Serious Noob to Carts. Few Questions.

[zbaije cie]

Me and my freind want to build two go-karts to just race around the back yard.

We do not know how to weld, and do not want to spend a lot of money on these projects. (buying a welder, or ready made frame)

We wanted to know if these issues have been addressed here because when i did a search, i just come up with experienced users and their precise welds.

Wondering how wood would work, or if there is a way to use pipes? Lawn mower engines of course, though we're having trouble figuring out how the vertical shaft and the horizontal axel would work together...


-Thanks for you help, and I hope i'll be seeing you all around these forums.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Well you guys have a problem, a verticle shaft engine is more time and energy than its worth when it comes to a go kart (unless its a 2 stroke lawnboy), and without welding on top of that i doubt you'll get very far.

back when i was 10 and couldnt weld i used to buy broken riding lawnmowers, fix them and ride them like go karts, thats probably your best bet and can be done cheap.

 

[zbaije cie]

thats a great idea, though when i looked on my area craigslist, i found only ones that worked and were priced at 890$ and up!

also, isnt there a way to convert the vertical shaft with some kind of gearing mechanism that attaches to the axel?

 

[modelengineer]

There is a way, but it would be very expensive. Your best bet is a horizontal engine or a cheap bike engine.

Wood doesn't work for karts, and karts made without welding are... a bit shady.

 

[BradenM]

to say the least.

I would suggest looking for old rotary hoes and tillers, edgers, e.t.c.. Basically something with an old Briggs horizontal shaft on it. That would be your best bet.

 

[zbaije cie]

ahhhah, i see. I did find this on c-list.

Could you guys tell me if its "big enough" that is, would an 22 year old fit in it without struggle?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/rvs/990644525.html

Thanks

 

[r_chez_08]

should be big enough. i think your best bet is to buy 2 kart frames like the one above, and make from there. the vertical shaft engine is unlikely to work. i reccomend the honda gx200 clone, but it depends how mutch u r willing to pay. for a cheaper engine i would use an old briggs

 

[sayre315]

i'd jump on that frame in a heart beat

 

[gokartcrazy]

im from rdu and i have a gocart for sale its old but just needs a motor yours for only 60 bucks it has a motor but needs massive carb work call me 919-337-2166 motor runs but dies out and needs throttle hooked up but have have cable its a oollld cart everything is included

 

[zbaije cie]

sweet! mind providing a pic?

 

[gokartcrazy]

here is the pic its in the forsale section