new kart advice and info

[xxxombee]

I'll be picking this up in the next few days pretty much sight unseen. I don't know anything about it really. I suspect it's a manco and that had been confirmed in my intro post. Anyhow, He says it runs and has a good clutch but I don't know. It's missing a front wheel and the gas pedal he says. Anyone know what it is? Is there a serial number or model number stamped on the frame anywhere? I'd like to know when it was made and stuff. My plan is to build a parking lot bomber not looking to bash it off road. Anyone see anything i should be concerned about? I feel like an idiot having anxiety over a go kart when ive built a few full size hot rods with no issues. This little thing is getting in my head lol. Thanks for any help. I'll post better pics when i get it home in the next few days. I'd just like to be armed with as much knowledge on it as possible before I go see it in person and pick it up. Also, is there a manual and someplace to source parts that will fit it?

 

[Zombient]

Parts shouldn't be hard to find. Is it a live axle or do you know?

 

[crazykart]

It is a manco, dead axle.

I have the exact same kart.

Looks in decent shape.

 

[itsid]

yepp early 415 to be precise
00:http://www.americansportworks.com/p...l-415/415_operatorsmanual_41500blackframe.pdf
08:http://www.americansportworks.com/pdfs/gokarts-minibikes/model-415/415_operatorsmanual_41508.pdf

'sid

 

[xxxombee]

yepp early 415 to be precise
00:http://www.americansportworks.com/p...l-415/415_operatorsmanual_41500blackframe.pdf
08:http://www.americansportworks.com/pdfs/gokarts-minibikes/model-415/415_operatorsmanual_41508.pdf

'sid

Thank you, those are very helpful. The guy told me it is a dead axel as crazykart said. You guys know around what year this might be or if there is a way to find out? Do they even have like a stamped serial number or something like that that would tell me?

 

[itsid]

there was a serial number (decal on the floorpan, close to the driver seat)
pretty sue it'll be gone by now.

Year, early nineties the 415-00 is 1990 and the 415-08 is 1994
1995 the frame was changed completely, so it's older than that for sure.

(the manuals date is on the bottom of the first page of the pdf 8/90 or 10/94 or something like that)

people keep calling this thing "Red Fox".. but it's NOT!
every red fox was a 415 afaik, but not every 415 was a red fox.. especially not your's;
since the main reason the fox is red.. is because IT'S RED.. that one was obviously black
Anywhoo.. same frame.
so no big deal

'sid

 

[xxxombee]

That's cool, i appreciate the info. I found out more about this thing than i expected to. Not knowing anything about go-karts, aside from how they work, i was kinda on the fence about picking it up...i mean, to me it was just a hunk of metal on a junk pile and i wasn't sure where i was going to begin. I just hate seeing stuff like that left to waste. I live in south Georgia and you just don't see any older karts or mini-bikes around here anymore. Usually Craigslist has some of the newer Chinese stuff but hardly ever older stuff. The guy I'm talking to was going to chop it up and take it to the recycling yard.

 

[xxxombee]

Ok, i got it after playing back and forth for like almost 2 weeks. The steering is all there. The 3 wheels that are on it are cracked and tires are garbage. Seats are garbage rotten wood. Pedals and linkage for gas and brake are missing. The only problem i see is that the left side....wing? Bumper bar? Whatever it's called it's got a broken weld at the back frame rail. It doesn't appear structural so I've been considering cutting them both off...maybe add a little rail on each side...or just fix and keep it original. The scrub brake bar is bent and frozen in place. I guess ill just cut it off if i can't fix it. The motor runs but the exhaust blows straight into the back of the seat...it's coming off..Then i need to decide if it's worth converting to a live axle. I kinda wanted to bring it back to near original but with all the things in need of attention i might just do it my way instead of theirs. Decisions decisions decisions...

 

[thisismyusername]

Ok, i got it after playing back and forth for like almost 2 weeks. The steering is all there. The 3 wheels that are on it are cracked and tires are garbage. Seats are garbage rotten wood. Pedals and linkage for gas and brake are missing. The only problem i see is that the left side....wing? Bumper bar? Whatever it's called it's got a broken weld at the back frame rail. It doesn't appear structural so I've been considering cutting them both off...maybe add a little rail on each side...or just fix and keep it original. The scrub brake bar is bent and frozen in place. I guess ill just cut it off if i can't fix it. The motor runs but the exhaust blows straight into the back of the seat...it's coming off..Then i need to decide if it's worth converting to a live axle. I kinda wanted to bring it back to near original but with all the things in need of attention i might just do it my way instead of theirs. Decisions decisions decisions...

Post some more pics of it and that broken weld.

 

[crazykart]

That bar is ment to help keep you from sliding off during hard turns. I would try to repair it myself.

Those rims were weak in the first place, and easy enough to replace.

You can easily redo the seat, just need some good plywood, osb, whatever. Might even want to conpletely redo it, it's cheap enough to make one.

Linkages are easy to do, and we can help.

Get rid of the scrub brake, mine has a band brake, and will eventually be going to a mechanical disc.

You can, for the most part easily, make a new exhaust from pipe.

It would be cheaper to keep it a dead axle honestly, and it doesn't preform too bad as one. Mine will haul my 250 pd but and my daughters 70 pd but, or my sons 50 pd but without a problem.

 

[xxxombee]

This is the broken weld. It looks like someone tried to fix it with bubblegum. Not only was it an ugly weld but it didn't hold either. New seat will be easy and the missing parts seem like they will be easy to get. Band brake looks like the way to go and I'll probably keep it a dead axle. I was considering cutting off both of those wings and converting it to a 1 seater...add a rail on each side just to keep the drivers butt from sliding off. After thinking about it, if I'm going to fabricate those rails, convert it to a live axle 1 seater I might as well build a frame from scratch. So I'll be trying to keep it as close to original as i can aside from the brake and engine.

 

[qtband]

That engine is probably from a pressure washer. If it runs OK, remove the muffler and fab up an adapter made from 3/4 iron pipe and some 90's. You'll have to grind down the threads from a street 90 to fit in the exhaust port. After that, weld a couple of 5/16 nuts to the 90 so that they match up with the holes in the block. Bolt it on and use a screw on muffler (or a straight pipe).

 

[xxxombee]

That engine is probably from a pressure washer. If it runs OK, remove the muffler and fab up an adapter made from 3/4 iron pipe and some 90's. You'll have to grind down the threads from a street 90 to fit in the exhaust port. After that, weld a couple of 5/16 nuts to the 90 so that they match up with the holes in the block. Bolt it on and use a screw on muffler (or a straight pipe).

You are exactly right. The engine is from a pressure washer. It's a Honda xr2500. It runs ok but it's been around a while. After fixing up the kart, painting it and all, i don't think I'll be using it. It runs good but it's ugly as sin and I'd hate to use it there. I think I might save it for a mini bike. That being said, do the predator 212s fit on there ok or do you have to shift the mount over?

 

[crazykart]

Predators fit fine. I will let you know that I had to rework the seat mounts to get my 6'1" but to fit pretty comfortably.

Here, have a look and see.
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30523