picking up gokarts

[racerc2000]

one of my old friends in his 80s. I did work for him maybe 10+ years ago. he wants me to go over some of his 50+ acres of trucks/cars from the 60s and piles of small engine run devices. to see what is salvageable and whats scrap

I was informed theres at least 10+ go karts and some minibikes/rupps

but on the quick walk through today. just off the top of my head there were 12 commercial mowers. 20+ lawn tractors stacks of mowers and snow blowers.

I didnt come across the goods yet but there was an old cafe racer

Il go back in the morning. and see what I can find still have about 8 fenced yards and about 20 shipping containers to go through.

when I find the goods Il post pics. and to anyone local or willing to travel they will go up for sale.

my guess is that nothing will be under 20+ years old.

 

[Sentrek]

Maybe I should know this but what is local to you?

 

[racerc2000]

long island NY sorry thought I had it in my info. il update for future

but depending on what I find. shipping isnt impossible I guess.

 

[Orange Krate]

This is EXACTLY the kind of man and his junkyard I put in my go-kart story. I wish I was ready to start filming before you start picking.

PLEASE document this find with pics and video!!!

 

[racerc2000]

I just realized something weird.

when I figure out how to get pics from my phone il upload them but...

theres a twin engine gokart from the 50s/60s there. McCulloch
is what the guy insisted. then went on to say when he was in his teens the go kart he got was like 150$ and he couldnt afford this 2 engine one it was like 450$ back then......

but the weird part is. I cant find a positive match to this vintage kart.

it has a huge axle tube. ide say 2"+ thats connected to a drum brake on each end. has the pair of motor plates at the farthest outward ends.

but heres the odd part. both rear wheels have a sprocket. if it had 2 engines. one would have to be turned 180 degrees and running in reverse. to run both wheels correctly.

btw the rear is held on with axle bolts (special U bolts)

closest I can come is a cross between a 1959 fox and a McCulloch

 

[racerc2000]

ok heres some pics. if anyone has any knowledge of either it would be much appreciated.

twin engine frame

generic unknown vintage frame.

this is basically how about 10+ acres of all the land is then some scattered.

sofar my count of side shaft engines from 2-14hp is 32 and theres about 20 lawnboy 2 stroke motors sofar.

 

[Jimbo86]

Drool......

 

[racerc2000]

it would seem old fox twin engines use the chainsaw engines. I know 2 stroke can run at all angles if the carb allows it but....

can 2 stroke run in reverse rotation? with no loss in performance?

 

[Orange Krate]

I think so. We had an Oliver tractor with a 2-stroke GM diesel engine. My dad got her stuck in the mud and almost snubbed her. He stabbed in the clutch at the last second as the motor kicked back and started running again. He let out the clutch and went backwards. Put it in reverse and went forward. There was smoke coming out of the air cleaner. He killed it and restarted and it went back to normal.

It stands to reason this would be the same. Carb still goes into the crankcase, it uses reed valves, so why would it matter which direction it turned? Maybe the ignition timing would have to be altered to fire just before TDC?

 

[Orange Krate]

PS I don't think it's a Mac either.

why can't I make a find like this

 

[NiceToy]

..can 2 stroke run in reverse rotation? with no loss in performance?

yes (kinda) I have a 2-stroke golf cart with 0º timing (there's the performance loss) that has a reverse by spinning the motor backwards. The starter is a belt driven motor that charges the batteries when the motor kicks in.

 

[racerc2000]

thanks for the input.

I found more info on the kart. it would seem it is a 1960 simplex challenger and it came with a pair of westbend 580s was 399$ new in 1960

I was told...

the early karts were often built as duals and can be run as a single or dual.
the dual mounts allowed any style motor to be run as some were only built as left or right.
personally i think the idea of dual potential was a good selling point.

the simplexes used the same tie rod ends as the fox karts too.
i've bought rat simplexes just for the tie rod ends.
that kart is an excellent candidate to restore or just run as is in the historic class.

 

[Scout]

I'd love to have a kart with twin engines.

 

[mini chopper]

id love to come to this guys land and check out all his stufF! i would love a couple of the lawnboy engines and a riding mower or 2???

 

[landuse]

one of my old friends in his 80s. I did work for him maybe 10+ years ago. he wants me to go over some of his 50+ acres of trucks/cars from the 60s and piles of small engine run devices. to see what is salvageable and whats scrap

I was informed theres at least 10+ go karts and some minibikes/rupps

but on the quick walk through today. just off the top of my head there were 12 commercial mowers. 20+ lawn tractors stacks of mowers and snow blowers.

I didnt come across the goods yet but there was an old cafe racer

Il go back in the morning. and see what I can find still have about 8 fenced yards and about 20 shipping containers to go through.

when I find the goods Il post pics. and to anyone local or willing to travel they will go up for sale.

my guess is that nothing will be under 20+ years old.

When are you going to go round to his place again? When you go, please take lots of pics of his "junk" for us to see.

 

[racerc2000]

I should be going tomorrow to start sorting some stuff.

Il take as many pics as I can. theres some areas. sheds and box truck bodies that I will have to figure out how to get into doors are all stuck and prob havent been opened in 20-30 years. who knows what could be inside.

 

[jman231994]

Any chance you could tell us where this is....I want to check it out on Google Earth. If you don't want people annoying him you could PM it to me. I'm in Australia. I doubt I'm gonna go knocking on his door. Haha

I love places like this but sadly there arent many around here

 

[Orange Krate]

Any updates?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

but heres the odd part. both rear wheels have a sprocket. if it had 2 engines. one would have to be turned 180 degrees and running in reverse. to run both wheels correctly.

I believe back in the day when they made these, the engines that they used were also available in a reverse-rotation model.

 

[simplexguy]

kart I.D.

ok heres some pics. if anyone has any knowledge of either it would be much appreciated.

twin engine frame

The kart is a 1960 Simplex Mark IV.