Need a bit of clearing up please for a noob

[Amar]

Hello all, im 16 and about to start my first ever go kart build its going to be electric, on a custom wooden frame

i found a 90 volt 6000 rpm dc treadmill motor for 20 bucks i was wondering if i cut the voltage in half to a more manageable 46 volts will i get 3000 rpm?

2 could i use a variable ohm resistor (potentiometer i think) as the throttle so i don't have to buy an expensive controller?

3 could i do a direct drive with a 1:1 ratio or will that prove troublesome?

thanks in advance

 

[landuse]

A 1:1 ratio will not work. Electric karts as geared the same as other gaskarts

 

[Amar]

cool, thanks, ill figure out the gear ratio later, could i use the gears and chain from an old bike? they seem strong enough

 

[landuse]

cool, thanks, ill figure out the gear ratio later, could i use the gears and chain from an old bike? they seem strong enough

If you mean a bicycle, then no you cannot. Bicycle chains will not be strong enough for the torque that electric or gas engines will put on them

 

[Amar]

thanks, this is the motor i plan on using, what are your opinions?

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/o...rs/1001898425?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[itsid]

thanks, this is the motor i plan on using, what are your opinions?

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/o...rs/1001898425?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

you should change the plan

'sid

 

[Amar]

hmm, thats what i was thinking, would 2 24v drill motors be sufficient? i know they're quite strong

 

[itsid]

'quite strong' is maybe the same as 'not strong enough'

I think you should read my electric motor thread

Sorry Amar,
we're here to help but you're asking way below the absolute minimum of information.
whenever you want to move something with a motor or engine,
it's important to know the power in order to judge what weight can be moved...

or the other way around if you know the weight, what power you'll need.
rpm is an information as useless as it's color!

A typical optical drive motor (CD Rom drive) is capable of 30000 rpms.. you don't need anyone to figure it wont be able to move a gokart

So if you ask about a motor.. at least let us know the infos that are important.

'sid

 

[Amar]

ok sorry about being vauge, i found a golf cart motor which i think will be more than enough

 

[dcastillo]

FYI, the 90V treadmill motor will work at 48V to drive a kart (not very fast though)... thats what I used on my first E-Kart.... but a golfcart motor is much better (what Im using now on my second kart )
-Danny

 

[Poboy kartman]

Good to hear. .....now how about posting up some plans for this wooden kart so we can see if you are going to kill yourself. ...

BTW....Welcome to the forum and please fill out your profile so we know where you are from. ... (I know where. ...but that's not the point...) much easier to look right and see......

 

[Amar]

ok i will do, i can't get the pics up here because i screen shotted the plans from myy mac and the website says its in an incompatible format
edit: i took a pic of the pic lol i hope it works, i will be adding more reinforcements where the seat will go

 

[itsid]

honestly...
that golf cart motor will most likely shred your wooden kart the very minute you power it up.

wooden karts I wooden't (sorry couldn't resist) power with anything more than maybe 500-750Watts;
that's about what a typical human could provide pedaling...

And yes.. it IS possible to make a wooden kart that's strong enough to take about any engine or motor; but I don't think any of us could build one;
tons of calculations would be needed, specifically laminated parts would have to be made...

So.. no wooden kart with a gold cart motor please (for your own safety)
Also your plans look okay for a steel tubing kart, they suck for a wooden kart I'm afraid.

'sid

 

[dcastillo]

for reference my 30yr old 2hp golfcart motor shredded all the teeth off of my #35 sprocket
now I use a #40 chain/sprocket which can handle over 3000lbs tensile strength

 

[Amar]

ok so i guess ill wait a while and save up for steel tubing, all the wood needed for that cart would only cost me about 30$ so it was a tempting idea but i think ill wait and save up for steel tubing

 

[dcastillo]

any reason you dont just buy a used cart and fix it up?
thats what I did for both of mine...
you can find them on craigslist cheap, especially ones with blown motors...
If money is an issue, have you seen what its going to cost you to buy the rear axle, bearings, hangers, brakes and tires? A used kart with solid hardware is the way to go if funding is limited...
-Danny

 

[Amar]

well i found that all the parts i need , if i buy separately i can get them decently cheap, the only karts i can find in my area are ready to go race karts which are at least a grand, I'm still looking however

 

[Poboy kartman]

well i found that all the parts i need , if i buy separately i can get them decently cheap, the only karts i can find in my area are ready to go race karts which are at least a grand, I'm still looking however

I doubt that. ....you have probably not accounted for all the parts needed....have grossly underestimated the skill and time needed for fabricating. ...and possibly shipping costs as well. ....not to mention the difficulty of getting everything right the first time. ....if you would count your time at $2 an hour. ...and add everything up....it would probably cost you the best part of a grand to DIY....

Sounds funny. .....that we would discourage DIY.....but we want you safe...and there's plenty of DIY to deal with on a used kart....and you must learn to crawl before you run......

Peruse the site.....research. ...and shop patiently. .....remember. ....the tortoise beat the hare......

 

[dcastillo]

The tortoise must have been using an electric kart

 

[Poboy kartman]

The tortoise must have been using an electric kart

LOL.....Do you know what 2 strokers call and electric kart??????

A rear view window blocker!!!!!!!