Into, greetings from Alabama

[BigWes]

Hi, I'm Wes from Alabama. Just recently started buying and kinda tinkering and rebuilding old go-karts and minibikes as another hobby. Kinda helps me with some of my other issues.

I'm an aircraft mechanic so I know my way around tools and I know how to resolve most issues as far as repairs go. My main reasons for joining this site is to simply ask questions about things I don't know and seek out better ideas of doing things.

For example I have 2 carts that I can only guess at who built them and how they came put together. I'm pretty sure someone here knows all about them and what I need to do to get the things in respectable order, or at least a good idea of the proper starting points...all for another post I'm sure. And I will also show what I did with the poor yard cart...

I enjoy playing with them and terrorizing the neighborhood. All in good fun for a grumpy old guy!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Welcome to the only sport where you can be genuinely SCARED from the speed of a 10 HP engine!

 

[BigWes]

thanks...but yea the predator 212 on the yard cart can get intense real fast especially up around 40 mph when the steering starts getting sketchy...

 

[landuse]

Welcome!!!!

 

[baloydi]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

I take it that Predator has some performance mods on it?

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Welcome

 

[Nosandwich]

to the forum.

Start that other thread with pics( preferably thumbnails).

 

[BigWes]

I take it that Predator has some performance mods on it?

Oh yeah... stage one. When I get a chance I'll take a pic of what I did to the TD Clipper Cart. It's a small yard kart with a bench seat. On occasion when the tires grip just right it'll pull the front tires about 3 inches off the ground and on a good straight stretch of smooth clean road it will exceed 40 mph but the steering is not good at those speeds. I plan on trying some high speed bearings in the front hubs and new King pin bushings to see if any of that will help. Who knows. My original goal was to shoot for 50 mph with it but I have decided to stop where I am with the steering being what it currently is..

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

If you wanna go 50+ mph, you're probably best off with a chassis designed for that.

 

[Tpdingo]

If you wanna go 50+ mph, you're probably best off with a chassis designed for that.

Now where is the fun in that? Use a 20$ chassis from HF's handtruck wheel division...thats going to get your adrenaline flowing!!

Don't do that...get a real frame like JTSpeedDemon said.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

AND NOT A DINKY CHINESE FRAME WITH METALLIC FOIL TACKED TOGETHER FOR A FRAME!
That's an exaggeration but I've gotten my point across.

 

[BigWes]

Crappy pic...but here ya go...this is the cart I go fast on



the other bigger ones I am working on. projects in work



I think the raggedy silver one, which I have named 'The Beast', will

end up being my favorite one.

Right now the clutches aren't right, the tires are rotten, the brakes

are broke , the steering is wrong, the sprockets are worn...but dude

I cant explain it...the thing just feels good to drive when I do get it going.

It's some kind of Ken Barr Streaker I think.

 

[Tpdingo]

You got some nice karts....and we can help you turn those good karts into some great karts. Welcome aboard.

 

[BigWes]

You got some nice karts....and we can help you turn those good karts into some great karts. Welcome aboard.

They're ok I guess, I'm just about finished messing with the little Clipper Kart. I figure I best quit before I get hurt. I am actually considering painting it and putting regular kart size tires on it and a small predator and clutch and giving it to some needy kids that wouldn't otherwise have something like that. I'm just not going to turn children lose with it like it is...no way in ****... I'd never live it down if one go hurt running under a car or into a tree at 40 mph... anyway, we shall see.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

That 'fast' one is basically a yard kart, which, (sigh), there are worse things you could go fast on. Put simply. Not tryin' to burst your bubble.

 

[BigWes]

That 'fast' one is basically a yard kart, which, (sigh), there are worse things you could go fast on. Put simply. Not tryin' to burst your bubble.

Oh yeah...you are right...and I know this of course. It was an experiment. One that I have stopped. I wanted to see what I could do with it basically. Like I said, I feel I have hit the limits. It was fun though. Now I'm ready to move on. Tinker with the other two and find a frame worthy of some decent speed. I doubt I will be able to find any junk karts that are speed worthy though...oh well...you know us rednecks...we like making junk go fast...cars get me in trouble and I can't pass a flight physical any more and I haven't forgotten my last motorcycle wreck either...so here we are...

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

(Backstory of awesomeness)
That's one of the best parts of go karts!
You can redneck it all you want!