Orange Krate Kart?

[Maddog McLane]

New guy here!

I picked up this old frame for $20 sitting on some guys lawn. Is this an old Sears Orange Krate Kart? If so, do I just restore it, or rebuild the rear end into a live axle? I'll be working on it with my 8 and 10 year old boys. I wouldn't want to mangle a "classic cart."

 

[Hellion]

Good photo. My Orange Krate was live axle and configured slightly different.

Yours does look like a Manco model 400 so you were in the ball park so to speak...http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25863

I like that 'buckhorn' style wheel. That is cool.

It's not a vintage racing kart from the 50s-60s, it's just a plain ol' yard kart.

 

[Maddog McLane]

Thanks for the information, Hellion!

This kart has the same yellow sticker as yours, but it doesn't have the white Manco sticker yours does. The sprocket is bolted to the left rear wheel also.

I was thinking of framing the rear end from the rear axle tube to the rear of the kart, then installing the live axle kit in the back. That way, I won't lose the wheelbase of the rear end, and keep the new bearings closer to the tires.

I was thinking of going with a Predator 212, a TAV30, and upgrading to a rear disc brake.

 

[Hellion]

That's not my kart, that's just someone else's thread for your reference.

You have a simple, decent kart with a good seat no less. Sure, live axles speak "performance" and a "gee-whiz" cool factor but it might be fun for you to keep it in factory form, bolt on an engine, centrifugal clutch and go.

Where a live axle kart will scrub and turn rather wide, a one wheel peel kart will just turn because it has an independent rear axle. Plus that one wheel can do some fun little burnouts...

Since you have two boys and yourself, you need to be on a buying spree until all three of you boys have karts of your own. Be on the lookout for two more karts to modify, if they're not live axle already.