ME1719 Upgrade...

[EpsilonZero]

I just swapped out my ME1717 for a new ME1719. I think I'll run a bit more with 12t/58t and then switch to another gear set for higher top speed.

My initial impressions are pretty good though...

 

[soilsamplerbill]

I assume that's the ME1719 on the cart. Looks like it's got plenty of torque. The ME1717 looks pretty clean. Good luck with it.

 

[EpsilonZero]

Yeah, I have basically both a new ME1717 and new ME1305 sitting in my garage now. I started with the ME1305 but I decided I wanted a sealed housing since I was doing some dirt driving so I got the ME1717. Then I upped the voltage with the 16s Chevy Volt battery and was wasting RPMs up way above 6000, so I got the ME1719. That felt like I was instantly hitting my top speed until I switched the gears out so I top out at about 50 instead of about 38. If my controller supported field weakening, I'd top out a little bit faster. Maybe I will extend the frame of my son's kart and put the ME1717 on it... after he gets a good helmet and body armor and a couple more years on him.

Here's my first test ride with the ME1719 and 12t/44t gear combo...

Here's my brother-in-law trying out the kart in its ME1305 days... less than a year ago.



I was planning to hook up the scorpion tail camera rig I built for some overhead footage, but it started raining. The ME1717 is installed in this pic.



And with the ME1719 installed... a little wider.

 

[KMEFA]

What's your AUW now ?

 

[EpsilonZero]

What's your AUW now ?

The kart can't go airborne but it is about 4.4lbs more than with the ME1717. Curb weight is about 370lbs. I put the gross weight to about 530. The frame is rated for 400lbs sitting on it and I am at less than 300lbs components + driver. I need to add bigger stuff. Maybe hold a second Volt battery in my lap and put an ME1507 in the back to run at 120v.

 

[KMEFA]

Gross weight with me in mine is right about 330lbs.
Kart -118lbs.
''Porker'' driver = 212lbs. lol.

 

[EpsilonZero]

I wish it was that light, but I picked the frame that was 6 feet long and heavy enough that the frame was delivered on a pallet and needed a lift gate to get it off the truck. It is a strong frame though. It has been off several sweet jumps with no ill effects. I once hit piece of 4x4 lumber at 40+mph once and it just scratched the paint and bent the 1" axle as it went under the whole kart. It also demolished my son's Jeep one time when he thought it would be fun to side-swipe me while we were driving together at 10mph. I had to put the toy Jeep wreck in our real Jeep to get it home. I got to practice my welding with that one.

 

[KMEFA]

You ought to name it ''Sherman''. LOL.


Seriously though,, is that rear - ''small dia.'' axel, stronger than it looks ?
Am guessing it's solid steel ??

 

[EpsilonZero]

It is solid steel. Unless I hit something directly on the axle, it seems just fine.

 

[EpsilonZero]

The new motor seems to have caused a problem with my tires. I'm going to see if I can figure out what's going on. Luckily, I have a backup set to put on and I ordered a new set to replace those as well.

 

[KMEFA]

Yea, it's called,, - ''can't keep from spinning them'' . LOL !!

Hope you don't blow one of those @ 50+ mph !!

 

[soilsamplerbill]

It's now acting like my Hellcat. 1st gear was useless on the street. I think you can go with a much higher gear ratio. I know you have a 14T. do you have anything larger for the motor or smaller than 44T for the axle? You video looked like 49 was top speed and it was spinning like mad on acceleration.

Got photos of new frame to post using my phone.

 

[EpsilonZero]

It's now acting like my Hellcat. 1st gear was useless on the street. I think you can go with a much higher gear ratio. I know you have a 14T. do you have anything larger for the motor or smaller than 44T for the axle? You video looked like 49 was top speed and it was spinning like mad on acceleration.

It was way worse when I tried running the 12t/58t. It is under control with 12t/44t, but I did a bunch of unnecessary fishtailing down the road before that and put 70+ miles on them in the past few days (28 before work!). The max speed at 5000rpm is 50 with my 60v controller, but the secret field weakening feature you discovered in that controller line should get me back to 5500rpm and 55mph no problem since I ordered one...

Looks like it is time for you to start your build thread! Here's my Volt battery tray design if you are looking for ideas for your own. I got some longer threaded rod and ran it through to the angle iron on each side. One side's angle iron is welded and the other is bolted so the battery can be removed. I cut a stainless sheet and it fits in the tray to give additional support and protection from below.



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