Live Axle Hand Holding

[MrC.]

Live Axle help and tech questions

Hey guys,
I want to put in a live axle on my kart. I like to get side ways and yes my one wheel wonder will do that but only while turning right. I think my front tractor suspension is causing a lot of wheel spin when I turn left.
I have 5 inch wheels and close to 6 to 1 gearing. I want to keep the small wheels for now may be find some slicks and wider wheels later.
I am 215lbs and run the 6.5 predator engine with a few upgrades nothing crazy. my kart is pretty lite.


The kits are a bit pricey and I do not want balloon tires a lot of them come with.
what's the best direction to go.

1 in or 1 1/4 axle?
solid tube rear housing or open?
pillow blocks or bearing hangers?
stepped down axle or not?
threaded or keyed ends?
fully keyed or the 12/20/40 keyways?
locking collars or set screw bearings?
Kind of hubs?


If I piece it together I hate to get half way into it and realized I should have went a different direction.
I would like to keep the cart low to the ground as well, I have been thinking about the solid axle tube instead of putting an open axle under the frame, I know its a lot more fab work, but with me on it I would feel better not bending the frame.
mine is the Hugger Orange one.

Thanks,
MrC.

 

[Kelly Wood]

My opinion:

1 in or 1 1/4 axle? 1" will be fine
solid tube rear housing or open? The frame, or are you talking about a housing for the axle? If a housing, just leave it open.
pillow blocks or bearing hangers? Bearing hangers. You'll need the weldments though.
stepped down axle or not? Depends on what wheels/hubs you use. I use 1" with 3/4 Step so you can run any of them. If you don't do a step axle, then other wheels such as Manco wheels (or any wheels with the step) can't be used.
threaded or keyed ends? Threaded.
fully keyed or the 12/20/40 keyways? Full, lets you put stuff wherever you want.
locking collars or set screw bearings? I use both, but set screws typically work fine.
Kind of hubs? Functional ones? Sorry, lol, had to.

 

[Kelly Wood]

One more thought, your biggest problem with bending anything is the hubs.

Below are 2 pictures of some various fun kart hubs. If you can, go with the one on the left or better. The more material, the better.

The one on the right, you'll bend every time. Steer clear of em. I can't ever remember finding one that wasn't bent... even from the factory... cause they're cheap... and the rims sold with em don't line up very well either.

 

[MrC.]

Thank you for the great response, I feel better about choosing the right parts.

MrC.

 

[MrC.]

Ok I am piecing together a kit so to speak.
I have found this
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Drift-Trike-4...s-Bike-Parts-Package-/221746479571?nav=SEARCH
also I would need a brake system to complete the switch.

It comes with the 3 bolt hubs. I was wondering why no one really runs the 3hole pattern and racing slicks on a basic yard kart. I think it would look awesome with wide tries all round it.
do they not work in grass? Would the front end push out?
I have seen the taller narrower slicks and like that look too. Just curious why no one uses them.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Go-Kart-Wheel...es-Complete-Set-of-4-/311641179688?nav=SEARCH.
Example of tires
thanks
mrc.

---------- Post added at 11:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 PM ----------

Lone more issue. The front of my kart pivots when I am turning left the drive tire lifts and begins to spin. This is not noticeable turning right which put pressure on the drive tire.
that said im guessing a solid axle would eliminate the spinning since both tires would be driven. Im wondering should I eliminate the pivot and make the frame solid for yard driving. I do like to drift it and want to be able to drift turning right and left.
thanks
mrc

 

[chancer]

The kit from Ebay is BMI karts notice the seller,
I just bought 2 hubs from them and nothing matched. the studs are course thread the hubs are fine thread. and the Nuts for the studs are metric. but the studs are Merican!!!
Buyer beware. Or at least call and ask.

 

[MrC.]

Yes, I saw it was BMI too.
I guess the my question is can you run racing slicks on grass?
and how come nobody runs those slicks on a yard cart?

also the 3 lug hub is half the cost of a 4 lug is there a reason?

Thanks
MrC.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I associate the words "slick" and "grass" with "bust your a__".

Today's rhyme brought to you by Pennington Grass Seed.

 

[Iron John]

Ok I am piecing together a kit so to speak.
I have found this
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Drift-Trike-4...s-Bike-Parts-Package-/221746479571?nav=SEARCH
also I would need a brake system to complete the switch.

It comes with the 3 bolt hubs. I was wondering why no one really runs the 3hole pattern and racing slicks on a basic yard kart. I think it would look awesome with wide tries all round it.
do they not work in grass? Would the front end push out?
I have seen the taller narrower slicks and like that look too. Just curious why no one uses them.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Go-Kart-Wheel...es-Complete-Set-of-4-/311641179688?nav=SEARCH.
Example of tires
thanks
mrc.

---------- Post added at 11:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 PM ----------

Lone more issue. The front of my kart pivots when I am turning left the drive tire lifts and begins to spin. This is not noticeable turning right which put pressure on the drive tire.
that said im guessing a solid axle would eliminate the spinning since both tires would be driven. Im wondering should I eliminate the pivot and make the frame solid for yard driving. I do like to drift it and want to be able to drift turning right and left.
thanks
mrc

I am not quite following you on what is pivoting. However, with a live axle, the lack of a differential alone makes the kart happy to drift. Or attempt to: too much traction, too narrow a track, and too high a center of gravity and you can flip. Your karts look low and on grass you will be drifting fine.

 

[MrC.]

Pivoting front

If you look close the front "axle" or beam it pivots on a 5/8 bolt in the center of the frame. there are two limiters one on each side. Its basically a tractor front end.
The kart does drift now ( very well ) but only in a right hand turn which loads the drive wheel, when I turn left (at speed/sharply) the drive tire lifts up as the kart pivots and spins or looses traction. I think a live axle would fix this because both tires would be driven all the time and the lifting would not matter as much and it would not loose speed from spinning.

FYI this was a two seater I converted to center steer.

Also 1 more Question is there a bushing or something to take up the slop between the spindle and the spindle bolt?

Thanks
MrC.

 

[mckutzy]

Why would it need to pivot in the first place.... That seems like an unnecessary feature... especially without any suspension....
Weld it fixed... so it dont move.... test... carry on....

 

[MrC.]

It came from the factory that way.
I was told it was a carter bros Kart, I don't know if that is true or not.
It was belt driven to J/S to chain to drive sprocket. I have removed the belt and run 420 chain from engine to j/s to drive sprocket.
MrC.

 

[chancer]

Also 1 more Question is there a bushing or something to take up the slop between the spindle and the spindle bolt?

Here is what I do:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28597&highlight=Spindle+bearings

 

[MrC.]

Thanks chancer
thats some fine engineering.

MrC.

 

[chancer]

Thanks
Super simple too. Credit to FireManJim for helping me design them safe.
I also have a set on my current build, where Desertduler machined the barrel out of one piece and they use 7/8" od Bearings and a 3/8 spindle bolt.

I just hate metal on metal moving parts.

 

[MrC.]

Im guessing my pivot kart frame is an od ball make. I could not find another one like it on the web.
I think the pivot is making the left turnning issue worse. If the frame was solid i dont think the tire would lift as much. I may pin the axle and try it before removing the pivot. I like od ball stuff.
You should see my hot rod.

MrC.

 

[chancer]

Lets see your hot rod. You cant tease a bunch of gear heads like that!

 

[MrC.]

Doubt you all would like it. Im sure poboy would have something smart to say about it.
its just an old car with a old ball big block kinda a period type look to it.

Mrc.

 

[MrC.]

see nothing fancy

472 caddy mil.

 

[chancer]

Nice Car!
Nobody listens to Poboy anyway! LOL