Mini sandrail two seater go kart build

[Budget GoKart]

For my first welding project (im gonna practice first). When i feel confident enough im going to weld my own frame. Im starting with a 100$ power wheels go kart i took the body off and gas tank it has a jack shaft and a decent frame to start with. The plan is cut it up and separate the two main frame rails and widen it to support the axle better. Im converting it to rear engine to simplify it and make it look cool. Also i sorta thought i could do my racing 8hp industrial plus briggs or a 5hp with a slide carb and straight pipe.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Ok tore it apart

 

[landuse]

Looking good so far!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

What kinda welder you got again? I know you said it's a stick, but I'm hankerin' for details!

 

[Budget GoKart]

Its a small arc welder it uses the sticks i dont know much about it havent used it yet because i gotta buy a mask and gloves

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Post up some pics! What about the power range? Brand?

 

[Budget GoKart]

Dont know much about welders but heres pics it uses a standard wall plug

 

[gegcorp2012]

Theres lots of good videos out there on different welder types and techniques, so thats a good way to learn about how to use the type of rig you have.

There should be a manufacturer plate or sticker on the back of your welder near the power cord that has amperage rating.

While you are gearing up for metal work, be sure to get an angle grinder and some flap disks. The flap disks are great for prepping rusty or painted metal prior to welding. Use the thin cut-off wheels to cut metal.

I never used a stick welder but remember hearing my Dad let out a yelp when he was attempting to weld an upper bar on a bicycle for me. Not sure how much prep work was done, but it was the first time I remember him trying to weld. The rod had stuck and when he pulled it, the bike fell over on him and somehow he got a shock.

Be sure to prep the area you are welding, and make sure the pieces are clamped or held secure so they dont move around when striking the arc, and dont complete the circuit with any body parts !

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Hey, it's a time honored tradition to use whatever you can get for as cheap as you can to build karts, so it's actually pretty cool to me!

It's kinda funny we both got welders around the same time......
But man! This opens up a lot of possibilities for us!

 

[Budget GoKart]

Yea like making parts for eachother id be down to make a business making custom parts, i know how to program some html.

 

[Brianator]

One thing to keep in mind with welders is the "duty cycle" (should be specified on the spec sheet), that tells you how much continuous welding you can do per 10 minute period. A 10% duty cycle means you can weld for one minute, let it cool down for the other 9, a 20% is 2/8 minutes respectively. Welds become inconsistent and harder to start as the internals heat up hence the duty cycle rating.

 

[Budget GoKart]

I hope i can get the gear i need tommrow and some welding primer i need to prep the frame further and i had a thought of how i was doing the engine plate its either a small block plate and small block engine, 125cc tao tao automatic, or try to save its current engine plate and run a big block briggs

 

[Budget GoKart]

Ok i figured out what im doing my yerfdog 3202 is getting refreshed with almost a full rebuild now its getting a cage welded on rear axle removed refresh on the torque converter new axle gearing and stuff and im thinking of adding a quick release steering wheel and stuff. The parts i will be replacing are being used on the sand rail because the sprocket is stuck so it can be built around instead of cut off

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

One thing to keep in mind with welders is the "duty cycle" (should be specified on the spec sheet), that tells you how much continuous welding you can do per 10 minute period. A 10% duty cycle means you can weld for one minute, let it cool down for the other 9, a 20% is 2/8 minutes respectively. Welds become inconsistent and harder to start as the internals heat up hence the duty cycle rating.

Luckily the FC-90 has a 30% duty cycle and automatic thermal shutdown, I don't want to kill my welder!