Shifter Kart

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A friend and I have decided to build a shifter kart using a 250cc ninja enine:devil2:, the plan is to either build a frame with steering and two disk brake up front and one rear, or the other option is buying a margay frame and modifying it to fit our engine. We would rather build for cost(maybe) and to know it will hold up/done right. Can weld mig/tig and have a shop thats used to build cars/high perf boats so tools are not a problem. So are there plans to building one or just copy an existing carts layout? Any help is appreciated, thank you for viewing.
 
j.concepcion54321

j.concepcion54321

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Sounds good. The first thing id do is check your local craigslist to see if you can find any good frames, or even complete karts. Then just take the old engine off and keep or sell it to get some money back for the project. where are you located?? Ill have a looksies in your craigslist and let you know if i see anything that you shuold be aware of.

What kind of kart are you planning to build??

Onroad/Offroad?
Suspension/Nosuspension??
Tires??
One or two seats??

This way we can get a better idea for plans.

Welcome to the forum :)
 
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j.concepcion54321 said:
Sounds good. The first thing id do is check your local craigslist to see if you can find any good frames, or even complete karts. Then just take the old engine off and keep or sell it to get some money back for the project. where are you located?? Ill have a looksies in your craigslist and let you know if i see anything that you shuold be aware of.

What kind of kart are you planning to build??

Onroad/Offroad?
Suspension/Nosuspension??
Tires??
One or two seats??

This way we can get a better idea for plans.

Welcome to the forum :)
Click to expand...

Sorry for not being specific but, onroad with no suspension slicks and one seat but we are going for safety and have previously raced mx and atv's. Looking for a kart that will have power(note ninja engine) but we also want it to handle well. Our location is in iowa and we have a local shop reikens that looked at us like we were crazy when we went in there and said that the engine is too big and powerful. Frames are 500-1000 but safety is a priority and we want top of the line brakes so we didnt know if it would be better to build a frame or buy one and modify it. Kind of diy'ers so building it seemed like a better plan until the steering was introduced, we know we want 1/2 turn lock to lock steering if that helps.
 
j.concepcion54321

j.concepcion54321

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http://omaha.craigslist.org/rvs/2347576091.html

this might work. looks like he had the same intensions as you. IMO its easier to modify an existing frame then to make one.

dont get me wrong if you are looking for a project this is still gonna be one hell of a project. Theres alot of stuff that you guys are going to have to do to get it to work so that in it self is the essence of a good project.
 
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anderkart

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BS13 said:
Looking for a kart that will have power(note ninja engine) but we also want it to handle well. Our location is in iowa and we have a local shop reikens that looked at us like we were crazy when we went in there and said that the engine is too big and powerful. Frames are 500-1000 but safety is a priority and we want top of the line brakes so we didnt know if it would be better to build a frame or buy one and modify it. Kind of diy'ers so building it seemed like a better plan until the steering was introduced, we know we want 1/2 turn lock to lock steering if that helps.
Click to expand...

Well lots of guys have installed more powerful engines than your 250 ninja on go karts. So your not just being crazy there.

______

If you truly want your kart to handle well, I think you should buy a used race kart like the one in the craigslist ad link concepcion54321 posted. Complete used racekarts can be bought for as low as a couple hundred dollars without an engine. Some of these would have originally cost $2000 or more without an engine...

I have no doubt you guys could weld up a sturdy kart frame, but I also know enough about race karts to guarantee you it could never handle as well as a good factory made racekart chassis. (do you think you could build your own motocross bike frame as well as a good factory made one?)

Racekart frames might seem simple to build, but there's a lot of technology that goes into the design of all the steering/mounting angles, and also the balance between the frame being rigid enough and flexing enough for good handling.

Take some serious time and study up all the setup procedures for racekarts here in this link:
http://www.racemates.nl/PKinfoTech_kart chassis setup_2.html#_Toc529198884
See what I mean? The design of a racekart frame is very critical and until you've built several and gained lots of experience, you'd never build one that truly handled as well as a factory build frame.

But if you still wanna try, here's measurements from one of my racekarts:

You'll find lots more info about my racekarts in these 2 threads:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3664
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6364

My Chrome-molly frame rails measure 33mm. with a 3mm. wall thickness.

 
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anderkart said:
Well lots of guys have installed more powerful engines than your 250 ninja on go karts. So your not just being crazy there.

______

If you truly want your kart to handle well, I think you should buy a used race kart like the one in the craigslist ad link concepcion54321 posted. Complete used racekarts can be bought for as low as a couple hundred dollars without an engine. Some of these would have originally cost $2000 or more without an engine...

I have no doubt you guys could weld up a sturdy kart frame, but I also know enough about race karts to guarantee you it could never handle as well as a good factory made racekart chassis. (do you think you could build your own motocross bike frame as well as a good factory made one?)

Racekart frames might seem simple to build, but there's a lot of technology that goes into the design of all the steering/mounting angles, and also the balance between the frame being rigid enough and flexing enough for good handling.

Take some serious time and study up all the setup procedures for racekarts here in this link:
http://www.racemates.nl/PKinfoTech_kart chassis setup_2.html#_Toc529198884
See what I mean? The design of a racekart frame is very critical and until you've built several and gained lots of experience, you'd never build one that truly handled as well as a factory build frame.

But if you still wanna try, here's measurements from one of my racekarts:

You'll find lots more info about my racekarts in these 2 threads:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3664
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6364

My Chrome-molly frame rails measure 33mm. with a 3mm. wall thickness.

Click to expand...

Alright, we have decided to modify an existing frame. Should be fn just waiting on some funds in a week or two then it's all systems go. I will keep you guys updated and might do a step by step build thread.
 
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Sorry for all the questions I did search but what brakes are going to be suitable for this build and where should I get them from?
 
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