Live Axle

[T-BONE]

What exactly is a live axle and when would you use them?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

A live axle is an axle that is justs a strait piece of steel bar that connects to both wheels so both drive. Its more fun to drive a live axle cart (drifting) but also more difficult to steer if you dont know how (you gotta drift it).

 

[ironman]

So if one wheel is stuck in a hole it will still allow the other wheel steel to spin.This way you are never losing any power at the wheels because they are always moving when you are moving.

 

[jr dragster T]

I have a live axle in my kart with 2 10 inch wide tires in the rear and I can turn on pavement no probelem.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Yea but you have turf saver tires. Try that with 12 inch wide knobbies.

 

[jr dragster T]

I betcha I could still turn no probelem. And my turf saver tires are very good. The compound is very soft and its not like a lawn tractor tire. The tires are rated at 55 MPH

 

[risto]

i use knobbies on my 22" offroad kart with a live axle. it turns fine on both pavement and dirt.

 

[apreludem]

my question here is ( and i dont mean to hi-jack this thread) how do i attach the live axle , which i assume goes through the bearings, to the actual frame of the go kart? so i have the frame made but i am puzzled as to how to attach the axle to the my frame ..this is my first go kart and i have followed the plans so far pretty closely ..thanks for input.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Goes through bearings bolted to the cart frame, tires and spacers eliminate side to side movement.

 

[apreludem]

my next question is, what's easier to "create" ...the live axle set up or the one wheel drive set up? ..thanks again

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

live, more room to work/mount things.

 

[apreludem]

final question...got a link to a site that has cheap affordable and decent live axles? thanks again dude

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Its a big hunk of 1" steel with a keyway and threaded ends, pretty hard to mess one up (unless you ram your rear tire into a tree going 50 mph) even a cheap $50 one.

 

[apreludem]

no links?

 

[jr dragster T]

Go to www.northerntool.com Or just go under "shop for parts now" on this site.

 

[Magice]

My track kart has pretty wide rear wheels and it turns better than my friends single wheel drive.. Then again when you have slicks it's alot easier to turn w/ live axle.

 

[draxxus13]

hope that gives you a bit of an idea on how its mounted

 

[apreludem]

so i have to weld the brackets that come with the live axle kit to the frame, then bolt the brackets that house the bearings to the newly welded braket and run the axle through them....seems easy enough.

 

[apreludem]

anyone have a pic of a home made kart? the pic above looks professional ;p

 

[kibble]

This is my home-made kart: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=621&d=1203481620