My first kart build

[fowler]

love the saftey feature on the grinder

yes i dont have good welding either so i compensate using ideas like bighead said

are u useing a stick or mig?

 

[redsox985]

That's going to be one nice kart! I wish I had access to all of those resources.

I would refine your skill a bit, then go to building the kart. If you're going to be putting your kids in this thing, I would reweld some of it. That looks to be MIG, although I don't think that your heat is up high enough. Is that galvanized pipe? Maybe watch a few welding instruction videos on YouTube? It looks to me like you need to go slower. Sorry to be Mr. Safety Troll.

 

[Aussie Scott]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. It is a stick welder, but im not going to blame the welds on that. Just need a lot more practice. Ive been doing it off and on for years but never consistently enough to get good at it. I will be checking over the welds i have already done and redoing them just to be safe.
More work on it tomorrow. More pipe bending to try and get the main chassis frame underway. Going to be slow going though i think

 

[fowler]

stick welding is a son of a *****

some of those welds look like a good effot for stick

do u hold the hand peice with one hand and the stick with the other
i find that makes it alot more even and controlled
im thinking u probs know alot more tricks than i do but it cant hurt to surgest

 

[Aussie Scott]

Yeah ive tried all kinds of different ways, just maybe not the right way. Id love to get a decent mig but i just dont weld often enough to justify getting one. I already spend thousands a year on tools as im a builder and there is always something you need or need to replace, worst luck a new welder probably wont be one of those things.
Like your avatar too Fowler, ive spent hours studying the design of the Atom. Its one wicked machine.

 

[fowler]

have u seem the new one

top gear cover it in season 16 eposode 1

i just broght a new mig for 800
a WIA

 

[Bluethunder3320]

do you have some sort of harbor freight or "australian tire" there?

harbor freight's 90 amp flux is $110 and the 6.5 is $130. (with coupons it can be even cheaper).

 

[fowler]

no there is no budget dirt cheap place

we can only get big name welders and other tools

the best way to get cheap stuff is to join the right company and they give u free stuff

for ordering chemical or other farm suplys we have got for free
kincrome tool tox
makita drill
makita angle grinder 5 and 9 inch
webber barbeque
gas burner heater
and lots of random stuff

then again this idea probs wont work for most people as we had to spend over 100 grand to get each time

as a builder scott do u get free stuff?

 

[Aussie Scott]

No Harbor Freight worst luck. Good old ebay if you want something cheaper, but of coarse you get what you pay for.
Fowler, yeah that v8 Atom is insane, the price is a little on the steep side compared to the original one though, not that i was planning on buying one. No free stuff....ever. Materials sometimes, with left overs off jobs etc, but technically thats not really free either.

 

[Aussie Scott]

More progress on the frame, slow going but getting there. Waiting for more parts to arrive.

 

[bighead]

I saved the pic a long time ago. Maybe it will give you an idea. Bell Crank pitman arm.

 

[Aussie Scott]

Thanks Bighead, you must have read my mind. Finishing the steering is the next job. I am still a little unsure exactly how im going to do it, that image definitely helps, thanks.

 

[bighead]

And another if you wanted hand controls. Not much room for pedels down in your frame.

 

[fowler]

wow nice going
it really is mini atom

future progects i wanna see (in this order)

bike engine 360cc? (then it would go like an atom)

double a arm front suspension (fairly easy)

double a arm rear suspension (complicated and expensive but really cool)

 

[Aussie Scott]

Thanks for the suggestion Bighead. I have worked out the pedal design and i can get them to fit, bit of a squeeze though. I have dropped the floor down as low as i can to give as much knee room as possible. Its only got about 70mm ground clearance now.
Fowler, i am trying to get it to look as much like an Atom as i can, depends on how much time i want to spend on it. I am more worried about the performance side of things as this is the first kart i have built. So far so good though.
I got all of the steering finished this arvo, just waiting on my sports steering wheel to arrive.
Started on the floor pan aswell today, then i can get onto the pedals.
Still waiting on some pretty critical parts, clutch, axle sprocket, chain, steering wheel, pillow blocks. Ive also ordered a Suzuki GSXR 600/750 black windscreen to add a little flair.
Hopefully get a bit more done after work tomorrow.

 

[Aussie Scott]

Spent this arvo on it as well, it really has gotten quite addictive. Took it for a rolling demo, seemed to go quite well. Still waiting on the clutch and chain before i can get it running.
The frame is getting closer to finished though. Hopefully do the brake and make the seat this weekend.

 

[Aussie Scott]

Its nearly done, still a few things to fine tune and some more painting but its running surprisingly well.
Short clip of it in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZr6elESsWg

 

[Aussie Scott]

Hi everyone,
Sorry if this questions been asked before but have you any suggestions on the best way to stop the drive tyre slipping on the rim, it has been fine up until the weekend when i pushed it a bit harder and the tube obviously slipped on the rim and tore the valve stem off the tube. The tyre pressure may have been a little low but probably not by much. Im assuming this is reasonably common when using wheel barrow wheels.
Any help would be great