Scrap metel go kart

[oldbikerarlo]

Well Guy's this is my first go kart so please don't give me too much greif,LOL.
So I made this from 1 1/2 square tube from some old industrial clothing racks, Bed frames welded into square tube, a stick of 1/2 pipe I had layin around, an old convertable creeper for the seat, a 3.5 hp briggs from an edger, a steering wheel, pullies and hardware from a lawn tractor, HF wheels and tires that were on sale for $3.99 each and I got the tie rod ends from MSC.
I used a angle grinder with a cut off wheel and a 120V FCWF welder. It took about 6 weeks as I had to do a lot of twice. Iwish I'd found this site first.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

All things considered, looks pretty good! I love scrap/low budget builds. I like the belt tensioner handle. Slip it to get going, and lock it in- nice! What's it from?
Good job, and welcome to the forum!

BTW- beware the HF wheels, apparently they're failure-prone- just a heads-up.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

The handle is from the edger.

 

[oscaryu1]

Badass build. Doesn't even look like scrap! (Actually, that's an insult. The kart looks terrific!)

 

[T-man]

This is a good build, so if I understand this right. your throtle is the little lever on your right side that controls the engine.
The big lever is for motion engagement.
Brakes??

 

[Orange Krate]

 

[landuse]

That is a very nice build. Well done. As T-man says, have you got any brakes on that kart, and if so, what did you use?

 

[shaggy0001]

very nice looks absolutly great for a scrap build
the best type of build is a scrap build

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I didn't even notice the hand throttle- That's got to be a bit awkward to drive, no? Maybe if pedals aren't in the cards for you, move the throttle onto the steering wheel?

 

[oldbikerarlo]

I didn't even notice the hand throttle- That's got to be a bit awkward to drive, no? Maybe if pedals aren't in the cards for you, move the throttle onto the steering wheel?

I haven't got to the brakes and foot controles yet, still lookin for the materials. I do have the brake peddle made up but I still need some linkage. and then trying to get the wife and kids off of it long enough to do anything. I have it geared down low enough that it doesn't go real fast.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

OK I pryed the wife off the and fabed up some foot peddels, and I think Iv'e found what I need to finish the brakes.

 

[Clayton]

Nice build I love scrap stuff (because I do alot of that). How fast you had her going, I have a 3.5hp Briggs and I wanna know what one would perfrom like in a kart before I do it mysefl

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Nice build I love scrap stuff (because I do alot of that). How fast you had her going, I have a 3.5hp Briggs and I wanna know what one would perfrom like in a kart before I do it mysefl

Thanks guys for the good words, I'll tell you the truth no one has the nerve to open it up. The wife and kids are the only ones that have driven it. I'm too old and fat to get out of the seat with it that low. I have it reduced to the jack shaft, and the drive wheel so it might hit 20mph. But its got all kinds of low end. It spins the drive wheel in the dirt for 10 ft at idle.

 

[Ghanem]

That is cool
but where is the gas pedal

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Allright put some foot controls on the kart. Found linkage on an old paint roller. and a piece of 3/8 rod for the brake linkage. Scrub brake doesn't seem to do much but it's a place to put your foot before you hit something.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Before anybody asks I have too much stuff on the left side to get a brake in.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Nah- I'm with you- I hate braking with my left foot...

On the downside, I have no choice. After building my front suspension, I didn't have sufficient space for both pedals on the right so I had to move my brake to the left foot.