Mini Trail Buggy Build

[n1kogr]

finished up the steering support and centered the rear section of the roll bar now i am kind of at a stand still till i get my tubing.

 

[exenos]

Looks like it will be a good size when its done.

 

[n1kogr]

Did a couple quick sketches of some ideas for a cage what do you guys think?

 

[chris_the_poser]

I like the one with the bends in it better it looks nicer and I think keeping the steel all one piece would be stronger but I could be wrong

 

[fowler]

Bending is as good as a requirement for a cage

The cage is much stronger with bends

 

[chris_the_poser]

Thats what I thought but I wasn't sure

 

[n1kogr]

Im liking the bends too looks cleaner than chopped edges

 

[RickLBZ]

Rake of the second but with the bend in the first.

 

[n1kogr]

Havent had much work done to the buggy as i was looking for a doner quad and waiting for my metal.



Well i got a doner quad! It is a 2005 kfx 400. Runs great all it needs is a waterpump gasket. Easy fix but the best part is i only paid $1000 for it. Man i love craigslist.



Also got another big update not really on the buggy but i now have a garage to work in!

 

[exenos]

Man, I'd never be able to chop up a perfectly good bike for its engine. But good deal on it. How much power does it have?

 

[smgs92]

why would you ruin that quad just for an engine??

 

[n1kogr]

the quad is ridiculously powerful 400cc with some mods really nice. The only thing that will be left over from the quad when i am done is the swingarm plastics and handlebars. I am ruining it because i have an obsession with building cool stuff and whats cooler than a 5 speed 400cc mini buggy that is almost as light as the quad it once was.

 

[smgs92]

God I couldn't do that I'd keep the quad and find another engine but I guess if you're using the whole thing it isnt that bad.

 

[landuse]

LOL. I would also keep the quad and find one that is not perfect

 

[mysteryboy28]

i'm in favor of killing the quad for the sake of a cool buggy! having killed a few nice snowmobiles myself... lol.

 

[exenos]

i'm in favor of killing the quad for the sake of a cool buggy! having killed a few nice snowmobiles myself... lol.

I still cant get over how your throwing away a few hundred dollars to save a couple hours of work. It really bugs me.
Just mount everything like you do with a 40 series. Secondary on a jack shaft leading to a second reduction.

 

[mysteryboy28]

big reason - nobody is buying the snowmobile parts for as much as you think they would. took me forever to sell a nice 2-up seat for like $40, no bites on the hood or side panels yet. taking a sled apart is tough enough, to add the grueling time-consuming task of salvaging every little thing, taking it apart carefully without damaging it, when you don't really have the storage room for it it anyway, to have to spend a bunch of time trying to sell it for chump change - well it just doesn't seem worth it. now if you'd like to buy the stuff from me and pay for shipping and give me fair value... be my guest.

 

[exenos]

You know, if you were closer I would actually buy those pogo sticks from Yamaha but the shipping would be ridiculous.

 

[mysteryboy28]

and i think that's why trying to sell the parts is kind of a bust - shipping is evil. i budgeted $500 for a motor, and i got the sled for $500. if i recover a few bucks cool - but i'm not gonna turn it into a big scary game of "Operation" just to get what i need out of the sled. not yet anyway. if i really start cranking these buggies out, i'll hire a guy to do the neurosurgery for me. heck, he can keep the parts to sell as payment for labor, since they're so valuable.

and we now return you to your regularly scheduled program, "Mini Trail Buggy Build".

 

[n1kogr]

Hahaha why thank you mysteryboy for giving me back my thread. Well on to a pictureless update... I ordered almost all the parts i need for my drive line last night. Also instead of a steel 1" axle i am going to try an aluminum to keep from rusting and possible weight saving. And for the rear axles that will have the wheels mounted i am thinking of chopping up the axle on the quad and machining it down to 1" with a 1/4 key way just a thought. But i will soon have some pictures of my rear trailing arms. I would love to start on the cage but the metal suppliers are being very annoying and un organized and love to test my patients but oh well till then ill hit up the trails on the kfx 400!