Problem with Live Axle

[tightman2003]

Im running a 1 1/4 in solid axle with 20in tall & 8in wide tires. The problem Im having is that the kart will not turn and just wants to go stright. I want to try to keep this a 2 wheel drive kart does any one have any ideas?

 

[Justin]

Is This a Onroad or offroad kart?

 

[tightman2003]

this is going to be bolth, I want to be able to drive t on the street ans have fun on the dirt.

 

[Justin]

this is going to be bolth, I want to be able to drive t on the street ans have fun on the dirt.

well, its not going to be as easy to turn onroad than offroad.
do you let off throttle some to turn?
i dont know if this matters but i would think if most of your weight is in the back that would affect steering. perhaps try letting off throttle and sitting closer to front tires.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

With my live axle kart i just drift the corners that i really have to turn, and the others i can turn slowly.

 

[tightman2003]

Well im running a 13hp engine so there is alot of weight in the back but no matter what I do the kart will just go stright. Do you guys think its going to run ok off road if i cut the axle?

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Well im running a 13hp engine so there is alot of weight in the back but no matter what I do the kart will just go stright. Do you guys think its going to run ok off road if i cut the axle?

Dont cut the axle, that would be stupid. What are your front tires like? how is your steering setup? pics?

 

[tightman2003]

the tires that are on there are the brigestone 4in wide slicks. I will get the pics as soon as i get off work.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

the tires that are on there are the brigestone 4in wide slicks. I will get the pics as soon as i get off work.

front and back? they should slip easy, is your engine rear or side mounted?

 

[tightman2003]

The back tires are large lawn tires 20in tall and 8-9in wide and the front tires are the small slicks. the engine is rear mounted.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Get some more grippy front tires, that will definitely help, even if there just turf savers. adding a little front end weight wouldnt hurt.

 

[lemegacool]

With my live axle kart i just drift the corners that i really have to turn, and the others i can turn slowly.

same for me... lol the rear wheels of the shopping cart are almost slick...they used to have a good grip... hurray for very efficient disc brake... the only thing you really need to turn quickly! can even enable you to do 180 turn! lol

 

[theo]

All live axles will push, the wider the rear tires the worst it will be. But add some weight to the front and see if it turns better, then you can see if it is your balance.

theo

 

[anderkart]

the tires that are on there are the brigestone 4in wide slicks.

The back tires are large lawn tires 20in tall and 8-9in wide and the front tires are the small slicks.

Sounds like you've got a huge diference in tire height going there...

The other guys suggestions might fix you problem, but... did your kart originally have front/rear tires with this kind of height diference?
If not, I'm thinking your frames downward-slanted rake is really changing the angle (the caster setting) of your front spindles.

Lots of negative Caster doesn't help steering at all. I'm thinking unless you somehow change your front spindle mounting angle to compensate, you'll find your front and rear tires are going to have to be a good bit closer in height to get your steering geometry back to like it was originally designed to work at.

Your way taller rear tires might also be causing a weight jacking effect. This would be transferring allot more of the karts (and your) weight to the rear tires, compared to if the frame was sitting on a fairly level angle. (of course your big heavy engine out back would make this problem even worse...)

 

[EagleTalons]

Here is an expensive idea.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_35768_35768

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Its not LS, might as well go 1wd

 

[tightman2003]

Sounds like you've got a huge diference in tire height going there...

The other guys suggestions might fix you problem, but... did your kart originally have front/rear tires with this kind of height diference?
If not, I'm thinking your frames downward-slanted rake is really changing the angle (the caster setting) of your front spindles.

Lots of negative Caster doesn't help steering at all. I'm thinking unless you somehow change your front spindle mounting angle to compensate, you'll find your front and rear tires are going to have to be a good bit closer in height to get your steering geometry back to like it was originally designed to work at.

Your way taller rear tires might also be causing a weight jacking effect. This would be transferring allot more of the karts (and your) weight to the rear tires, compared to if the frame was sitting on a fairly level angle. (of course your big heavy engine out back would make this problem even worse...)

When you look at the kart the frame is level with the 2 different tires. I dont know if the previous owner changed anything but everything looks stock. I took a look at the caster and it looks like its at 0.

 

[anderkart]

Cool, your kart must have been made to run tires like yours. I thought meyby you'd installed much taller rears than it came with. So I'd go with the kaptains suggestion for treaded front tires and more front end weight.

If I was buying front tires anyway, I'd see if some taller ones would fit. They'd have a larger contact patch compared to shorter tires of equal width. Plus taller fronts would also end up jacking a bit more weight to the front tires to hopefully help them grip and turn better. (or you could try changing to shorter rear tires instead to achieve the same effect)

I still think your huge front/rear tire-height diference is hurting your steering here. Most any taller tire is just naturally going to have a much bigger contact area with the road. With your live axle and a heavy engine hanging back there, your back tires only want to go in a straight line. So if they're out gripping the front tires, you wont have enough steering.

Maybe you will have to add weight to the front. Although another option might be to move your seat forward (If you've got the room) to transfer your weight and help the fronts grip better. Race kart guys move their seats to get the balance right. (sometimes it only takes a small change to really help)

 

[theo]

If you drive off road then you will find that a thinner front tire can help in turning on softer ground. I would add weight to the front and check to see if the weight distribution is correct. I think that the balance is off. got any pics?

theo