Long overdue

[Old Kart]

I finally started this frame the other night. Got about three hours into it. 24 feet of pipe at $1 a pound and a bit of bending and tacking and it's a beginning. I've had the body sitting around for about forty years so I'm trying to stay as close to the original designed cart as I can but I have only a picture and the body dimensions as a guide. I hope to have it rollin' for next spring. with any luck.

 

[Orange Krate]

Great start. Love the screen name

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Looks like a great start! Is that a Mako body, or what?

 

[Old Kart]

It's a Rupp Chevy Junior

Apparently built as a promotional item back in the sixties.

 

[Old Kart]

Great start. Love the screen name

At 57 it's a name I've been called once or twice ...Sorta

 

[oldbikerarlo]

At 61 I thought thats what they were calling me, then I turned up the hearing aid, DAMM.

 

[Old Kart]

Nothin' wrong with being an old biker either though. My '92 Police Special still gets a good run pretty much everyday. Come to think of it... it's probably a good reason for me to need hearing aids too.

 

[Old Kart]

A bit more progress

Steering and a bit more body support. I'll trial fit the body and weld everything solid if it fits OK.

 

[Farmer Mike]

Looks good!

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Nice work. What kind of bender are you useing?

 

[Old Kart]

It's an offshore cheapy, OldBiker

I bought it at a local surplus place for 30 bucks. It works good. I had planned to use the cylinder for the scissor lift I was building but someone gave me a freebie cylinder for that and I found a hydraulic power pack to drive it.

 

[Old Kart]

Thanks Mike.

Looks good!

It's a start .Should be fun for my grandson but not before Gramps has an extended test drive

 

[Old Kart]

A bit more effort today.

Steering setup seems to work but I'll reserve my final opinion until I've had a test drive. About thirty degree's of steering wheel turn, from left to right so it should be snappy. I may need to shorten the front axle a bit. Wheels turn fine under the wheels wells but there's a bit of rubbing when the wheels are cranked to the extreme. I may have to sacrifice a wee bit of steering travel. Body fit pretty good but I've added a couple of supports to hold it a bit higher off the frame, only because my yard is a bit rough. Axle bolts need to be cut off too. More fun tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[ned]

that looks awesome. cant wait to see it go.

 

[landuse]

At 61 I thought thats what they were calling me, then I turned up the hearing aid, DAMM.

Thanks for the laugh. I needed that. I nearly fell off my seat.

Steering setup seems to work but I'll reserve my final opinion until I've had a test drive. About thirty degree's of steering wheel turn, from left to right so it should be snappy. I may need to shorten the front axle a bit. Wheels turn fine under the wheels wells but there's a bit of rubbing when the wheels are cranked to the extreme. I may have to sacrifice a wee bit of steering travel. Body fit pretty good but I've added a couple of supports to hold it a bit higher off the frame, only because my yard is a bit rough. Axle bolts need to be cut off too. More fun tomorrow. Thanks.

Your kart is coming along nicely. Good work! I look forward to seeing a vid of the kart running.

 

[Old Kart]

Thanks

I'm looking forward getting it rolling as well. I have a good 5 horse Honda for it but, to stay somewhat close to the original, I happened to notice an old B&S out in the barn that might be better. The attached pics show what I'm attempting to achieve...within reason anyway. The old engine looks very close to the original Lauson unit . Same company maybe? The Honda runs great ..decisions.. decisions . Any opinions? I can rebuild the B&S myself so no big cost concern either way.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

Id just go with the honda... IT runs well and its a newer engine so itll have a little more umph if you know what i mean. Also the whole keeping it original thing is beyond my jurisdiction so if you want to, then feel free, but just remember, you dont have the original frame, the original wheels, or any other original parts besides the body.... So an extra thing like the engine thats not original wont hurt, IMO

 

[Old Kart]

That makes sense.

Thanks J.C . The Honda it is . I did a bit of research on the Lauson engine and it looked nothing like those depicted in the other carts I've seen. Lauson was bought out be Tecumseh They were B&S as far as I can tell. The Kart is for a bit of fun anyhow, and needs to be reliable enough to start when I need it too. Thanks again.

 

[Farmer Mike]

Whats the bike on the lift? I just bought a lift from a friend of mine who crashed his bike. It sucks sitting on the concrete working.

 

[Old Kart]

'92 Harley Police Special

Whats the bike on the lift? I just bought a lift from a friend of mine who crashed his bike. It sucks sitting on the concrete working.

I sure agree with you about having your work at a comfortable level. Makes things a whole lot easier.