Need advice

[Thad Allton]

I don’t know if I am doing this right. I’ve never posted to a forum before. This is a go kart my dad built for my brother about 1960. I want to fix it up for the grandkids. I don’t know if I should stick with gas or go electric. The way it’s set up now the engine has to turn counterclockwise. Electric conversion was what I thought of initially but I know next to nothing about doing it or if it would be worth the effort to convert.

 

[Wicked_Daddy]

Welcome! And thanks for the pics. You will find that pics will get you the most help.

A gas motor would be an easy install on this kart, as it is made for it, and will turn in the proper direction. The side of the motor that will have the pull start cord will appear to turn clockwise. The output shaft exiting the opposite side of the motor will therefore turn counter-clockwise. Your motor mount (which needs some love) is positioned correctly for this. The jack shaft has a belt pulley that you may want to change to a chain sprocket. But there are centrifugal clutches that have a belt pulley as well. A torque converter set-up is probably the way to go on this but fitment may be tricky and unless there are TCs with belt output pulleys, you would need to convert that pulley on the jack shaft to a sprocket.

Looks like a heck of a project. Got a sandblaster?

 

[Master Hack]

Most of those questions you'll have to answer yourself.
Is it worth it? To me no. To your grand kids? Absolutley! When they grow up even more so.
Electric? Batteries, motor, controller all add up to bux.
Gas? $150 engine ready to run and some things like chain, probably a bunch other misc items.
Gonna add up to a little less.
Either way you'll need tires, brakes, 5 gallons of rust remover. Hubs, axles if rust remover doesn't work.
Sentimental value "priceless"

 

[Hellion]

That kart is cool! My first impression was that it was a factory kart or something bought from Sears, like this:

Can’t find another one like it, but that’s perhaps due to the fact that search engines suck now.

No need to restore or refurbish the whole thing at once, I’d stick a gas engine on there, provided of course it bolts up the to the engine mount, grease the bearings, inflate the tires and so forth. Tires look fine although if they are tubeless and leak they might be past their expiration date. If tube-type tires, then patch the tubes, air up and go.

Get the kart running and operable first, then you can refurbish.

 

[Hellion]

No need for rust removing chemicals or a sandblaster, just get an angle grinder and an assortment of flap discs, sanding discs and wire wheels. Make sure the latter are rated for something like 10K rpm but that won’t stop individual wire strands from launching into low earth orbit or into your thighs. Wear eye pro and denim!

It’ll be fine.

 

[Denny]

Welcome! What a cool project. Keep it gas, it will be easier and cheaper. Build it with the grandkids and make memories while learning them stuff.

 

[Hellion]

Would definitely love to see more photos; this kart has some neat and obscured features. Drum brakes, through-the-floor pedals and such.

 

[Wicked_Daddy]

That kart is cool! My first impression was that it was a factory kart or something bought from Sears, like this:

Do you somehow have a picture(s) of every kart ever produced? Always amazes me!

 

[Hellion]

Do you somehow have a picture(s) of every kart ever produced? Always amazes me!

I wish. I’m just a fanatic of sorts and am cursed with a photographic memory.

 

[Thad Allton]

Here are a few more photos. Thanks to all for your comments and advice!

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Those brakes are bananas

 

[Hellion]

Those brakes are bananas

Is that a compliment? Can’t tell
Seems sufficient for a sidewalk kart and not a Mach 1 speedster….. the belt drive is iffy to me, hence the “sidewalk kart“ moniker. We need JimD to give us some learnin’ on belt clutches.

 

[Denny]

Your dad was a smart man. That is one heck of a build!!! I really like that kart.

 

[JimD]

Carter Brothers had a few karts with belt drives. This one sure has a beefy support where it switches down to chain on the final drive. Trying to figure out how wide the pulley is to determine if it is an A or B belt. It sure is going to be a project. Chad where are you located?? Yes it is a fun project but it is going to be a LONG project. The first kart I ever built was wood and you steered with your feet on 2" x 4". Even that build took a week. But just getting things apart on this kart is going to take quite some time. Good advice going with a gas versus electric.
The under-carriage is neat to look at but did it work? If you want to drive it this year I think I would look for another chassis, that one is going to require a lot of full time work but if you like a challenge, that one certainly is going to be every bit of that.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

 

[Hellion]

Well guys, let’s cut the and help him out.

What’s step 1? I say it’s engine/clutch/sprockets. Get it running but not necessarily stopping…
Predator 212cc?
Predator 79cc?
Old 3, 4, 5 hp flathead?

What engine did it originally have, Thad?