Kart Identification and Axle and Hub Help

[Athlonia]

Hello, I just purchased a yard kart for my kids, I do not know the brand, and I am in need of some band brake parts and a hub on the sprocket side. The kart has a live rear axle that is 1/2" OD with a 1/4" keyway. When I took the hub off to get to the brake drum I noticed the aluminum hub is very oblonged. I have searched the internet looking for 1/2" axle hubs with no luck. It may help if I can identify what brand kart it is, but 1/2" axles seem to be an oddity. I will try to get some pictures on here if it will help. Any and all help is appreciated greatly.
Thank you.

 

[Kelly Wood]

Hi, looks like a 5/8 OD axle to me. Measure it.

Kelly

 

[chancer]

I am not sure that is a ½" hub from the pics. It may be but I have never heard of that. It is sometimes hard to read a tape measure on a round threaded bolt. You may have a 5/8 axle there. To be sure take the nut that threads on the axle and see what size wrench correctly fits it. If it is 15/16 then you have 5/8 axle bolt. If it is 3/4 then 1/2 like you said.
I am sure that is not a live axle Go kart though. The Right rear wheel just spins on a bearing, so does the drive wheel till you put on the hub and sprocket.
A live axle has 1 solid axle all the way across the rear. The sprocket attaches to the axle and the wheels are locked to the axle. What you have is what we call a dead axle, meaning 1 rear power wheel drive.

As far as your search for parts: check BMI karts and MFG supply. Also on the DIY home page click FAQ and Articles then the first thread is a list of parts suppliers. well heres the link, but now you also know where I got.
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1180

 

[Kelly Wood]

I've seen these. This axle goes through the frame outer tube. I see a bearing in the frame... and the Keyway. Betting it's a live axle.

My 25 Centavos.

 

[chancer]

Thanks Kelly. Althonia do you have any more pics. What Kelly said does make sense considering the bearing.

 

[itsid]

the kart is likely a Carter Bros.. some very early SuperWheels I'd say (~1988-1990)
The only other option.. would be an early kenbar streaker but IIRC it had a square axle tube *headscratch*

Seeing the hub, (called clover hub) it solidifies the Carter call

Bad news: no new hubs available.. for no axle diameter!
And seemingly the hubs are for odd bhc wheels.. so a different hub might fit the axle, but less likely the wheels you have.
(like these)

In the end you need to buy a new set of wheels for the new hubs.

Now, one other thing.. IIRC the same hub is on the opposite side (at least it should be)
mount the weak one to the wheel without the sprocket, that should buy you some time to find new parts.

'sid

 

[Athlonia]

Kart Axle and Hub

Thank you everyone! I will try to get better pics and more of them. I have measured the axle with calipers. It is 1/2" OD and it is a live axle. I have the doughnut marks in the yard to remind me Thank you for the kart identification also! It doesn't promising for parts though. It sounds as though I will need to replace the rear axle and get new hubs and runs to make this thing 100%. Im hoping to avoid that so will be looking for creative solutions.

 

[crazykart]

That looks extremely.similiar to my kenbar streaker (note my side rails were cut off by the po)

Actually the hub in the pic looks like the extra "original" hub the po gave me with it. The axle and everything on mine has been changed out though (very shoddily done too)

Correction: your steering loop looks different, unlesd your seats just all the way forward.

 

[Athlonia]

That looks extremely.similiar to my kenbar streaker (note my side rails were cut off by the po)

Actually the hub in the pic looks like the extra "original" hub the po gave me with it. The axle and everything on mine has been changed out though (very shoddily done too)

Correction: your steering loop looks different, unlesd your seats just all the way forward.

Crazykart, thanks! Do you have any interest in selling your extra hub? The axle shaft on my seems like an odd duck. It is 1/2" OD with a 3/16" keyway.

I could turn it into a dead axle, but really do like the live axle performance.

 

[crazykart]

I would, but it would be useless to you lol. The po changed it out because he some how bent the axle, and it cracked the hub. I just tossed it into my scrap metal pile to take into the junkyard.

 

[Athlonia]

the kart is likely a Carter Bros.. some very early SuperWheels I'd say (~1988-1990)
The only other option.. would be an early kenbar streaker but IIRC it had a square axle tube *headscratch*

Seeing the hub, (called clover hub) it solidifies the Carter call

Bad news: no new hubs available.. for no axle diameter!
And seemingly the hubs are for odd bhc wheels.. so a different hub might fit the axle, but less likely the wheels you have.
(like these)

In the end you need to buy a new set of wheels for the new hubs.

Now, one other thing.. IIRC the same hub is on the opposite side (at least it should be)
mount the weak one to the wheel without the sprocket, that should buy you some time to find new parts.

'sid

Thank you! I have been unable to find any live axle hub for the 1/2" axle. I have found hubs for a dead axle that I can put the 1 3/8 x 1/2 inch bearings in.
http://www.mfgsupply.com/gomini/gominihubs/8-10083.html

 

[chancer]

Sorry I missed a couple things there, was just trying to help. Luckily everyone else joined in got you set straight. Gotta love this forum! Bummer on the rare parts!!
Could you swap out the 1/2" axle for a 5/8" and use the Hubs Sid pointed out? 1&3/8" x 5/8" bearings are easy to find?

 

[Athlonia]

It appears that even 5/8" axles are difficult to find. I have found 3/4" axles and even 1 3/8 x 3/4 bearings. So that may be my route when I fully "need" to repair this thing. It will be a bit more costly because I will have to buy and axle, hubs, maybe a new sprocket, and wheels.. grrrr If I didnt love to ride it as much as my kids do, I wouldnt mess with it The upside is, I only paid $120 for the cart and it has a Honda GX160 on it that runs great!

For now, I have a plan to extend the useful life of the shaft and hub. I will post pictures when I get it done. The short version is I am going to drill and tap the hub and put a set screw opposite the key to help bind the hub to the shaft and take up the slack on the worn side of the hub. A little crude, I know. But gets me by until I can get higher priority project completed.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on my idea. I always like feedback and you cant hurt the 1 feeling I have left

 

[colestreasures]

You sure thats a 1/2 inch axle?
Sure would like to see a picture with a tape on it. I had a hub just like that one but i dont think mine is 1/2 inch seems like mibe was 3/4 but I'll have to find it to be sure.
Cole

 

[Athlonia]

I was wrong

All, I was dead wrong. I just went and measured the axle again. And it is indeed 3/4". No idea how I got it wrong, but I did. The still unfortunate thing is that I still believe that hub is difficult to obtain and that my rear wheels have a strange bolt pattern. Now I know I can go with a newer hub design, I will need to purchase new rear wheels.

http://rdswebs.net/reliablegokarts....id=421&zenid=10b1ed68bbc7a6ca99a7e7398a9b3f11

 

[colestreasures]

All, I was dead wrong. I just went and measured the axle again. And it is indeed 3/4". No idea how I got it wrong, but I did.

I was thinking it was 3/4.
Cole

 

[Athlonia]

I was thinking it was 3/4.
Cole

Cole, if you can find yours, would you like sell it?
Thanks,
Shawn

 

[thepattonman]

My buddy has one of these and we actually had to mill down an axle to fit. Glad it was his money!

A 3/4 was just a little too big and he ended up taking to a machine shop and removed a 1/16 and it fit perfectly. Ill see if I can grab some pictures from him.