my backyard speedster build

[the road]

hello, i'm planning on building a kart to cruise around my backyard in

i dont plan to go more than about 10 mph, at least not in this first version which will use pullies and belts and a jackshaft and will rely on engine braking and a paddle brake on the rear wheel. the 10 hp tecumseh snow king engine i am using has a secondary counter rotating shaft that i'd like to try belting up to the jackshaft for reverse. i've got a pair of lawn tractor spindles and plan on making up a new front axle to widen out the track. all three wheels are the 8 inch rim 4 bolt pattern 4.80/4.00 trailer variety

my cardboard model is an inch to the foot and illustrates the plywood panel construction i plan to use, there will be 2x4 pieces at the quarter panels and forming a frame/tunnel down the center of the kart. all wooden parts will be glued and screwed together. the floor pan will be a single 4 x 8 x 3/4 inch plywood sheet and all metal parts will be through bolted to the wooden parts will extra large washers to prevent tear out or mounted on metal plates bolted to the frame, floor or body, inorder to distribute the loads and prevent crushing the wood parts..

i'll probably post scans of my pencil doodles and pictures of the motor and other bits i already have, but wont be cutting wood on this until february. i have yet to fully mock every thing up, whether i've got enough leg room, or exactly how i will get the motor, jackshaft and wheel to fit in the trunk


pat

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Interesting project, Pat. Are you in Ontario, California, or Canada?

I would suggest that pound for pound, a proper steel frame would be stronger than wood, in a lighter package. If you are inequipped to weld, then I guess this is a problem. Speaking of light, it won't be. If you really want to skin it, you would probably be better off with thin sheetmetal, especially aluminum. The engine is much more than you need, too. I have a 4hp powering my 200lb kids' kart at about 12mph with enough torque to lay rubber. It's all in the gearing.

Maybe prototype in wood and then build a steel version? The potential is certainly there.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[landuse]

Welcome Pat. Like Toystory satys, go for steel. Wood just won't cut it. That engine of yours might also break any motor mount you have made if it is wood.

 

[TeamCheap]

I say build it, there a few other wooden gokart project/plans out on the net and if done correctly I think it will be fine for your purpose.

This SITE might interest you if you havnt already seen it.

I have thought of making a plywood body flat fender jeep gokart but with a steel sub frame.


Hey where'd the pictures go ???........

 

[the road]

heres some more pictures as i go full scale with the mock up

i goofed around with the third wheel then added a fourth, scaled down just a bit from 4' wide to 38" and the height from 24" to 19", kept the 8' length. i was hoping to keep interior free from the main frame rails, but clearly the body needs to sit lower to the ground to maintain the sporty look, so on top of the floor they will go.

Pat

 

[DCProductions]

That's gonna be a neat cruiser! I like the wooden body, but you're gonna want to use steel close to the engine and the axle(s) due to the energy involved. You can use wood for the main frame, just make sure you use steel to spread out energy.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That is a very cool steering wheel- where'd it come from? Also, I am into model building (yes, too many dang hobbies) and used to be pretty active over at scaleautomag.com. Judging by your model, I suspect you build too. Yes/no?

 

[jrmints1415]

your going to need a new crankshaft if you plan on putting a clutch of some sort on it... looks good but i agree with DC that you need steel mounting plate. The vibrations will rip up the motor.