PROJECT: (S)crap Kart

[Kaptain Krunch]

Well, since i cant do to much more on my shifter kart till i get the roll cage on, i figured i'd make a small full suspension go kart. Its based off the Goped Trail Ripped Quad. So far i have the frame and swing arm for the back welded up, gotta do the a-arms , motor mounts, axle etc. My only goal for this project is to spend absolutely no money, as long as i don't run out of scrap steel i should be able to meet that pretty easily.

For my rear axle i ripped apart the snapper, which we were gonna junk anyways. i wont even start on how fun this was

I used the swing arm off a kawasaki KZ400 (bike i got my engine from for the other kart)

Tecrapsuh 5.5 powersport...for now

Rear axle, i can choose between 16's or 18's in the rear and 15's up front.

shocks to choose from, i figure i'll use one of the red ones in the back and the two silver up front.

Sprocket, it doesn't run very true but it should work.

EDIT: i dont know why those pics came out so blurry...i'll get better ones next time i promise.

 

[freakboy]

ghetto kart!!!!

 

[saturnv7890]

For the pictures, I would try using a self timer and a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, tie the camera to something stationary and use the self timer. Also, if you have a point and shoot camera (like me) or a vast knowledge in photography (not me), try a longer exposure which is in your options. It'll automatically set to the correct brightness, but be much clearer.

Here's a comparison with my steady hand vs. tripod

Hand (click to see the full size)
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6759/1060679r.jpg

Tripod:
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8961/1060680.jpg

You can see how much more accurately it depicts the object


Also, this project is awesome! I've always wanted to make a really low cost go kart. As long as your moving!

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Wow, thats quite a different. I was just quickly snapping pics, normally they come out fine. If i had a tripod i would use that, but i dont so i'll probably just rest it on my knee next time or something.

 

[Rotore]

Why don't you use the seat off the snapper?

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I probably will, that one was there so i stuck it in place so i could see if i had enough legroom and such.

 

[Rotore]

Oh ok dude

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Got the a-arms made, still need to reinforce the mounts and such. I tacked the spindles, on but they need reinforcing too. Its crazy wide, 5ft to be exact haha.

the shop is a little smokey from all the welding.

I used the front end of the snapper for spindles, tires, etc.

 

[newrider3]

You should use the grille/hood of the Snapper as a ghetto fairing.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

thats a good idea, i always liked the snapper hood too!

 

[newrider3]

Your video won't play, so I'm assuming they're too soft and you're bottoming out. If you mount the shock so they are closer to perpendicular to the ground, it'll stiffen up some. If those silver shocks are the cheap mini bike/go kart kind, they aren't much more than springs anyway.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Plays fine for me, but anyways, there from a KZ400 that had been sitting for years. When they compress you can hear the oil going past the seals. In the video i said i wasnt going to remount them, but i might. I figure if i mount the bottom shock at the very tip of the a arm it may work out a bit better.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Heres a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd5-LsPsws4

 

[newrider3]

You could always double up like I did on my kart, motorcycle shocks aren't very stiff in the first place.

 

[t0x1k]

You could always double up like I did on my kart, motorcycle shocks aren't very stiff in the first place.

I beg to differ. I replaced my rear shocks with ones off the rear of a honda motorcycle with a small 2 cylinder and it's stiff and takes a beating.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I beg to differ. I replaced my rear shocks with ones off the rear of a honda motorcycle with a small 2 cylinder and it's stiff and takes a beating.

Like everything, it all depends. These Shocks from the Kawasaki had been sitting for years, and the seals are definitely bad, you can hear the oil going past the seals.

Anyways, spent the last few hours re-doing the front shock mounts, and reinforcing some things. I cut apart the bikes kickstand, and used a piece of tubing from a sled for the front bumper/shock tower supports. Right now i can still easily bottom out the shocks by jumping, but just standing on them they dont quite bottom out, still sucks but its bearable. So heres some pics

 

[freakboy]

your crapa-karts comin out alright lol

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I was thinkin the same thing, but then i started to look at how im gonna do there rear axle haha. Gonna have to fudge a few things there lol

 

[freakboy]

lol ahhh who cares lol

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Just spent the last hour making a bearing holder, its pretty well made, all billet aluminum, professionally machined and such

Now I'm waiting for my mom to get home from the store...shes been out for 4 hours shopping...anyways shes picking me up a few bolts i needed and some angle grinder cutting discs...so this project is gonna turn out to be like $10...kinda bummed lol.