Scrap parts build. Advice please!

[Bbbblaah]

Hey all,

First post here but been reading alot. Planning on starting my first build soon and using old parts laying around. So I was wondering if anyone has used old bicycle wheels/tires on their karts? Also thinking of using bicycle brake system. I am on a tight budget so recycling all I can. I'm not trying to build a race kart or anything just something fun and different looking. Going to fab everything I can. Any advice tips or comments? Thanks

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Bike tires and brakes wont work very well.

 

[Bbbblaah]

I didnt think the brakes would work well. But why won't the tires? Are they too large in diameter? I was looking for a way to not buy wheels and tires and wanted something a little taller than the small tires used in the guides here.

 

[tykenfitz]

The spoke bike tire are pretty weak and I don't know how you plan to hook them up with sprockets or onto the axle. But if you got the gearing right you could do it, in theory.

 

[Rotore]

your better of going to the junk yard

 

[Bbbblaah]

I was thnking of making some hubs for the wheels. Would it not hold up? This cart won't be going very fast. Just something to put along in that lois different and costs very little. What would I look for at the junkyard? I'm new to part salvaging

 

[frederic]

Why won't bike tires work on a car?

Put a small car on a car lift to about three feet high. Place two fully inflated bicycle wheels next to each other in the center in a true vertical position, and slowly lower the car until the underside touches the top of the tire, holding them in place.

Then stand back, way back, and release the car lift so it comes down slowly.

Squash!

If you have two additional bike tires you can repeat this experiment by putting them under the back end of the car which much lighter than the front, and see if you get any different results.

I bet you don't ;-)

The rim is weak, the spokes are weak, the tires and inner tubes are weak, and are typically labeled that each tire can support 200-300lbs depending on the tire's manufacturer and the air pressure rating.

Not so good for an EV car unless the car was designed to be an "ultra light" to begin with.

 

[Rotore]

look for a used riding lawn mower at the junkyard and take parts off it. or do what i'd did buy the whole thing and stripp off what you need piece by piece. like i did i got for tires, an engine, a gear box, stearing wheel, seat, battery and 6mm thick scrap metal and gas tank for $100

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

look for a used riding lawn mower at the junkyard and take parts off it. or do what i'd did buy the whole thing and stripp off what you need piece by piece. like i did i got for tires, an engine, a gear box, stearing wheel, seat, battery and 6mm thick scrap metal and gas tank for $100

And you could find a whole mower for free or very cheap on craigslist. I dont advise using the gearbox, since it doesnt hold up too well but the tires and steering wheel are usable. I see them for free all the time, i got a good running one with a broken front axle for $10.

 

[Rotore]

^^^^ yeap

 

[brendonv]

hooking a sprocket to a bike tire is easy. Do it how the kit motored bikes do it. Bolt it to the rim and put a piece of rubber on each sides of the spokes. It works really well. I wouldnt suggest bike tires though, i mean u could do it but it would be crappy. I no u say i dont want to go fast but trust me, you do. Double brakes would be fine, hell i stop from 60km/h on my motorized bike with one pad brake so im sure 2 would stop u good on a kart.

The tip of junkyard as u guys call it is a good place to get parts cheap. U will be amazed at wat some ppl chuck out.

 

[porsche930dude]

yup bike wheels is a bad idea. theyll bend easily and the tires are real thin making them easier to puncure and wear alot quicker. plus youll have to devise a system to suport both sides of the wheel unless you make your own hubs somehow but thats all alot more work than its worth and will require alot of fooling around with. definatly go with the old riding mower aproach

 

[luka]

Hi Bbbblaah.
Cyclekarts are the closest i've seen to what you maybe describing to build.
They're using 17in motorbike wheels and simple plywood basic structure with 3x2 steel box side rails. You may get some ideas from the following links.

http://www.stevproj.com/Carz/CycleKart.html
http://www.stevproj.com/Carz/CycleKartGallery.html
http://www.stevproj.com/Carz/CK1106A.html


Luka

 

[luka]

Cylcekart build picture.
And side view Blueprint of Bugatti Cyclekart.
(Engine placement over rear axle)

 

[Bbbblaah]

Thanks for the input. I'll avoid the bike wheels. And luka is dead on. That is what I was going for just didn't know they were called cyclekarts. Also didn't know they were motorcycle wheels so thanks for the info. I'll try to find a junkyard nearby and scrounge up some parts.

 

[squat251]

those are sharp, looks like you would need a pretty good supply of wood though... if only... would be neat to have though, look like they would be a blast at parades. not sure it would be good for off road, as its all wood and such

 

[EagleTalons]

It has some leaf springs on it. It would be like a wagon offroad. haha