Jack shaft questions

[Trevor51]

I'm building a new go kart. I have a predator 212 with a comet 30 series torque converter. It's for a off road go kart and one of the problems I have with the kart I already have is the sprocket is so close to the ground and gets hit by rocks a lot. Is there any way to fix this by adding a jack shaft? Or is there any other ways? If any one else has done this please reply with photos. Thanks

 

[Zombient]

Pics of your own cart?

 

[Trevor51]

I'm building a new one and I wanted to solve this problem on it not the one I already have.

 

[Zombient]

Ah, my mistake.

I'm not too sure on that, but I know there are tons of guys who could answer that question. I've ran into that problem once before, just always put bigger tires on them. But I'm sure there is a better way.

 

[afremont]

Bigger tires or a jack shaft would give you more clearance on the driven sprocket. I would think that a torque converter should also let you get away with a "somewhat" smaller driven sprocket, but I don't think you could go small enough to gain you a lot of clearance.

 

[OzFab]

Bigger tyres seems like the obvious answer but, bigger tyres will also affect gearing; the fact that you are using a TC gives you a bit of "wiggle room", meaning you can use a smaller axle sprocket, exactly how small is directly proportional to the size of the tyres...

 

[Trevor51]

The problem is I can't afford bigger tires. The ones that came with it when I bought it as a project came with 2 sets of replacement rubbers. Right now I'm using 12 inch tires with 10t 54t

 

[KartFab]

1) sprocket guard. Race karts use this, but they get damaged too. They bolt onto the hub.

2) I fixed up an old Manco that had a piece of 1/4" thick x 1" wide steel flat bar bent around the outside of the sprocket. You might want to try using something like that.

 

[Trevor51]

Ok thanks I'll do that for my brake disk and sprocket. Also I was just wondering because I'm on a budget and I brake disk would be super easy to machine for me but I'm just wondering if they are hardened steel. Because if they are then I have to buy one

 

[Poboy kartman]

1) sprocket guard. Race karts use this, but they get damaged too. They bolt onto the hub.

2) I fixed up an old Manco that had a piece of 1/4" thick x 1" wide steel flat bar bent around the outside of the sprocket. You might want to try using something like that.

You stole my answer!