Live axle help! need advice on mounting tires!

[Dalezy]

Hey everyone!
im a first time builder, i have a 6.5hp engine with a 10 tooth cent clutch down to a 54 tooth rear sprocket on my live axle. i have a one inch rear axle which is keywayed and ready to roll, but i need some serious advice on how to mount the tires. ive seen some karts with the axle straight through but for ground clearance reasons i would like to use 16 inch tire (trailer tires) and with those i need a hub??? are there any tricks or setups that i can use any kind of larger tires without having to buy a set of hubs?

ANY help is greatly appreciated!

 

[landuse]

You could get a keyed hub. Pit the hub on the keyed axle, and bolt the rim on. The hub should have set screws to hold it on firmer

 

[Svend]

A race kart would have a hub that has a slot cut across the back and two bolts that clamp it in place. A key stops it spinning on the axel. This arrangement let's karters move the wheels in and out on the axel to get different handling. Anyway they may be worth looking at to give you ideas.
Nice picture here: http://www.parsonsengineering.com.au/hubs.php

Another way may be to get a thread cut on the axel and use a big nut.

16" trailer wheels... Hmmm that's a car not a kart.

 

[jman231994]

Can I recommend you dont do that? Your gear ratio is way out for those wheels, you might accelerate, but if you do its going to be really slow and will be burning your clutch up in the process.
If you wait for someone else they will guide you in the right direction.

 

[landuse]

Can I recommend you dont do that? Your gear ratio is way out for those wheels, you might accelerate, but if you do its going to be really slow and will be burning your clutch up in the process.
If you wait for someone else they will guide you in the right direction.

I would agree that the gearing of 54/10 = 5.4:1 is a bit steep for 16" tyres. I would either get smaller tyres, or get a 72T sprocket for your axle

 

[spyder1968]

I am assuming you want hubs because you already have the rims and tires? If not, you can get rims with a 1" keyed bore that will slide directly on to the axle. And, as stated above ... with 16" tires, you are going to be over geared. If you are dead set on using those tires, you may want to consider stepping up your axle sprocket to a 72t or up.
If you really want the best of both worlds, save your pennies for a torque converter.

 

[jman231994]

I am assuming you want hubs because you already have the rims and tires? If not, you can get rims with a 1" keyed bore that will slide directly on to the axle. And, as stated above ... with 16" tires, you are going to be over geared. If you are dead set on using those tires, you may want to consider stepping up your axle sprocket to a 72t or up.
If you really want the best of both worlds, save your pennies for a torque converter.

Depends on where he wants to drive it, I'm going to be running a 76tooth with 13" wheels just for that low end grunt. However thats with a 12 tooth clutch and an engine that will happily rev out to 6000 without "true" mods. Still, if you can find something like an 80 tooth and have a rev happy engine, go for it. The torque will be heaps of fun

 

[Dalezy]

thanks for the suggestions guys, i placed an order through mfg supply for 4 steel 1 inch live axle hubs, they come keyed and ready to roll. im primarily using this cart for street and grass use, nothing crazy offroad.

and jman and landuse, what size tire would you recommend for my 5.4:1 ratio? im looking for good acceleration over a wicked fast top speed anyways. no point of a kart if you need a push to start

 

[Dalezy]

heres a link for the hubs im looking at: let me know what you think
http://www.mfgsupply.com/53-681.html

 

[OzFab]

what size tire would you recommend for my 5.4:1 ratio? im looking for good acceleration over a wicked fast top speed anyways. no point of a kart if you need a push to start

I would suggest you don't use that ratio at all; by the time you get tyres small enough to suit, the sprocket will hit the ground before the wheels do.

If you're looking fo acceleration over top speed I would look for a sprocket in the 70t - 80t range. The minimum number ratio to look for is 6:1. with a 10t clutch, that means a minimum of 60t sprocket. 54t will get you a great top speed but acceleration will be lousy

 

[landuse]

I would suggest you don't use that ratio at all; by the time you get tyres small enough to suit, the sprocket will hit the ground before the wheels do.

If you're looking fo acceleration over top speed I would look for a sprocket in the 70t - 80t range. The minimum number ratio to look for is 6:1. with a 10t clutch, that means a minimum of 60t sprocket. 54t will get you a great top speed but acceleration will be lousy

I agree

 

[spyder1968]

did i understand right? u ordered 4 of those hubs? seems to me you would need smaller 5/8" hubs for the front. do you already have the rims that require hubs?