lurch9
New member
Hey. My name is Clay. Married with 2 boys, the oldest is 13(stepson), youngest is one. Looking to get into go karts to share skills and work ethic with my boys. I want them to know that with determination and imagination you can make some really cool stuff, and that they aren't limited to what you see at the store.
Before I was married I spent most of my time in the garage, welding and fabricating random things. Signs, shelving, four wheeler racks, winch plates, and my favorite was resto-modding old jeeps. I've owned about 20 jeeps in the past 12 years. Current jeep hit a roadblock when the youngest was born. Things are finally starting to settle down and the boss (wife) says the go karts are a good idea.
As far as tools go, I have a mig welder, a JD2 tube bender with a couple dies, and a good friend with a machine shop. I hope to get at least one cart done before school starts back for my 13 year old.
So the plan is: 2 karts, basically identical. One geared slightly lower than the other (so the boy doesn't destroy me on acceleration, he only weighs 85 lbs soaking wet). Predator 212s, 14" knobbys in the front, 16" out back. No suspension, live axle, torque converter, empi suspension seats to absorb the bumps. Can't decide if I want a cage with seat belts, or no cage with no belts. Maybe just a hoop just behind the rider. I'll get a build thread going when I start buying parts.
Before I was married I spent most of my time in the garage, welding and fabricating random things. Signs, shelving, four wheeler racks, winch plates, and my favorite was resto-modding old jeeps. I've owned about 20 jeeps in the past 12 years. Current jeep hit a roadblock when the youngest was born. Things are finally starting to settle down and the boss (wife) says the go karts are a good idea.
As far as tools go, I have a mig welder, a JD2 tube bender with a couple dies, and a good friend with a machine shop. I hope to get at least one cart done before school starts back for my 13 year old.
So the plan is: 2 karts, basically identical. One geared slightly lower than the other (so the boy doesn't destroy me on acceleration, he only weighs 85 lbs soaking wet). Predator 212s, 14" knobbys in the front, 16" out back. No suspension, live axle, torque converter, empi suspension seats to absorb the bumps. Can't decide if I want a cage with seat belts, or no cage with no belts. Maybe just a hoop just behind the rider. I'll get a build thread going when I start buying parts.
Welcome to the forum! 
