Restoration Project Custom Dingo

[Jrsmith]

I just bought my very first go kart ever. A Manco Dingo with no motor for $50. I am building this for my 4 yr old son for Christmas. Since he is so small im going to add a couple bars down the front and over the top of him. I am going to put a 6.5HP motor on it and govern it down. I own a custom powder coating and sandblasting business so this little kart is going to be a ground up 100% custom resto for him. I also just found another Kart with no motor for $25, I guess daddy is getting one too (maybe with a race motor). Here is what I got for $50 and just the way I picked it up.

 

[Jrsmith]

couple other shots of it just the way I unloaded it in the shop from picking it up

 

[souperman000]

definetly not a bad dingo for only 50 bucks.

 

[cumminsbayou4x4]

dont gear it down for him

 

[OzFab]

Nice score. Any chance of a pic of the rear? & what about daddy's kart?

Governing down doesn't usually work, all it does is create clutch problems. It's better to gear it down using a jackshaft, which can be altered as he gets used to it

dont gear it down for him

What? The kid is 4! If it's not geared down it will either scare him off or put him in danger

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I'll second fab's comments. Reducing maximum RPM by too wide a margin tends to result in burnt-out clutches. Excess slippage generates excess heat. Clutches don't like excess heat. Instead, use a jackshaft setup to reduce the gearing to an overall ratio of at least 10 or 12:1. You should also consider much smaller rear tires- at least for a while- as the reduced diameter will contribute to a reduced top speed without sacrificing RPM.

 

[Jrsmith]

Thanks for the info and yes the back tires are actually getting replaced with a set of lawn mower tires for awhile untill he gets use to it. Im all new to this karting world so all the advice is great! im use to running a 700+ HP outlaw modified dirt race car. As for him being 4 im not worried at all, thats why im adding extra bars myself, I use to build race cars. It will have a full roll cage over and around him with seat belt tabs not only for a lap belt but shoulder harness as well. I will upload a pic of the rear so yall can tell me what I have/ need. as for the Kart for me, ill upload pics of it too.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Excellent! Can't wait to see how it goes. I'm quite glad you have the experience to competently build the kid a cage that you can trust. Nice!

 

[Jrsmith]

here are the pics of the rear I have, sorry dont know how to turn the pics rightside up

 

[OzFab]

sorry dont know how to turn the pics rightside up

You do that before uploading them...

Those pics tell me that pretty much everything is there except the engine. Depending on their condition you may need to replace bearings or rusted bolts etc but, it all looks pretty much intact; well done

 

[Jrsmith]

Yes sir, it will have ALL new nuts, bolts, bearings,etc. ill throw in a couple pics of the kart im going to build for myself too.

 

[Jrsmith]

well im not real computer smart, for some reason my kart saved as a PNG file instead of JPG and I dont know how to change it, I may save them to my photobucket album and post them

 

[OzFab]

Good idea but, what I meant was, it's not like you have to put them on coz they're not there

 

[Jrsmith]

Oh I gottcha, yes everything was there except motor. Cant really tell from pics but even the original throttle cable. its broke but perfect to go off of for length and fittings. brake arm, pedals, tie rods, nuts and bolts for everything all there.

 

[Mcbreja]

Cant really tell from pics but even the original throttle cable. its broke but perfect to go off of for length and fittings.

61 inches. Make your own as opposed to trying to find one. They're ridiculously priced.

Out of curiosity, are you putting a second set of pedals or shortening the frame ( or some other idea) for the little guy?

 

[Jrsmith]

Haven't really figured that part out yet, the stock pedals have pre-drilled holes so I'm probably going to fabricate some pedal extensions so he can continue to grow into it. Thanks so much for the cable advice.

 

[OzFab]

61 inches. Make your own as opposed to trying to find one. They're ridiculously priced.

... or, as many of us do, use a bicycle brake cable.

Out of curiosity, are you putting a second set of pedals or shortening the frame ( or some other idea) for the little guy?

Hey, good question

 

[Jrsmith]

By pedal extensions I mean something like a couple pieces of all thread bar per pedal with locking nuts and washers with another pedal on it. That way whenever they begin to get to short I can back the lock nuts and washers off and extend them out and adjust then lock them back down.

 

[souperman000]

By pedal extensions I mean something like a couple pieces of all thread bar per pedal with locking nuts and washers with another pedal on it. That way whenever they begin to get to short I can back the lock nuts and washers off and extend them out and adjust then lock them back down.

You could bolt a pice of wood to the pedal to make it a couple of inches longer.

but that is an interesting idea.

 

[Mcbreja]

... or, as many of us do, use a bicycle brake cable.

Which is what I meant.:toetap05:

Hey, good question

Thanks. My 9 year old couldn't reach the pedals on the dingo I had, so I wanted to make sure he had an idea or plan.

Haven't really figured that part out yet, the stock pedals have pre-drilled holes so I'm probably going to fabricate some pedal extensions so he can continue to grow into it. Thanks so much for the cable advice.

I had an idea about using hinges as extension pedals for my kiddo but he's just that right height so that trying to do that would be interfering with the tie rods.