Manco Vortex very hard to turn

[SharpTJ]

So i finally got the 13hp motor mounted and everything fabricated so that it is drivable. I hop on and Bam! I can barely turn the steering wheel...great another problem.

If i lift the front end off the ground, wheels turn without resistance... i never rode it before starting the build so i don't know how it is stock.

What can i do to make it turn easy? Any relatively easy rack and pinions to mount up?

 

[2SlickNick]

I had the same kart...that is just the way it is. Easier while in motion.

Careful you don't bend tie rods. A little lubricant helps some.
There is no direct mount rack I know of... But manco also made a warrior kart that looks dang near similar to vortex and had R&P I think.

 

[SharpTJ]

It's very hard even when moving. ..no way my kid could turn it. .I'll look into that kart and figure something out

 

[2SlickNick]

Ya it was no cake walk with one hand I remember.

 

[chancer]

Get a big steering wheel. More leverage.

 

[Jfive]

Post pictures or steering setup. Add a few pounds of air to the front tires and it should make a big difference. I had a manual steering ford ranger for years and kept fronts at 44 psi so it wasn't so hard to steer. Had a slow leak and it made a huge difference when it got down to 25/30 psi.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Is the frame tweaked and the steering rod is bound?

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Yeah, mine was manageable, something must be tweaked.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Get the front wheels off the ground. If its hard to turn then....something is definitely wrong. Post up some pics looking straight down over the pitman arm...and straight in front of it with the wheels pointed straight.

 

[SharpTJ]

Get the front wheels off the ground. If its hard to turn then....something is definitely wrong. Post up some pics looking straight down over the pitman arm...and straight in front of it with the wheels pointed straight.

I will get some pics when i get home...the wheels are very easily turned when the front is in the air.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Possibly insulting question, but is there air in the front tires? because mine would still sit up, even with 0 PSI in them, and then it was hard to turn.

 

[Hellion]

So i finally got the 13hp motor mounted and everything fabricated so that it is drivable. I hop on and Bam! I can barely turn the steering wheel...great another problem.

I won't make a personally snide remark but people are much weaker on average, physically, compared to people a mere 50 years ago.

My first car had no power anything except brakes.

Chancer is hitting in the ballpark--a larger steering wheel is a force multiplier and will give you much-needed leverage plus you will be able to apply more torque to the steering linkage.

 

[Eric87]

When I first got my fox vortex it was also hard to turn . If it doesn't turn easy . Something is probably bent or just rusty . . Try Pb blaster on the steering rod. Also look at the piece of square tubing that the tie rod ends are attached to . I had to make that part for mine to work smooth.

 

[SharpTJ]

Possibly insulting question, but is there air in the front tires? because mine would still sit up, even with 0 PSI in them, and then it was hard to turn.

Yeah tires are actually over inflated at the moment. .. i have over looked simple things before lol

---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 PM ----------

I won't make a personally snide remark but people are much weaker on average, physically, compared to people a mere 50 years ago.

My first car had no power anything except brakes.

Chancer is hitting in the ballpark--a larger steering wheel is a force multiplier and will give you much-needed leverage plus you will be able to apply more torque to the steering linkage.

While agree about people being weaker these days, especially in the knee area, I'm a pretty stout country boy so i don't think that is the problem today lol

 

[SharpTJ]

Here are a couple pics

 

[Hellion]

Well, at least Manco did the front end right--lower AND upper control arms.

A few of the Chinese buggies use a rack and pinion or automotive type steering gear--you might choose that option and rig up such an assembly. Anything is possible.

 

[Mr. Spindle]

New tie rods might work

 

[2SlickNick]

Also white lithium grease is great for metal on metal. Use on all moving parts on steering.
Can't remember if the spindles have grease zerks or not.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

IDK, that thing looks waay nicer than mine did, and I had no issues steering mine.

 

[Jfive]

With the tires lined straight, you could unhook the steering rod from the end drill a new hole inward, and then adjust the steering rod end to the new hole and it would give you more leverage but it would also give you less movement. There are some grease all the rod ends and see if they move freely or bind. Replace any frozen ones or all of them.