It started out fun.....

[mgravley]

Well it started out fun and interesting and kind of exciting, then it hit a low spot, then I might have gotten upset a time or two, and a few months later I LITERALLY have one last tiny set screw to thread for the throttle linkage setup which I had asked my sweet wife to help me with because her hands are smaller than mine and she is good at handling small things....and well, she dropped that tiny set screw and down it went to places unknown inside the engine complex.
So at just about dusk when I had visions of firing this baby up and ripping illegally down the street for the first time after months of toiling with it, my kids cheering me on, maybe even a little fire coming out the exhaust, no instead I cursed that little screw, my sweet wife went to bed, and I started tearing apart that new engine looking for that set screw.
Surely this week I'll get to ride it..... I mean my kids will get to ride it.

 

[gman3850]

just to let you know if its the screw the alows for the arm 2 hold, there are 2 on the setup

 

[landuse]

That sucks!!

 

[mgravley]

Took the gas tank and the flywheel cover off and there she was. Got it all back together and then looked up some threads about installing an extra return spring on the throttle assembly which alleviated my next set of questions. I should be posting pics of me and the young'ins having fun in the kart tomorrow.
Once she's road worthy then maybe we'll start modifying her. Picked up a little 90 amp flux core welder the other day so I might do something stupid!

 

[landuse]

So you can roadworthy a kart in TN?

 

[mgravley]

No not legal road worthiness. We have a very liberal golf cart ordinance here in Etowah that allows golf carts to travel on city streets w no lights, no blinkers, etc. though. Not sure how a go kart differs but is take a chance in the neighborhood.

 

[MrBracket]

That sucks! Glad you found the screw. We've all been there.... I pulled the float bowls off of the motorcycle engine in my buggy last night and dropped a screw between the starter motor and water pump... Had to fish it out with a section of stiff wire... Hard to do when you can hardly get your eyes close enough to it to see anything. I feel your pain man!!

P.S. You shouldn't ever admit your wife is good at handling small things.... Luckily she didn't handle the small item very well, she must be used to larger things.. Ha Ha!!

 

[mgravley]

MrBracket...OUCH!! I'm wound too tight. Every hour I spend on the Kart I understand better why auto mechanics and 12 packs are a great combination, even though I don't partake.

SUCCESS!! Maiden voyage this evening and it was stellar!! Have to adjust that little friction brake because I had zero brakes although the new throttle return spring brings the throttle back so efficiently that I roll to a stop pretty quickly.

The engine smelled a little hot when I rolled her into the garage. I assume that it is the new paint and insides of the muffler having to cure. I didn't run it hard or long, just a few trips up and down the street at about half throttle. I intend to break it in easily for 20 hours or so. Is that hot smell pretty normal on a new harbor freight engine?

One thing it could be is that the Comet 30 that came on this thing didn't have the bronze ring for the belt to spin on so maybe it got a little extra friction. I intend to get a ring for it. Does anyone know the inside dimensions of that ring and if I can get something that will work at a hardware store? I don't want to spend $10 plus shipping on a little ring if I can make or buy something locally. Pics posted.

 

[landuse]

Great!! I am glad you got it sorted. I think that smell is probably normal, but wait for a Predator owner to chime in

Someone will probably be able to measure their bushing and let you know. I do not have a TC. That bushing is however VERY important, and your TC will not work well without it and belts will get chewed

EDIT: Come to think of it, that smell might be your belt heating up and dissintegrating slightly due to the lack of a bushing

 

[PorkChopExpress]

My predator had a little smell to it at first, good now though.

 

[Sin Dee]

Thats awesome! SO happy to see kid friendly and community friendly kart life at large! Enjoy your labor of love!