Red Fox Restore

[rescue161]

I bought a Red Fox sight-unseen, because I wanted a vintage go-kart like I used to drive around when I was a kid. You know the kind, no roll-bars or seat-belts. I just don't like all that safety stuff...

Anyway, when I picked it up, it was in extreme disrepair. The engine mount was cracked, the floor board was rusted completely through, the seat wood was rotted out and there was no engine, but it had the original wheels that I loved so much!

And the wheels that seem to be so hard to find these days...

After bead-blasting.

Had the frame sand-blasted and a new floor-board welded on. I welded the engine mount back together myself. It looks ugly, but works fine. I primed and painted the frame and used new plywood and covering for the seat and back-rest.

It's amazing at the amount of memories this thing brought out the first time I took it for a spin.

Great site and thanks for letting me share these pics!

Scott

 

[j.concepcion54321]

Nice kart build man! I think this motivated me to fix up my old kart (From the late 60's) instead of using it for parts for my scooter project.

You got any vids of it running? That briggs looks sweet!

 

[rescue161]

Thanks! This is actually the second time that I posted this restore. I guess it got lost last December?
That engine came off of another kart. I tried to use a Harbor Freight engine on this one, but the seat slants back too far and the engine mount holes wouldn't line up. So I put the HF engine on the other kart and put the Briggs on this one. There are a few pics of it running. I thought I had some video, but I guess we didn't get any.

 

[anderkart]

Cool kart man, looks like you guys were having fun there

 

[rescue161]

Yeah, we were having a blast. Funny thing is, I was taking all of the pictures. That is my uncle and my cousin with his girlfriend.

 

[imnew]

Do you have the dimensions of it? Im trying to make something similar.

 

[rescue161]

Which dimensions were you looking for? I can go out sometime this week and take some measurements for you.

If I were building one, I'd make sure to include a live-axle instead of the one-wheel pull like these two.

 

[Big Boy]

That is beautifulllll.

This is the kinda cart I want, except with a little bigger tires.

 

[rescue161]

Thanks!

 

[imnew]

Which dimensions were you looking for? I can go out sometime this week and take some measurements for you.

If I were building one, I'd make sure to include a live-axle instead of the one-wheel pull like these two.

The red one.

And I am not sure what the difference is between those two axles.

 

[rescue161]

Both of the go-karts that I have only have one wheel attached to the engine, so only one wheel pushes them along. On a live-axle, both of the back wheels are attached to the engine, so both wheels with push it along. As long as you're not on pavement, then two wheels are better than one.

If you're on pavement, then one wheel is "better" as you won't tear up your tires as bad when you're turning.

 

[breonline22]

Red Fox

I recently purchased a red fox go kart identical to yours from a yard sale. My son and I are going to rebuild the go kart,but having problems finding parts can anyone help?

The go kart is a Red Fox with a 5hp tecumseh engine

Thanks Ken

 

[souperman000]

I recently purchased a red fox go kart identical to yours from a yard sale. My son and I are going to rebuild the go kart,but having problems finding parts can anyone help?

The go kart is a Red Fox with a 5hp tecumseh engine

Thanks Ken

I would start your own thread for this, you will get better responses. BMIkarts.com and MFGsupply.com are both good places for parts.

 

[choppergirl]

I have a Red Fox go cart just like pictures above... this go cart looks like it was built for two little kids, you can barely fit in it... way too small. In fact, that's probably how ours/mine met its demise... it was my nieces, and she out grew it, and someone took off the air filter (I'm guessing, otherwise I don't think B&S engines are all that weather proof as is) and rain went straight into the carb, gas tank, and locked up the intake valve.

After geting the water out of the gas tank and crankcase and trying to get the valve unstuck a long time ago, I gave up on it, only to revisit this week since I got sick of watching the kids pathetically push it around.

Since I figured the engine was fubar anyway, I broke out my crow bar and got brutal on it... and voila... got the valve to move, and unstuck, and now its a long shot got hope. Slides up and down seamlessly now, all lubribcated, and put back together. Cleaned the rain out of the crankcase, gas tank, and cleaned up the carb.

I rebuilt the B&S 5hp engine but am still waiting on a head gasket... probably need a new diaphram for the carb as well... another $4 from fleabay.

So while waiting on parts...

What I've done so far, is cut the back seat frame off, and moved it backwards and rebolted it on with 3 bolts on each side through the frame... today I relocated the gas pedal to the far side, and redid the brake pedal linkage.. next I'm cutting off the steering wheel, and mounting it in the center with no support so you can swing your foot under it. I'll get some new 14 inch swing arms from Home Depot or something.

Once I get the steering wheel moved, and a new seat re-uphostered up, I plan to build a support frame over it, so I can sculpt a body shape over it with chicken wire, tin foil, cardboard, and whatever... and drape resin soaked fiberglass sheets... and with much artwork, sanding, cutting, and finally painting...

End up with something close to a 3/4 scale Champion 250 microcar....

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_100490-Champion-250-1948.html

Bruce Weiners Champion:
http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/champion.html


I haven't found the right spoked wheels for it yet, but I've found something at least in the ballpark.

Once you swap out the little go cart wheels for some much bigger spoked wheels, and start comparing pictures of the cart verses the Champion, you can see how I'm seeing the frame with some modifications fit under such a sculpted fiber glass body, with some additional support tubing:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200486377_200486377

CHOPPERGIRL
http://choppergirl.air-war.org

 

[Denny Cart]

when you bead blasted your rims, did you paint them afterwards?
I have a set and I want them to look like yours thanks!

 

[landuse]

when you bead blasted your rims, did you paint them afterwards?
I have a set and I want them to look like yours thanks!

You are digging up old threads here and these members haven't been around for years

 

[Denny Cart]

Sorry to hear that. I was hoping that they might be sticking around. It's still nice to have the information . Thanks for your reply