Liberty karts quality?

[bobthejeffery]

so i found this site called liberty karts (the site is libertykarts.us ) and was wondering if anybody here had bought the screaming eagle, and how good it was. It seems kind of expensive, but cheeper then most. I was also wondering also how big of an engine i would need. It would be for mostly offroad use, with bigger wheels, and on some steeper hills. Lastly, I was wondering if I should get the roll cadge. how stable is it, and how likely to tip over?

 

[G.W]

Never heard of them. If you want a good all purpose frame gopowersports.com has a good one

 

[Bansil]

Seems rather $$$ for how much welding/drilling grinding etc that has to be done. Also using 1x1 sq tubing to me is more of a cheap/easy way to diy at home when you don't have a tubing bender.

And the cheap plastic caps for tubing ends...just looks cheap.

I would expect it to be round tubing with nice bends, fishmouth joints etc

This is my opinion...Disclaimer here, been working with metal for 30+ years and am

 

[bobthejeffery]

Never heard of them. If you want a good all purpose frame gopowersports.com has a good one

I have seen gopowersports. However, the frams i have seen on their site are more expensive, and they do not have suspention, which is a must for me.

 

[bobthejeffery]

Seems rather $$$ for how much welding/drilling grinding etc that has to be done. Also using 1x1 sq tubing to me is more of a cheap/easy way to diy at home when you don't have a tubing bender.

And the cheap plastic caps for tubing ends...just looks cheap.

I would expect it to be round tubing with nice bends, fishmouth joints etc

This is my opinion...Disclaimer here, been working with metal for 30+ years and am

Yes, the problem is that I have not much experience working with metal, and this is my first go kart, and I dont know if I am will be able to do all the suspension stuff.

 

[G.W]

Honestly if I where trying to build a first kart, a stiff chassis out of square tube would be great. Most of the suspension stiff chassis off road karts need is big tires with low air pressure. That's how I get away with jumping my hard tail mini bike.

 

[Bansil]

Yes, the problem is that I have not much experience working with metal, and this is my first go kart, and I dont know if I am will be able to do all the suspension stuff.

Don't want to discourage you, just want to give advise from experience.

Those tubes are 14 ga steel, which is about .078 thick, which is about a penny and 5 pcs of note book paper thick (.062 + .015) not the easiest to weld with a cheap 110v flux core welder or cheap 220V tombstone stick welder.

Do you have a welder?

I notice the suspension one has a fully welded frame except for the floor pan

I see you mention suspension, so I looked at the suspension one, for me the cons are:

It will take at least a $1000 dollars to finish it up I believe or more

an engine, 4 coil overs, axle kit, brakes, steering wheel, heim joints (rod ends), steering shaft with bearings, seat, spindles ,wheels and tires etc... not to mention you will have to fabricate all linkage for steering, brakes and gas

Also that rear suspension is not really suspension in the way you might think, the axle assy., brakes, tires, wheels, engine, torque convertor etc is a lot of wt. to move, the frame will break at the two mounts especially if it is rode hard.


The front suspension is not made for fast rocks/bumps and jumps that put pressure rearward, it is made for yards with maybe 2" dips.

Just welding a 3/16 x 3 inch x ~24in plate between the rear uprights and lower 1x1 would of stiffened and spread the load when the1/4 in mounts are welded to that. , with all 6 surfaces welded to it, now they are welded to a thin 1x1 tube and the rotational forces will not be happy

Again, not bashing I just don't think this will make you happy, after making a parts list and studying how much work you will have to do to it.

Make an excel spread sheet and input just the parts I mentioned to see where you sit.

You'll also need a grinder with wheels, drill and drill bits, possibly taps for steering linkage

 

[G.W]

If I where you I'd make a kart with rear suspension only to keep it simple and to save your back. This is my rea suspension and I think it would be pretty easy to replicate.

 

[panchothedog]

Hey Bob. I'm with Bansil on this one. Quality might be OK, but you are a LONG WAY and a LOT of Dollars from being complete. I doubt that you could be running at $1500 to $1600. Minimum. Where do you live. For that kind of money
there is a lot of stuff available on the used market. Facebook, Offer Up, and Craigslist are where to look. Some biased advice. The modern karts with the Honda motorcycle style ( not real, just copies ) engines, electric start, reverse or
back up gear, lights seem to last week's, maybe months before people start having trouble with them. This forum is littered with late model stuff that doesn't run right, or doesn't run at all. Usually electrical grimlins. Find a kart powered by a industrial style engine. Pull start, even if it's larger and equipped with electric start. No reverse, and a carburetor. No fuel injection. It will be much more dependable and if you do have trouble it's a lot easier to fix.

 

[bobthejeffery]

Hey Bob. I'm with Bansil on this one. Quality might be OK, but you are a LONG WAY and a LOT of Dollars from being complete. I doubt that you could be running at $1500 to $1600. Minimum. Where do you live. For that kind of money
there is a lot of stuff available on the used market. Facebook, Offer Up, and Craigslist are where to look. Some biased advice. The modern karts with the Honda motorcycle style ( not real, just copies ) engines, electric start, reverse or
back up gear, lights seem to last week's, maybe months before people start having trouble with them. This forum is littered with late model stuff that doesn't run right, or doesn't run at all. Usually electrical grimlins. Find a kart powered by a industrial style engine. Pull start, even if it's larger and equipped with electric start. No reverse, and a carburetor. No fuel injection. It will be much more dependable and if you do have trouble it's a lot easier to fix.

Thanks, I will check some of those used kart frames.

 

[bobthejeffery]

Hey Bob. I'm with Bansil on this one. Quality might be OK, but you are a LONG WAY and a LOT of Dollars from being complete. I doubt that you could be running at $1500 to $1600. Minimum. Where do you live. For that kind of money
there is a lot of stuff available on the used market. Facebook, Offer Up, and Craigslist are where to look. Some biased advice. The modern karts with the Honda motorcycle style ( not real, just copies ) engines, electric start, reverse or
back up gear, lights seem to last week's, maybe months before people start having trouble with them. This forum is littered with late model stuff that doesn't run right, or doesn't run at all. Usually electrical grimlins. Find a kart powered by a industrial style engine. Pull start, even if it's larger and equipped with electric start. No reverse, and a carburetor. No fuel injection. It will be much more dependable and if you do have trouble it's a lot easier to fix.

Problem is I don’t have that kind of money, and this is the cheapest I have found.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Problem is I don’t have that kind of money, and this is the cheapest I have found.

Then used is your best bet. It'll will probably take some work but it'll be MUCH more reliable and fast

 

[bobthejeffery]

Then used is your best bet. It'll will probably take some work but it'll be MUCH more reliable and fast

Thanks!

 

[Bansil]

a used kart with all pcs but engine or engine trouble maybe $200, new engine $200 and T/C $40 so you have a running Kart for $440, it may need stuff done but you can then work and ride it, then you can sell it when you have the experience of working on it...for a next project that needs more...is it better than a $1600 one? Thats a lot of gas/oil and parts for the $440 one

 

[G.W]

a used kart with all pcs but engine or engine trouble maybe $200, new engine $200 and T/C $40 so you have a running Kart for $440, it may need stuff done but you can then work and ride it, then you can sell it when you have the experience of working on it...for a next project that needs more...is it better than a $1600 one? Thats a lot of gas/oil and parts for the $440 one

Ya should have told my ignorant @$$ how expensive this hobby gets when I bought my kart. Now there is no way in hell I can get my money back out of my kart. I should have gotten a small stiff chassis instead, I'd be into that way less than my full suspension. Honestly though, I don't regret building my kart.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Ya should have told my ignorant @$$ how expensive this hobby gets when I bought my kart. Now there is no way in hell I can get my money back out of my kart. I should have gotten a small stiff chassis instead, I'd be into that way less than my full suspension. Honestly though, I don't regret building my kart.

Unless you can make a lot of parts or you have a pile of used parts, you'll never make money. At least with most deals.

 

[G.W]

Unless you can make a lot of parts or you have a pile of used parts, you'll never make money. At least with most deals.

I know. It also doesn't help when I order the wrong parts. I also want to revamp my front suspension to a dual A arm setup, this is gonna cost a bit.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

I know. It also doesn't help when I order the wrong parts.

I feel that. When I started out I knew nothing and I had a #35 clutch and a #40/#41/#420 sprocket! I bought a #35 chain and it wouldn't fit the axle. I tried fixing the Clinton 3.5hp I got with the kart but got busy and didn't do anything for a long, long time. Then I joined here and I've been learning and working on (and throwing money at) my kart. Tools is another thing that adds cost, I already had an impact driver, angle grinder, drill, various hand tools, but I've still had to buy angle grinder wire wheels, torque wenches, etc. I am thorough, and that comes at a price. But it won't look like this when finished

 

[G.W]

That th I ngs pretty cool. I already have a good deal of tools, and I did the same exact thing with the clutch when I started putting my kart together the first time

 

[Denny]

I feel that. When I started out I knew nothing and I had a #35 clutch and a #40/#41/#420 sprocket! I bought a #35 chain and it wouldn't fit the axle. I tried fixing the Clinton 3.5hp I got with the kart but got busy and didn't do anything for a long, long time. Then I joined here and I've been learning and working on (and throwing money at) my kart. Tools is another thing that adds cost, I already had an impact driver, angle grinder, drill, various hand tools, but I've still had to buy angle grinder wire wheels, torque wenches, etc. I am thorough, and that comes at a price. But it won't look like this when finished
View attachment 139042

Why does everyone pick on my kart? That’s my baby!