need ideas...

[glb7]

I'm new to go karts and stuff and want to make one. it wont be till next year, maybe summer till i make it because I'm taking a welding class at my school next semester... anyways, i need ideas on go kart plans or what i should get and everything because i don't know what I'm doing... lol
i want a go kart that has suspension definitely because most of my riding will be in wooded areas and desert areas... so that's something... I'm going to be buying a harbor freight 6.5hp engine this month or next month because i got a coupon for it. i don't have much money btw, i mean... I'll probably have about 300 dollars saved up by next summer. my grandpa has this old green house next to his house with a lot of steel bars and tubes so I'm going to savage that. he also has a couple of old riding lawn mowers. I'm not sure if i want two seats or not. that's all i can think of for now. thanks!

 

[devino246]

With a limited budget, its gonna be hard to build a suspension kart. That doesn't mean you cant do it though, you'll just need to search for the best deals, scavenge for parts, and make as much as you can yourself.

 

[modelengineer]

Rather than spending 1/3rd of your budget on a HF 6.5 engine, if you can find a cheap damaged motorbike (even for a bit more than $100 if you have to) then you also get brakes, clutch, chain, gearbox, electrics, a shock, as well as the engine. Then you can often sell some bits from the bike to recoup some money.

 

[glb7]

the motor isnt part of my budget

 

[bighead]

Do you have a Craigslist in your area? Keep looking for used Go Karts or Kart frames. You can pick them pretty cheap non running.

I find and restore Manco and Yerf Dog style Karts. I have them like new for around $300 when done. Thats with a new 6.5 Clone as well. When you buy a used Kart you getting you expensive stuff out of the way. Clutch being the big one.

Here is a dingo I got $320 into it.

No real suspension but you get the idea. For your first Kart I would start with one already done and modify that to your liking.

 

[sideways]

With a budget like that I'd be looking for a wrecked or unused Chinese bike(110cc, 125cc, 140cc, one of those kinda sizes), they almost always have disc brakes which would be easy to fit to your kart, you can use the rear shock, those smaller ones are usually quite over sprung so the shocky would probably be ideal for a kart. so there's brakes, suspension(including bushes), engine, chain and sprokets all in one go! You could probably get one for a few hundred at the most.

Considering your budget, I'd just have have a rear swing arm and no front suspension. Are you going to use the lawnmower wheels?

Thanks

Hayden

 

[Bluethunder3320]

if i were you, id build an off road racing mower, take the deck off, modify the frame, and there ya go you would save so much money.

 

[glb7]

i think I have seen that kart for sale on Craigslist, i have been looking around on Craigslist and almost bought an old yerf dog frame, but the guy said he sold it when i was about to go look at it

i am going to use the wheels from the lawn mower, anything else i can get out of the thing?

so whats up with this ratio thing? like weight to kart or something? thanks

 

[redsox985]

Just make it a swing arm so that the kart flexes allowing for a softer ride. It won't compare to IFS or IRS or both, but it would surely help.

 

[glb7]

how about the Spydercart tarantula? that looks pretty cool...

 

[redsox985]

Do not use Spider Karts. Go with Edge Buggies. They are far superior. A bit more expensive but well worth it, many of the Spider Karts' plans are off, missing steps, and overall, not builder friendly.

 

[daftmachine]

Well,as i am going to do almost the same, just sooner, ill jump in here with some questions do you need suspension for driving on a gravel road ? or is big tires enough

Thought that tires was enough before, but all you guys build suspension cars so

 

[bighead]

i think I have seen that kart for sale on Craigslist, i have been looking around on Craigslist and almost bought an old yerf dog frame, but the guy said he sold it when i was about to go look at it

i am going to use the wheels from the lawn mower, anything else i can get out of the thing?

so whats up with this ratio thing? like weight to kart or something? thanks

If you in Portland email me. I have ayerf dog frame for sale. Complete but no motor.

 

[glb7]

how would you set up the steering on a go kart with front a arms? would you just use the same setup as one without suspension? but wouldn't that just snap if you had one side go up? are there any forum posts about this? ( ? ? ? )

 

[Doc Sprocket]

On the most basic level, the steering arrangement would be the same. You'd have a rod going from the pitman arm on the steering column running to each steering arm on the spindle. The only thing worth noting is that you'd need to use a decent quality rod end (X4) to put up with the angularity as the suspension flexes.

 

[glb7]

ok cool! thank you

 

[bighead]

glb7

I told you last month that I would sale you my Yerf Dog Rolling chassis. You know from are PM that I traded a the kart for an 82Honda 50r.

Thats the bad news. The good news is I have a Odyssey Fl250 frame with custom roll bar. Comes with complete front susppenion exept the shocks. No seat just a bare back frame. No wheels. The steering colume and wheel were cut off for my nephew handicap kart. I left plenty of colume to weld another wheel on. I also have a 1" strait axle that is keyed. The axle has a small dirt bike spocket on it. It was on a shifter kart I think.

To get this running you would need

Front Odyssey wheels and tires. (I have the hubs) $60
Stock front Ody shockes $15
Steering wheel and weld job.
Engine
Seat
Brackets to mount the one inch axle. (Cheap)
Tires and wheels for the 1" axle (you need 3 wheeler type to give you some suspension)
Sprocket for 1" axle (cheap)
Brake caliper and disc. (cheap)
Chain
Seat belt
Cables
gas and brake pedal (Ody steering wheel and colume is about $60. Then you have the special controls and cables. (Cheaper to run foot controls for you can make those)
I have a bunch of gas tanks. You can have one.

The better good news is you can have this for free. But make sure this is something you can take on first. Research the parts needed to get an idea. This may be just want you need. it has a really cool roll cage. The frame is heavy duty and has front suspension. Rear suspension can be moded in as well. Perhaps a better start for you for the steering is all there.

I can take pics for you soon. But to give you an idea here is a pic that looks almost just like the one I have. But mine has the colume and tie rods and all that. It would be easy to mount any axle in it and be half way done. Take this to your school welding class to get the axle in. You need a proper engine first though. This would be perfect for your class. The cage does come off the chassis so not as big.

Have you parents call me to get your early X-mass present. PM me for my number. I will not be able to do anything until next weekend. I still need to get the steering shaft off. That reminds me you will need a new steering shaft. About $10. I have half a shaft but perhaps easier to buy a new one for it has to slide up the colume on the ody.

For other that are reading this??? If you were on glb7 budget how would you get this ody going? Would a 6.5 clone run it??? Clutch?? Hmmmm Perhaps another engine? A big engine and clutch will wipe his budget out. Perhaps a old dt100 dt125 enduro dirt bike motor? MAke it for you can kick start it some how?

glb7 what kind of tractors are at your gramps house? Are they the old side shaft ones? Or the virtical shaft style? If your really lucky you might have a big engine just waiting for you.

There is also a Honda FL250 on CL right now for $350. I bet you could get it for $275. It needs work but mostly complete. (last two pics)

 

[glb7]

wow that would be awesome! i started researching them and they look cool. is it the red one in that thread of 'post your carts' that you posted pictures of? and... jeeze... that would be cool do the shocks have to be specific honda shocks? or could you get some off of bikes or online? because all the shocks i find ARE EXPENSIVE! ( like 200 bucks!) then again i havn't checked ebay..

 

[bighead]

wow that would be awesome! i started researching them and they look cool. is it the red one in that thread of 'post your carts' that you posted pictures of? and... jeeze... that would be cool do the shocks have to be specific honda shocks? or could you get some off of bikes or online? because all the shocks i find ARE EXPENSIVE! ( like 200 bucks!) then again i havn't checked ebay..

Yes ebay your shocks. You could use any shock the correct lenth. But Ody's do not have much travel and the stock shocks are stiff.

Not the red one. I will post pics soon for you

 

[glb7]

okay cool!