my kart progect

[flowerdave]

here is what im trying to put together, Be Nice!!! it is my grandson and i together time. he is 12 i have a 1/4 mile long drive and want it for just going back and forth, this is what i have so far. Who knows, after this one maybe i will do a big one i can baha in the woods with

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Looks like an American Express. Or at least a Manco.
Looking good!

 

[mckutzy]

Looks like most of the kart is there, good start...

A Rato (Derp clone ) is a good motor....
You should disconnect the low oil sensor, so it wont shut off on you while taking a turn... Cover up the end of the relay wire till your finished and setup a remote kill switch for it.....

 

[landuse]

Welcome! Looks like you are off to a good start

 

[flowerdave]

Looks like most of the kart is there, good start...

A Rato (Derp clone ) is a good motor....
You should disconnect the low oil sensor, so it wont shut off on you while taking a turn... Cover up the end of the relay wire till your finished and setup a remote kill switch for it.....

where is that sensor and idont know about the relay wire and i take the kill wire i can get at the on /off switch i don't have any manual for this motor so any help would be apreceated
thanks ,Dave

 

[itsid]

brass coloured square block right above and to the right of your engine kill switch
(the one on your engine's shroud)
you can even see it on the first pic you posted above (zooming in that is)

BTW would you mind to take a pic of that label under the kill switch?
I'd be interested to see if it's really a Rato or the shroud is a coincidence

'sid

 

[flowerdave]

so i wire the kill switch before the low oil sensor to disable the sensor and give a conection to shut the motor down eh? its a rato. is that bad?
Dave

 

[itsid]

its a rato. is that bad?
Dave

Nope, not bad at all!

No worries,
I was just curious if some other mfg used that style of air shroud,
that I wasn't aware of.

Most people around here love their Rato engines,
some not even knowing they own one
whenever you read "predator" engine it is in fact a Rato!


'sid

 

[flowerdave]

i think the most problem of this build is going to be the seat, i know i can buy one for more money than i have. im going to have to improvise, we have a kart store im going to visit to get some springs for the pedals and throttle cable so maybe the have a used seat. still cant get my head around how to attach it

 

[itsid]

The seat rails have been cut off and that's why you are going to strugle with attaching any seat.

you will need to make your own.

download the manual for the Manco 225
https://americanlandmaster.com/pdfs/gokarts-minibikes/model-225/225_operatorsmanual_199410.pdf

(since as JT correctly assumed, it IS a Manco 225 [aka american express])

look at the seat structure and how it's attached, you will need one refabbed
and rewelded to the chassis in order to have a seat.

(a std kart seat cannot easily be added since the seat frame is actually stiffening the chassis, without it it might pretzel up on you the first chance it gets.

'sid

PS Tony made an american express clone all by himself... (aussie express)
you can find his kart here:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21076
it shows quite nicely how the seat is attached

Now all you need is an AmEx owner that'd provide some measurements for you,
in case you don't want to eyeball it.

'sid

 

[mckutzy]

Yup that little gold box is the relay....
Just unplug from the block, wire inline to ground( or to the motor itself or a metal part of the chassis touching the motor) a momentary push button switch. This will kill the motor instantly and without studdering or the like...
Put the switch right at the wheel or a good conveniently located spot for an emergency response..
A momentary is a bit better than a toggle, as its just a tap to stop and no need to reset when you need to restart... Also no forgetting its "OFF" and spending a ton of time diagnosing a non-starting motor...

Really easy mod to do and totally reversible if needed...

 

[flowerdave]

sid , thanks for that manual, i think i can get the seat structure back like it should. this is a cool progect mckutzy thanks for the info on that sensor hookup you guys sure have helped a ton
Dave