new kart

[trenton davis]

so i saved this go kart from the scrap yard today and i was thinking of doing a complete rebuild and re do everything on it and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to improve it make it faster but still safe for kids to ride on.

 

[chancer]

For kids it will be fast enough. Put a 6.5hp Harbor freight predator motor on it. with a 12tooth cent. clutch and a 72 tooth axle sprocket.
Safer cut off those old scrub brakes and get a band, drum or disc brake.
But before you cut the brakes or anything. It looks to me like it may be an old vintage kart. Restored some are worth money unaltered. Maybe one of the other guys will tell us all what you have there.

 

[trenton davis]

well i was planning on cutting it and welding it all up and changer the sprocket because it looks like there was a bicycle chain on it i laid a piece of my extra chain from my other karts on it and it was huge compared to the sprockets so i would have to either change the sprocket or find a special clutch for it and if it could be worth money restored then maybe i would consider restoring it first and when they out grow it and stop ridding i can clean it up and maybe make a few bucks on it.

 

[DirtyDamage]

Well the are bigger chaines too like #40-41 and so on...

 

[jandj]

My two cents worth:
1- Scrub brakes are fine on a yard kart as long as you don't go overboard with a hot rod motor.
2- Whatever it was, there's not enough original left to make it worthwhile "restoring", and I'm pretty sure there's no "vintage" value left if there ever was any in the first place.
I'd say go ahead and do whatever you want with it.

 

[trenton davis]

well the chains i use on all my other karts are #40 and so restoring it won't really make it worth more if so I'm going to start cutting and mounting the parts to put a live axel and band brakes on it. but also trying to make front and rear bumpers so it will be more durable in the case of it gets hit or hits something

 

[OzFab]

The #1 tip to making it faster is put an engine on it

I've never been fond of those double tierod setups; take a look at this thread...

 

[trenton davis]

yeah hahaha i have an 6 hp tecumseh for it.

i have never had a tie rod set up like this before but its temporary as when i work on my karts i go from the back forward so the new tie rods are on the list ill post more pictures after i start working on it more.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Yeah...a #35 chain is going to look like a bicycle chain compared to a #40 ...but there's nothing wrong with a #35 chain for that size kart and motor.

 

[trenton davis]

if i use that chain will i need to get a new clutch to work with a new sized chain

 

[chancer]

yes.

 

[Poboy kartman]

well i was planning on cutting it and welding it all up and changer the sprocket because it looks like there was a bicycle chain on it i laid a piece of my extra chain from my other karts on it and it was huge compared to the sprockets so i would have to either change the sprocket or find a special clutch for it and if it could be worth money restored then maybe i would consider restoring it first and when they out grow it and stop ridding i can clean it up and maybe make a few bucks on it.

if i use that chain will i need to get a new clutch to work with a new sized chain

Wait? What? Do you have a clutch already?

I thought you said "sprockets" ?

 

[crazykart]

I'm confuzzled myself...

So it has a #35 sprocket on it correct? Did it come with a clutch or not?

 

[colestreasures]

It should have came with a centrifugal clutch with teeth to match the #35 sprocket it has on it.
Cole

 

[Poboy kartman]

It should have came with a centrifugal clutch with teeth to match the #35 sprocket it has on it.
Cole

And if it didn't....why buy a #40 clutch+axle sprocket....when #35 clutches are common and cheap?

 

[trenton davis]

the kart never had a clutch but the i have #40 clutches sprockets and chain but when i got it the #35 sprocket was welded on the axel and i was doing to cut and change it all to work with the #40 parts i already have

 

[crazykart]

Or just keep the sprocket on there (if it's all straight and such) pay $20ish for a 35 clutch and chain, and keep your 40 stuff for something down the line that will need it

 

[colestreasures]

Or just keep the sprocket on there (if it's all straight and such) pay $20ish for a 35 clutch and chain, and keep your 40 stuff for something down the line that will need it

Basically what i was trying to say too.
Cole

 

[colestreasures]

And if it didn't....why buy a #40 clutch+axle sprocket....when #35 clutches are common and cheap?

I wouldn't buy a #40 for it , with it already having the #35 sprocket on it, i would get the #35 chain and centrifugal clutch to match up.
And be done with that part of the kart.
Cole

 

[crazykart]

Ebay is your friend when it comes to clutches, especially if you're just building it to resell it for profit. I just picked up a #40 clutch for 19.95+free shipping, was here in 4 days flat. A #35 should be a touch cheaper than that, and those chains are next to nothing in cost.

Save your beefy expensive 40 stuff+get a bigger profit margin. That kart shouldn't need the strength of a #40 imo.