Rescuing a Junk Go-Kart..As a Beginner

[FrankFKA]

Hello everyone,
Recently picked up a go-kart from craigslist. It's in decently bad shape and came with a non-running 3HP briggs engine.
I wouldn't mind replacing the engine if I cannot get it to work, but there are two things that I'm stuck on.

1. As seen in the picture Wheel1, I removed the spacer and clip from the wheel. Picture Wheel2 is what is left of the wheel area. I cannot get the wheel to come off, or even budge. I tried WD40 to no avail.
Is there something else I should be removing?

2. The brake system on the go-kart does not work. The mechanism itself works but the problem lies in the brake cables.
I purchased the cart in the state of the picture Brake1 and Brake2. There were metal stoppers that I removed from the brake lines.
But as far as I know, the brake line (metal part) should move when the brake pedal is depressed while the rubber cover should not. Is that correct?
I'm absolutely lost on this one, any input on fixing this would be appreciated.

Thanks guys!

 

[FrankFKA]

Here are the pictures.

 

[Poboy kartman]

WD-40 sucks...(unless it's WD-40 SPECIALIST PENETRATING OIL)... otherwise use PB Blaster.

Unfortunately, close ups are a BAD idea!!! You are trying to dictate what we should be looking at....but we can't see the forest for the trees.

But....welcome to the forum....

 

[FrankFKA]

WD-40 sucks...(unless it's WD-40 SPECIALIST PENETRATING OIL)... otherwise use PB Blaster.

Unfortunately, close ups are a BAD idea!!! You are trying to dictate what we should be looking at....but we can't see the forest for the trees.

But....welcome to the forum....

Ahh thanks for the tip. I'll pick some up soon, but the wheel should just come off correct?

I'll get some better pictures when I can

 

[DeathMachine]

Get some emory cloth and sand the end of the axle. Rust buildup will keep the wheel from coming off.

as far as the Briggs goes, take a stab at getting it running. Sure, you can go the easy route and swap on a Predator, but you will learn so much more getting the briggs to run.

 

[Hellion]

The wheel should come right off, yes. It looks to me that rust has married the spindle and the wheel together.

You need penetrating oil, hammer tapping (to induce vibrations as well as for brute force) and application of heat from a blowtorch as a last or extreme resort.

That's an odd band brake setup with the plate covering the whole apparatus. There's many options on setting everything right. Please post some overall photos of the kart so we can see what kind it is and maybe we can set it back to factory condition.

EDIT: You need patience also. Penetrating oil may take several applications to work into the rusted parts but it does work.

 

[FrankFKA]

Hello,
Thanks for the help everyone
Will do the sanding and spray it with penetrating fluid.
I tried to get a hammer in there but the rim is completely inaccessible from the inside as this is the drive wheel

Regarding the brakes, I've attached an overall photo of the brake lines. Hellion is correct in that there is an entire band wrapped around the brake system, when the pedal is pressed the ends of the band should be brought together

Will of course try to get the Briggs running, nice little learning experience for me.

 

[Hellion]

The chain has seen better days. See those kinks in it? Those links are frozen there. Soak the chain in penetrating oil and you may be able to rehabilitate it.

The side "nerf bar" visible in your last photo would seem to indicate this kart frame once held a fiberglass car body. One of the Fun Wheels mini-cars I would surmise.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Wait! !!! Is the chain still on?

 

[FrankFKA]

Wait! !!! Is the chain still on?

Yes, should I be taking it off right now?
Will soak it, thanks.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well yeah...the wheel won't come off with it on.

 

[FrankFKA]

Well yeah...the wheel won't come off with it on.

Haha, stupid me.
Thanks, I'll try that when I'm home.
Any ideas for the brakes though?

 

[Poboy kartman]

Take pics with the wheel out of the way....we won't see the drum...but we can see the linkage better.

---------- Post added at 07:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 PM ----------

And take the engine off....the wheel needs penetrating oil from both sides...and it'll make it easier to tap and persuade it off.

 

[Hellion]

... Any ideas for the brakes though?

I have two Manco karts and a Ken-Bar. They all have rod actuated brakes regardless if they're disc or band brakes (drum) like you have.

Maybe go to Lowe's and get a 1/4" steel rod, flatten the end and drill it through so it will fit in the top slot of the band.

The band brakes are usually set up so that the bottom end of the band is stationary and fitted onto a small post that is welded to the frame. The upper portion is attached to the brake cable or rod.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well yeah...the wheel won't come off with it on.

Orrrr....maybe not...if you lift the back of the kart and spin one wheel, does the other one turn?

 

[chancer]

Hard to say for sure looking at the pics but it appears as though you have beat that axle end with a hammer???, and it looks mushroomed. You will have to get it back to round and smooth or that wheel will never come off.

 

[FrankFKA]

@Poboy
It is a single wheel drive so I believe you are correct. I can't remove the chain so I just removed the bolt so the entire assembly can slide off.

I'll also remove the engine since I need to work on that anyway.

@Hellion
For this assembly it seems like the entire band is movable and attached only at the top where I've photographed.
What would the rod do?

@Chancer
I haven't done anything except take the clip and spacer off and spray the wheel with WD40. How do you suggest I fix it?

 

[chancer]

If it is all mushroomed at the end. you would need to grind and or sand it smooth. Once it breaks loose you will know, cause it wont slide past the tip of the axle.
Like I said it is hard to tell from the pics. You may be fine. It is just a very common mistake people make, I wanted to steer you in a good direction.

---------- Post added at 10:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------

Get some emory cloth and sand the end of the axle. Rust buildup will keep the wheel from coming off.

Like this^

 

[Hellion]

@Hellion
For this assembly it seems like the entire band is movable and attached only at the top where I've photographed.
What would the rod do?

The rod wouldn't buckle on itself as the brake pedal is pressed. This illustration is typical of Manco karts:

#39 is the brake band, 41 is the rod, 77 is the rigid bolt.

 

[Denny]

Ok Hellion you can stop giving people bad advise now. He clearly does not have a Manco style brake. The reason that I can see the brake is not working is because you need to put a cable stop on the end of that cable so it has something to pull against. Right now the way it is when you press on the pedal you just pull the cable out.


Denny