My First Go Kart Build

[The Product]

hey guys,
im a grade 12 student and i love workin with metal so this year i decided to make a go kart in my metal/fabrication shop so here's some progress pics from start to where i am now. let me no wat u think. it's my first go kart build and i got the plans off of spidercarts.com and it's the tarantula but i made a few mods to the frame design.

 

[freakboy]

wow looks nice man! good job!

 

[The Product]

heres more since i couldnt fit them all in one post

 

[mike75925]

looks cool, but why the coffin design? seems wholly inappropriate. seems your swingarm is overbuilt. with the amount of travel built into the chassis, you may want to get some atv or moto shocks for the rear. will you be adding front suspension? is your swingarm going to have bushings/bearings?

 

[The Product]

those bike shocks r as loose as they can go and they don't even bottom out it surprised me like crazy and no bearings for the swing arm it doesn't need any. and i love the coffin design i think it looks kick *** and no front suspension cuz its a pavement princess with a little bit of off road use

 

[mike75925]

i was merely commenting on the possibility of having a horrific crash, and being cemetary ready. the swingarm's pivot will need refreshing from time to time, and bushings or bearings are the best route. especially if you intend to ride the crap out of your ride. will you go with underinflated tires on the front for shock absorbtion?

 

[The Product]

no, there's no front suspension i still need to weld a piece of 1 x 1 square tubing from one spindle bracket to the other and that will ensure none of the a-arms breaking off because it will distribute the weigh through the frame because it crosses the whole thing and is welded to it and I'm not to worried about the spindles cause i machined them to fit inside the cylindrical spindle piece. but like i said it's a pavement princess with mild off road use doesn't need to be hardcore or anything and this is only my first build if i have any problems I'll know to make note of them for future projects.

 

[NJOHC]

Looks cool! You can get some more power out of that engine if ya change the header too Although that one is pretty cool looking!

 

[The Product]

yea i mainly just made that one for looks lol i love miter cut stacks . i even polished the tip went through 12 different sand papers and put it on the buffing wheel so now she shines chrome looks better in person. but u said i could get more power out of making a new one? wanna let me no how? because i could make a new one so i could swap them up.

 

[anderkart]

You can download a program to design a 4-stroke pipe to match your engines specs here :http://www.kartingtechinfo.com/tech/pipemaster.htm

 

[The Product]

oh thanks anderkart

 

[Rickracer]

I would triangulate the front suspension "a-arms" to the pipe above them, and across the chassis from one side to the other,

Like this:

or this:

 

[The Product]

yea i was considering that too something good to consider would be a lot stronger then just welding a bar straight under it and look a lot better...i like the second one better because it wouldn;t get in the way of my legs

 

[The Product]

i got a question wen i rev my motor out it doesn't seem to get to 3600 RPM's sounds like it hits maybe 2500 and sounds like it hits a rev limiter like a car like bounces off that RPM. isn't a governor supposed to keep it at a steady rev?

 

[anderkart]

I'm not sure if this is your only problem but If your carb still has stock jetting with your open pipe, your probably running lean and need to rejet a bit richer.

 

[The Product]

well it did this with the stock exhaust too. on my next oil change I'm just gonna remove the whole governing system and try and find some 18 lbs valve springs. what is a safe rpm (around) to run it at with no governor and 18 lbs valve springs. but if anyone knows my problem give me some advise

thx

p.s. do i have to swap out my jet for another one to make it run richer? or can i adjust it and if so how many turns in/out?

 

[NJOHC]

Just to make sure it is the jetting make a full throttle run under load and shut the engine off as soon as you let off. Check the spark plug and see see what it looks like. If your going to rejet it you might as well pick up and intake kit for it too.
http://www.nr-racing.com/raceparts.htm
Oh, and I just read your last post. I believe most people dont like to rev higher then around 5600rpm with stock rod and flywheel.

 

[Freakly]

That looks very cool man! I like the coffin design aswell. I will be waiting to see the finished product.

 

[The Product]

thanks guys you have helped me out a lot and the finished product will be green and black. i think it will look really cool

 

[The Product]

hey guys
here's an update i just got all the steering done i did a cross over set up. the plans called for a standard two-tie rod setup over the frame but i put in a crossover under the frame so it doesnt get in the way of my legs. only pedals and brade lines left!! ...then paint