My Project

[MrJoePodge]

Hey guys whats the haps?!
My name is Joe and I'm extremely excited to say that I am in the process of making my own go kart! Im from Australia, Im 16 and I always thought that building a go kart would be a great project for me but only after I received my graphics assignment did I know that I wanted to make one for sure. The assignment was to make a computer generated model of a go kart using AutoCad ( I had also seen and was able to inspect the schools go kart ) So i told dad that i wanted to make one and he's like "Ha! yeah go ahead" and his tone just told me that he thought i couldnt do it. Ill show him! But it has been difficult the whole way through seeing as though I've never built anything of this significance before. Ive had no knowledge of go karts before about 2 months ago, I've got absolutely no support from any one and I have never welded before and Im obviously on a very tight budget. So you can imagine the problems I've come across! Im picking up a 5.5hp honda clone this week and once i get that and a 1 inch axle, which i have no idea where to get, ill be finished the go kart oh, and ive got the parts for the steering mechanism! So the photo (s) show what ive done so far and I'd love to get some feed back from you guys on your thoughts!
Cheers guys!
Joe
Ps: The wheels and things are just laid out in the photos, the first photo is everything Ive done

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Hey Joe
Welcome to the forum. I'm a new guy to.Your Dad should be proud, that frame is alsome for a guy that has no experiance. Your welds will get better the more you do, The one in the photo is pretty good for some one just learning. Keep Up the good work and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[MrJoePodge]

Does anyone have any idea for a cheap and affective brake?

 

[Gillgamesh64]

You can get a solid 1" length of steel for about $25 per meter at a steel merchant and most scrap metal dealer sell new steal so ring around and get the cheapest price first

 

[MrJoePodge]

Hey Joe
Welcome to the forum. I'm a new guy to.Your Dad should be proud, that frame is alsome for a guy that has no experiance. Your welds will get better the more you do, The one in the photo is pretty good for some one just learning. Keep Up the good work and keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks for your opinion, I really appreciate it. My dad is proud of me although he wasnt too keen on the idea at first but he is starting to help me get parts and things like that. But we are stummped on a cheap option for brakes :S

 

[fowler]

a brick

your best bet is motorbike brakes

go to a bike wreakers and get the disk, caliber and master cylender

 

[Doc Sprocket]

a brick

your best bet is motorbike brakes

go to a bike wreakers and get the disk, caliber and master cylender

I'll second that. Wrecking yards are your friend for braking systems. The downside of course, is that it's not a bolt-on affair. You will have to come up with ways to mount everything up and make it useable on your kart.

Sources are abundant. Two exmples;

1)My kids' go kart uses the master cylinder and caliper from a 1988 Yamaha Virago 250

2)My kart uses the clutch master cylinder from an '80's Toyota pickup truck, and the caliper is from a '70's Mercedes.

Hot tip- Without access to a machine shop, trying to effectively make a hub to mount a motorcycle brake disc to your kart axle can be very difficult. For a much cheaper, easier solution, use a sprocket as your brake disc- that's what I did on my kids' kart...

 

[MrJoePodge]

Thanks for all your info guys
Im please to say that the go kart is still coming along and I'm nearing completion of the steering mechanism. Unfortunately, the welder i borrowed has crapped its pants and no longer feeds the wire because of an internal gear strip. :S

 

[MrJoePodge]

Ive got two disc brake calipers from an old bike that I have. Do you think that using both of the and hooking them up to the one pedal would be enough to slow the cart down nicely? Other than that Ive got no money left for a brake :S

 

[Yerf Dog Kart]

i have seen people use mountain bike disc brakes on their go karts and they work fine and parts are cheap

 

[MrJoePodge]

Ill give it a go once I get my axle.
I was just in the shed before and I took this photo of my go kart however its not done yet

 

[wall gator]

Any pic's of the end and steering???

 

[oldbikerarlo]

starting to look like a kart

 

[bighead]

How big will you back wheels be? A mechanical disk brake may work for you.

 

[Odonnellp24]

Whats wrong with a band brake? Dirt cheap, easy and reliable.

BTW, its shaping up to be a nice kart. Your pops should be proud, most 16 yr olds I know cant get their heads out of the dang xbox.

 

[MrJoePodge]

Any pic's of the end and steering???

Not able to finish the steering yet seeing as though I am waiting for a part for the welder that I borrowed!!!! Ive forked out $75 on a welder thats not even mine just to get the wire to feed! Anyway, I havnt got anything at the back yet, ill have to machine a sprocket holder though and once i get my bearings, ill be able to finish the kart

 

[MrJoePodge]

Oh and by the way, would anyone like to send a used steering wheel down under so I dont have to use dads whipper snipper handle? hahahaha

 

[MrJoePodge]

So tommorow will be the first official test drive of the kart with the engine. Im borrowing my neighbours welder to weld the homemade sprocket holder on. After that, hook up the throttle and go for a drive Brakes for laterGot a few photos of my favourite new toy!
So what do you guys reckon?

 

[landuse]

You have done a really good job there. You must be exited to see how it works out for you.

 

[MrJoePodge]

You have done a really good job there. You must be exited to see how it works out for you.

excited is an understatement!!!