bolts holding it on (you can see one in the upper left of the back side of the engine picture).

That's why I said

the "cage"...

It's not much more than a brushguard...

I did tighten the spring for the pull starter. In fact, I tightened it so well, it flew out of the casing as I was holding it with all 10 of my thumbs. I finally got it back in there and that is how it happened to go back together. I am glad to report that (for now) it starts like a dream with barely a pull, two at the most when cold. I will work on it!

The bad news is, you didn't need to go anywhere near the spring...

The good news is, there's a really simple way to remove that slack from the starter rope... which needs to be done as it's dangerous the way it is...

Remove the starter from the engine; pull the handle so there is around a foot of rope outside the housing; there should be a small gap in the top surface of the pulley, about the same size as the rope, locate it & line it up to the rope...

Using long (needle) nose pliers, grab the rope until you can hold it with your fingers; now rotate the pulley anti-clockwise, taking the rope with it...

Once the rope has gone a full revolution, you can let it go & the spring will be 1 revolution tighter...