Midas

[KartFab]

...that... is what the reincarnated go kart shall be named,
I'm just rebuilding a kart, not so much for the fame.
Here's the pile,
hope the sign brought a smile.
I will bring it back to life
but it will take a little while...

I plan on doing a series of short videos with a few pics for each go kart topic during the build. Will sell the kart at the very end after my kids have played on it for a while.

http://youtu.be/_8mi3kSHJAE

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Nice poetic entry. I like it. Good luck, and thanks for the kumquat (I LOVE that word) pic! Good luck!

 

[OzFab]

Meanwhile, I'll be recreating it's little brother Good luck with your build

 

[KartFab]

Paint and Rust Removal, Torque Converter Polishing

I used a wire wheel, and wire cup on my angle grinder to remove the paint.

http://youtu.be/Iui6LIOdcp4


After I removed the paint with the wire wheel and wire cup, I hit the torque converter with the wire brush and it did a great job. I then polished the torque converter. I tried mounting the motor but ran into a small hitch. I will be raising the jackshaft plate, and moving the motor mount towards the rear of the kart.

http://youtu.be/P9TSVNmyoVU

 

[landuse]

Nice start.

 

[freqster]

The wire wheel and cup did a nice job of cleaning up the frame. Nice job and thanks for the videos.

 

[Orange Krate]

...that... is what the reincarnated go kart shall be named,
I'm just rebuilding a kart, not so much for the fame.
Here's the pile,
hope the sign brought a smile.
I will bring it back to life
but it will take a little while...

"Take my time the way I rhyme gonna make you smile
When I, realize that a guy my size might take a while
Just to, try figure our what all these [parts] are for. "

---Barenaked Gran-Pann

 

[KartFab]

Motor Mount and Jackshaft Modification; Welding

Video

http://youtu.be/TDlIqbtTdic


The intended engine (7 hp 212 cc predator engine) was way too big to fit on the frame with the motor mount that far forward. I cut off the motor mount and re-welded it towards the rear of the kart.

The jack-shaft was sitting too low so the torque converter driven unit would hit the tubing. I lap welded some bar-stock onto the jack-shaft so it would sit 1 1/2 inches higher than before. I then welded more bar-stock onto the bottom of the jack-shaft plate and drilled 5/16ths holes in it so it would mount onto the motor mount.

Now the engine sits just right, and can be adjusted for the correct chain tension.

NEXT UP.... the axle... it has some key-way issues from the original sprocket not being attached correctly, and running just one keyed rim on the live axle, wearing metal off of the rim and axle... A little more welding will be coming my way

 

[landuse]

Those are some nice looking welds you have there. The build is coming along nicely

 

[freqster]

NEXT UP.... the axle... it has some key-way issues from the original sprocket not being attached correctly, and running just one keyed rim on the live axle, wearing metal off of the rim and axle... A little more welding will be coming my way

It appears that you enjoy the welding, which you should. Nice job.

 

[400exponch]

that engine looks good! i'm already regretting not going with a bigger engine but i keep telling myself i'm building this for the kids lol.

 

[KartFab]

Tire Removal, Rusty Rim Repair

This time around I pulled off the tires from the rims, and repaired some pitting and rust that was not allowing the tires to hold air.

VIDEO:
http://youtu.be/N7hkJ5B2DnY


I used a few screwdrivers and some dish soap diluted in water to keep the bead lubricated as i removed the tire from the rim. After I got the tires off, I inspected the damages: rust and pitting where the bead seats against the rim!

I used my angle grinder with wire wheel to remove the rust, then primed the rims. I layered the primer to build it up in the pits, then used some sandpaper (used for drywall mud) wrapped around a pen to sand the primer down. Final coat of paint, and the rims were ready to receive new valve stems and remount the tires.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

The paint trick DOES work pretty well. I did that on an old rusty trailer rim that was giving me a hard time. Nice work!

 

[KartFab]

Axle and Rim Repair

So whoever rode this kart before I got my hands on it decided to take out the key-way on one of the rims... I'm sure he enjoyed the turning radius. He also used hose clamps to 'secure' the sprocket on the axle rather than tightening the sprocket bolt with an allen wrench. WHAT?!


Here is the video aftermath:
http://youtu.be/EqItZVXWxFQ


I ended up chopping off a mushroomed axle end, redoing the key-way, and welding on one of the rims after I got it centered on the axle (thanks to video editing, it looks like it was a breeze).

Now the only time the kart will go bump is when I run something over.

 

[KartFab]

Paint Preview,

Here is a quick teaser of the paint in progress:

Metallic Midnight Black
Metallic Silver
Metallic Gold

Right after I bought the dilapidated kart I was racking my brain looking for ideas. I saw this mustang driving down the road and

The rims are finished though! Here's a pic of the front rim.

I will post a video and more pictures this weekend of the kart with its final paint job.

Future photos and videos in the coming weeks will include:

• diamond plate accents, floor pan runner, rivet accents
• rusty bolt and nut conditioning, galvanizing tie rods, petals etc...
• valve stem installation, tire mounting, tire plugging, bead knick repair, tire shine
• new engine break in, torque converter function, throttle and brake linkage
• new seat creation, upholstery and piping
• possibly (if the brake band doesn't work out) new disc brakes.

 

[landuse]

I LOVE the paint job

 

[KartFab]

Go Kart Painted!!!

Finished painting the back rims. Frame, and roll cage. Accented different areas with metallic gold and metallic silver. Final coats of satin clear coat are being applied right now.

Video of Painting Process:
http://youtu.be/8yt1xRiP8Vs


Any comments or suggestions for paint or does it look pretty good to you all?
(didn't paint floor pan on purpose, you will see why later)

 

[KartFab]

Tie Rods, Spindles, Tires Mounted, Torque Converter

Slowly putting it back together! I cleaned up and polished any bare steel, plugged the back rear tire, and polished/cleaned the torque converter. The driven unit was painted, and accented with gold paint, topped off with gloss clear coat.

I also found a few more issues, the sprocket hub was stripped out, the jack-shaft sprocket teeth were severely worn with one tooth broken, and I felt like putting in some disc brakes. $85 more into the rabbit hole, how much am i going to spend? Who knows?!

 

[KartFab]

Floor Pan

Been remodeling the house, found a few minutes to put on the floor pan cover, and rivets for looks (i used spray on adhesive to keep it on). It is some heavy duty runner that I bought at home depot in the carpet section. Apparently people use this as a garage floor mat, or to put under cabinets, or to cover up ugly floor pans in old go karts.

Does anyone have any tips on getting the tie rod metal to not rust? They were so old that the galvanized layer came off and rusted, then i removed the rust with a wire brush. Now it is back with a vengeance! Would just a layer of clear coat do a good job?

 

[landuse]

Clear coat should do it