New custom go-kart build

[Risen]

thanks for the concerns but in relation to the chain and the swing arm of coarse that was my first big concern from the start but i have spent the time on the geometry between the two and the best way to explain is it will act like a regular swing arm on a 4wheel guad
As long as the chain and swing arm pivot on the same angle when the suspension travels then all that might need to be added will be a chain tensioner.
Thank for your input.

 

[jrmints1415]

how much play does your shock have? do you have it stiff?

 

[Risen]

how much play does your shock have? do you have it stiff?

For this kart it will be set up with about 3-4" of travel.

Yes, the rear shock will be set up on the stiff side.

The overall chain path has been figured out and depending on the final gearing (diam. size of rear sprocket) I will know if I need to build in the tensioner, but other then that I see no problems.

 

[migel101]

@Fowler
you would also need to put the jackshaft as close to the joint as posible

 

[Hendu3270]

Good looking build. I know it's a child seat and all but it looks like the upper cage area is "squashed" down a little too much. Like the drivers helmet wouldn't be fully protected in a roll over. Might just be the pictures though.

 

[theo]

You are a artist with that bender, nice clean build.

 

[landuse]

Those bends are really nice. I am also a little concerned with the head clearance above that seat. I hadn't noticed that until it was pointed out by Hendu3270

 

[Risen]

Good looking build. I know it's a child seat and all but it looks like the upper cage area is "squashed" down a little too much. Like the drivers helmet wouldn't be fully protected in a roll over. Might just be the pictures though.

Good find I must say you guys sure have a eye here for karts again I am glad that I came across the site.

You guys are right the roof does have a little "chopped" roof look
when I was first twisting up the tubes fro the frame we where playing with couple different looks and my daughter liked the look so I went with it, she fits in it for know but when she does get to big to fit in she will be to big to drive the kart as well, and at that time it will be for sale and will build her next car.

Thanks for the comments on the bends, With a bender alot of spare pieces of tube to practice you to can get bends just as good. It just takes time and practice and I encourage guys that don't have a bender but like to work on your own frames to invest in a bender and alot of time and again practice, practice
and you might be suprised(Good are Bad) what you come up.

 

[theo]

I hope your chain setup works.

 

[Risen]

I hope your chain setup works.

Why is that? I know I don't have any worries about it working.

But I do appreciate your input

 

[Gillgamesh64]

My kart looks like junk compared to that thing!!! Man i am going to take your word for it and get a bender!!! I just have one question, Will one of those cheap benders with the hydraulic jack system do the job? What sort of bender do you have, personally i have no expereance bending pipe.

 

[theo]

Your chain has to come down over the top of the swing arm pivot, because of where you have the sprocket, so once the swing arm comes up a 1" you will have to much slop in the chain. A chain tensioner is not designed for that amount of slop.
Other then that a nice job.

 

[gokart14]

Your chain has to come down over the top of the swing arm pivot, because of where you have the sprocket, so once the swing arm comes up a 1" you will have to much slop in the chain. A chain tensioner is not designed for that amount of slop.
Other then that a nice job.

you better look into that because your engine isnt aligned with the piviot point at all so a chain tensoner is not going to be able to come close to keeping the chain tight when the a arm moves. i had this same problem with my go kart and even with full movment of the chain tensoner i couldent keep it tight ( this was do to the fact that i dident line it up with the pivot point)(i have to redo the whole backend now ).
but maby you have already taken this into consideration but other than that you have a nice looken go kart there.

 

[Risen]

AGAIN thanks for your guys input and even tho you guys bring up a good argument and trust me I do see what you guys are saying but for one you guys are looking at what is already there and are stuck on that you have to look at what is not there see what needs to be there and buld it. Once I get all the drive parts ordered and built I will update the potos.

 

[Risen]

My kart looks like junk compared to that thing!!! Man i am going to take your word for it and get a bender!!! I just have one question, Will one of those cheap benders with the hydraulic jack system do the job? What sort of bender do you have, personally i have no experience bending pipe.

No I would stay away from the hydraulic jack type benders when it is all said and done you end up being limited on what you can do.

The bender I have is a mechanical style which more of the industry standard and made by pro-tools and they are out of Florida.
The benders start of with a basic package with some options and choice of one die for about $750
or I believe you can by just the bender with no options and no dies for about I think around $400
I hope the info helps you.

www.pro-tools.com

 

[MatthewBasaraba]

Just a little advice on the Torque Converter. I wouldnt go with Comet on a clone like that. I have seen guys that have used them and they are set at a BAD angle in relation to the motor. The rear shaft of the Comet TC will hit the head of the motor so you have to put at a steep angle.

Here is the Angle on the Comet...

Here is the Angle on the GTC... these can be bought atHERE

Just something to keep in mind.

Matthew

 

[rgvkid]

Theres a few guys that have built minibuggies with the 6.5. They work fine on flat hardpack terrain but will burn the clutch out on hilly soft terrain stuff. I build full size cages for rock crawlers, prerunners, sandrails and havebeen thinking of doing a mini for sometime now. I used a GSXR Brake caliper on my Kart Build, works great but wished i would have used a Caliper with the resevoir mounted married on top of the Master cylinder rather then divorce.

You will definitely have to use a swing pivot chain setup mounted at the swing arm pivot point or you can mount the engine to the swing arm itself. Check out Protodie 6.5 Kids Kart to get some ideas on you tube and or Minibuggy.net. he uses 6.5 also I think. There is another guy with a pink Bugggy on Minibuggy.net who used the 6.5 but opted to change to at least an 8HP. You can degov the 6.5 to get a bit more out of it.

Ive seen used go karts on CL for sale that come with engines and Torque convertors for fairly cheap. You can buy one, swap the convertor and have a spare motor along with it.

Can't wait to see it completed and some video. Great job man.

 

[rgvkid]

The lower rook line heps with a lower center of gravity so it will handle alot better and be stronger.

Do you figure on any plans or dimensions. I'd be willing to buy a set. Would save me the hassle of figuring dimensions for basically the same style design. I could always make changes as i went along and relay them to you on yours. Im planning on using a cr250 engine that was donated.

 

[Risen]

Just a little advice on the Torque Converter. I wouldnt go with Comet on a clone like that. I have seen guys that have used them and they are set at a BAD angle in relation to the motor. The rear shaft of the Comet TC will hit the head of the motor so you have to put at a steep angle.

Here is the Angle on the Comet...

Here is the Angle on the GTC... these can be bought atHERE

Just something to keep in mind.

Matthew

Thanks for the input on the torque converter, I am going to go with a clutch and sprocket setup on this kart, but I will be coming up with a rear system design that I will be using a torque converter set up. I will look into them. Are you using one now and how is it holding up?

 

[Risen]

rvgkid- Thanks for your input. I have seen a couple photos that you have posted and it seems that you do nice work. Its good to see a fellow builder here, I have been in the off-road industry myself for ten years from sand to desert racing(class one) and I have enjoyed ever minute.

Yea i figured that a clutch set-up would be fine for now to start off with and we can go from there. I think that the street bike brake systems are a good brake option for the karts to use for sure. The one that I am using is the front brake caliper and master off a 900 ninja.
Yea I have seen them mounted one the swing and considered going that way but ultimately I did not wont the motor to be moving with the suspension and did not want to have the unsprung weight and I wanted to have a certain look.
I will be adding a chain tensioner/chain guide as needed just back of the swing arm pivot on the bottom chain.
I have planned one selling complete frames from this one but I would like to wait on that till I get the first one built and tested to make sure there are no problems with the design which at that point we can talk about the plans. what is your time frame on when your are looking to start your kart project with your 250 motor?
I am at the beginning stages of designing a rear independent suspension frame that will be spec ed out for bigger quad and bike motors would you be interested in something in that range instead of going with changing the smaller kart for what you need?