Something quite abit different

[BillyBob128]

I was on vacation in Florida the other week and have taken a liking to the Disney Transport buses.
Does anyone know if you would be able to create a go kart bus?
Also I have a spare Briggs and Stratton 10hp engine, would this be of any use?

 

[Nodroz]

A gokart bus... the idea sounds cool - driving through your neighbourhood with the neighbourhood on your gokart, LOL.

How big are you seeing this bus? 4 - 5 people?

 

[BillyBob128]

I was thinking along the lines of a 1/3rd scale one so could take 4 people.
On this drawing I have also marked roughly the center of gravity of the bus with people on it:

 

[Nodroz]

Lol, looks cool.

I doubt 10hp will be strong enough to pull a heavy gokart + 4 people, unless you gear it very low - something like 15:1.

 

[BillyBob128]

It wouldn't be the most adgile thing in the world, lol
I'll be happy if I got 20mph out of it because the fullsized are limited to 60mph

 

[Nodroz]

A ratio of 9.5:1 will give you 20MPH at 3600rpm. Fair enough.

 

[BillyBob128]

Would I be ok using 14 inch wheels?

 

[Nodroz]

Would I be ok using 14 inch wheels?

That would give you even more torque. Be sure they can handle all the load though.

If you still want to reach 20MPH with 14" wheels, you'll need a ratio of 7.5:1, which is quite high if you're travelling 4 people, or will he be okay?

 

[qtband]

When you're done, I think the Shriners would love it!

 

[BillyBob128]

Would something along the lines of this be alright for the chassis?

 

[Nodroz]

Doesn't really look that strong, unless you take quite big (and heavy) metal beams for the frame.

 

[BillyBob128]

Would used scaffolding tube be ok?
Its 48mm diameter and 4mm wall thickness.
Downside the stuff is 1.34kg a foot and the frame needs about 30ft of the stuff... So that is already up to 40kg

 

[machinist@large]

Would something along the lines of this be alright for the chassis?

Consider framing it up the sides; basically a space frame with the top completely open for the driver and passengers. That way you can use lighter gauge material for the main frame' yet be alot stronger overall.

By lighter matl., I'm talking about the same cross section, only thinner wall. I'd sketch it for you, but my computer and scanner are at war this week.

 

[BillyBob128]

Thats a good idea roughly what wall thickness would that be?

 

[machinist@large]

Thats a good idea roughly what wall thickness would that be?

:toetap05: Hmmmm. 48mm is just under 2", and 4mm is basically .16" (thick) i.e. 'little under 3/16" (.187"). I don't think you are going to get away much lighter than that for the main frame; especailly seeing how long you would like to make it. Lets look at your first quick sketch; looking across it parralle to your shoes, it's a flat piece of paper: bends really easilly. If you fold the sides and ends up to form an open topped box, its a lot more ridgid.

I won't lie; I've never built something like this. That's why I'm going to wait for the others on this forum to weigh in; there's a lot of knowlege on this site.

 

[OzFab]

48mm round tube will work but, for something like this, square tube is more versatile (just saying).
A 10hp engine has many uses but, this isn't one of them. By the time it's finished, this thing will weigh 150+kg, then add 4 - 5 bodies @ an average 75kg each, that's somewhere around 500kg, waaay too much for a little 10hp no matter how it's geared.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great concept, it just needs a bit of rethinking.

 

[BillyBob128]

Is a 3 speed motor cycle gearbox a possiability for this?

 

[BillyBob128]

machinist@large:
Is this what you meant by a space frame?

 

[soggycrashed]

Really cool idea, tell me if you need any help.

 

[BillyBob128]

Is a 10hp engine alright?