Newbie checking in!

[XtremeAaron]

Hello, new to the site, welcome to be here. My name is Aaron and I'm from Cleveland Ohio. I was referred here from a video I saw on YouTube by a user named tmansgokarts.


Saturday night I found an ad on Craigslist for 3 go karts and a set of 4 tractor tires. The guy wanted trades but I asked what cash would take it all and he responded with $100! I had the lot within the hour, I couldn't pass it up. The next day I looked over the motor, (only 1 kart had one) changed the oil and found the oil was green and milky, and there is internal damage you can hear (scraping cylinder wall?). So I went to harbor freight and got a 212cc Predator motor. Came home mounted it and ripped around the yard a bit.



I'll start a build log of sorts documenting the progress.



Here's a few pictures of the carts. (I'm 45 mins away from them and young sibling took the pictures, will get better ones maybe next week)

 

[OzFab]

Excellent score, that's less than $35 a kart, well done They all look to be in decent condition too...

Yep, T-Man is indeed one of out members

Welcome to the forum

 

[XtremeAaron]

Thanks! I thought it was a killer deal too.

I had them send me a few more pics and the teeth count on the sprockets. Ill refer to them as kart a, b, and c.

Kart A: A 5hp Briggs came on it but after looking it over it may be toast. Engine will have to be a bench project to see whats damaged and if it can be repaired cost effectively. I threw a HF Predator 212 engine on it currently. It is a dead axle, and has 12" rear tires. Apparently it has 72 teeth on the axle and 13 on the clutch, speed calculator says 23mph?. Equipped with a band brake. When flying threw the yard and doing a wide full throttle turn the engine will die. Im speculating it is because I didnt put a lot of gas in it initially. Any other ideas on that?

Kart B: is the black one. Very light weight and feels very chintzy. Has a Manco steering wheel. Is also a dead axle and 60 tooth sprocket. 2 seater. Set up with rubbing style brakes.

Kart C: is the red frame. Heaviest of the 3. Has a live axle but no sprocket. No brakes but it has a solid rod that goes to the axel area. 1 seater. Im liking this one the most. Looks to have the most mod potential.

I would like to have the other two karts setup to run by mid august. These are just going to be yard karts (offroad) but id like to add roll cages and some suspensions if easily possible. I will start a new thread for each kart as I build/work on them. Id really like to document the process of each and get tips.

Here are some more pictures:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/xtremeaaron/2013072395192113_zps220d49bb.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/xtremeaaron/20130723_192128_zpsc58bf44d.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/xtremeaaron/20130723_192508_zps1e1293f9.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/xtremeaaron/2013072395192413_zpse723ded0.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/xtremeaaron/20130723_192139_zps5da0a51b.jpg

 

[XtremeAaron]

I wrote out a reply yesterday but don't see it. I searched and I guess I'm too new? How do i change that?

Sent from my Razr Maxx.

 

[landuse]

I wrote out a reply yesterday but don't see it. I searched and I guess I'm too new? How do i change that?

Sent from my Razr Maxx.

I have approved your post.

As a noob, try posting your pics as thumbnails like you did in your first post. You won't have any problems then

Edit: Regarding kart A, the engine cutting out is due to your low oil sensor. All you have to do is disconnect it and you are good to go. Just make sure you always have oil, cos you are not going to be warned anymore. As far as I remember it is the yellow wire coming out the block

 

[XtremeAaron]

Thank you, I'll take a look at that later today.

Sent from my Razr Maxx.

 

[XtremeAaron]

Thanks for the tip on the oil switch, worked like a charm.

Here are some more pictures of the karts. How difficult would it be to add suspension to these? Also have pics of some identifying info, anyone with more info.?

Ps: when I start the engine the kart takes off, is the clutch the problem? If so it there anything I can do to fix that.?


Sent from my Razr Maxx.

 

[landuse]

For some cheap front suspension, you could redo your front spindles with some springs in them. Fabroman as well as Rchez have done it to their karts. Rear suspension might be a bit trickier

As for the clutch, you could have your idle set too high, so the clutch engages prematurely and takes off. If you can't set idle any lower, you might find that the springs in the clutch themselves are shot