New guy from Tx

[e30kawi]

Hey everyone, new guy from the Austin area. I have been thinking about trying to build my own kart. I am wanting to build something like a trophy cart/buggy and use it for autocross. Either single seat or two.

I have a friend who is selling me a four wheeler for $100 which should supply the steering, A arms, swing arm, etc. I wrecked my motorcycle about a year ago and have almost everything I need to get it running, needs an oil pan, ignition switch, and the dash. It is a 689cc parallel twin out of a yamaha FZ07. FI, 6spd, and pretty torquey.

I am however, having a hard time finding ideas or good pictures of examples. I hear mounting the motor to the swingarm helps with keeping the chain tension, but I am not sure how do-able that will be.

I am not in a huge hurry to get this built, will be acquiring tools and materials over the next couple months before I get going. But I am asking for some help for ideas and or pointers.

I am thinking about building the cage out of 1.5" round tubing. But I am open to suggestions.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Kartorbust]

So you're planning on a buggy/go kart sized trophy truck? I've heard of issues running the engine on the swing arm, could cause oiling issues, so you would want to mount it above the swing arm, run a jackshaft from near the pivot on the swing arm, with a chain running to the axle. Bit more work involved but it'll work great. From looking at trophy trucks, they just run a swing arm with the axle on it, with coil springs, would it be too much out of place (for a lack of a better phrase) to run a arms in the back instead?

 

[Rail rider]

Dammit , there went that idea... We'll get the next one.

 

[e30kawi]

So you're planning on a buggy/go kart sized trophy truck? I've heard of issues running the engine on the swing arm, could cause oiling issues, so you would want to mount it above the swing arm, run a jackshaft from near the pivot on the swing arm, with a chain running to the axle. Bit more work involved but it'll work great. From looking at trophy trucks, they just run a swing arm with the axle on it, with coil springs, would it be too much out of place (for a lack of a better phrase) to run a arms in the back instead?

Not a trophy truck, just basically a caged go kart with a bigger motor, wheels and tires.

I have been mulling that over, but I agree, the motor on the swingarm I don't think is the best way to do it. But I am using the swingarm as as I am getting it for next to nothing with that four wheeler. The build will hopefully have a reasonable budget and not be overly complicated.