Sequoia Electrathon Racer

[Denny]

I found this to be much easier:

Spicer Transmission Ratio RPM Calculator

Use the Spicer Transmission Ratio RPM Calculator to determine your engine’s RPM based on the transmission gear ratio, tire height, MPH, and ring and pinion gear ratio.

spicerparts.com

put my 3.14 ratio sprocket set in there, 15.5 diameter rear tire, and 2000 rpm motor (24 amp) to get my theoretical top speed of 29.38.

Kart weighs in at 440# without driver and our ME0909 is doing all it can but we ain't getting to 29 mph

View attachment 147183

View attachment 147184

The thing that has to be killing you is wind resistance. You have the aerodynamics of a parachute which has to be affecting performance.

 

[Functional Artist]

with Denny
Do you have to carry that that albatross on your head?

 

[Functional Artist]

Aligning the motor mount "by eye" seems easy enough
...but, using a "cheater", from sprocket to sprocket, is mucho more accurate

Another view

A quick "test fit" with the chain

Another view

* Notice the Vise-grips "clamping" the motor mount in place, for this alignment test?

After "passing" this "test", I took everything apart (except the Vise-grips)
...& welded the mount in place

 

[Functional Artist]

Let's get back to the brakes
This linkage "hardware" came with this brake kit
...but, NO kinda instructions at all

So, back to learnin' from "videos" (Youtube Univ.)
* Shows the brake pedal linkage (~16:00 min into the video)

I cut the heads off of (2) bolts (yup, they are Metric threaded)
...& rounded the ends a bit

Here are the linkage pins installed in the linkage "connector" thingy

After connecting everything together I noticed the exposed threads kinda "catch" on the plunger retaining clips, in the Master Cylinder
...& needed to be "smoothed off"

Again, thinkin' about stuff learned from my buddy T (ta "shave 'em down "nice-n-even" ya gotta make 'em spin)
...so, I mounted 'er up in the drill (ta make 'em spin"
...& used the "spinny" sander ta smooth 'em down
Before

After

Then, kinda "polished" 'em up a bit with a sanding sponge

Installed

Another view

 

[nobled2]

with Denny
Do you have to carry that that albatross on your head?

The thing that has to be killing you is wind resistance. You have the aerodynamics of a parachute which has to be affecting performance.

Have to carry around the charging system. That charging system got us through the final marathon heat Saturday. Battery draw was only 20 amps once we switched our speed controller to the slower setting to get through it. Solar was kicking out more than the battery.

I'll post our results in my own thread though

 

[Functional Artist]

Back to the steering wheel

The plan

Transferred to a piece of 1/8" x 6 1/2" x 13" Aluminum

Drilled some pilot holes

Then, drilled some big 'ol holes

 

[Functional Artist]

Steering wheel (blank) & mounting stuff

Aligning the "pilot" hole, for securing the steering wheel mount to the steering shaft

Clamped for weldin'

Tac welded for alignment/fitment

Yup, seems ta be "in alignment"

With steering wheel (blank)

Yup, I made 'er ta flip up

Ta ease entrance/exiting the co*kpit

 

[Denny]

Ahhh, a Gokart fat man’s steering wheel like they had for model T’s 100 years ago!

 

[Functional Artist]

Ahhh, a Gokart fat man’s steering wheel like they had for model T’s 100 years ago!

Hey Denny,
What did ya call me?????

JK

I thought about using one of them removable steerin' wheel-center thingys
...but, we's gonna have wires & stuff, goin ta the steerin' wheel
......so...I thought this would be a better solution

 

[Functional Artist]

I thought it may be better ta bend the sides, before cutting the rest of the hand grips out

Clamped a "side" to the workbench
...& clamped an "extension" to the "body" (ta help "focus" the "bend" at the edge & for additional leverage)

In an effort ta make both sides kinda the same, I used an angle gauge (made sure we started off level or @ 0*)

Then, hand, bent 'er till I got ta ~30*

Turned the piece around
...& repeated the procedure

 

[Denny]

Yes they were an accessory steering wheel for model T’s. They were called the fat man’s steering wheel. They flipped up and had a pin to lock them in place.

 

[Functional Artist]

After bendin', I clamped a "cutting guide" from hole to hole

...& used a cut-off wheel, ta cut the hand grip holes out

Rough cut

After cuttin' the "grip holes out, I did some trimmin' & roundin'

...& then, some smoothin' with some med-fine sand paper (1/2 done for comparison)

Another (closer) view

 

[Denny]

Now put some thin pieces of wood on the sides to make a comfortable hand grip.

 

[Master Hack]

I like the way you have these parts laser cut and try to make us think you carved them out!!
Nice work!

 

[Functional Artist]

I like the way you have these parts laser cut and try to make us think you carved them out!!
Nice work!

My arms "wish" this steering wheel was laser cut (alot of cuttin', filin' & sandin")

Worked on the instrument/switch holder
Piece of black plastic (from the back of an old TV) marked for cuttin'

Cuttin'

Fittin'

More fittin'

Something like this

 

[Functional Artist]

Mounted the control panel on the wheel (as per the diagram)

A cell phone w/speedo app goes just below

Had ta "space" 'er out ~1"

Here is a close up view
* Notice the insulator (another piece of plastic) between the switch terminals & the (electrically conductive) Aluminum steering wheel

 

[Denny]

You been cutting off of that tv back for a while now. How big was that thing? Looks good!

 

[Master Hack]

look at this guy with the NICE button head screws!

 

[Denny]

Well, he did accidentally buy a million of them. He went to buy one instead he bought 1,000.

 

[Master Hack]

Next we should ease him into miniature hex head cap screws. When purdy is important, And Button heads are just too fancy.
Don't wanna overload ya K!

Also don't for get the rem pile at yer local plastics place. Plastic rem's can be purdy cheap. The guy @ Tap Plastics has even given me freebies.
They have some really nice rem's!