Starting the Frame

[EastCoast]

I have been looking around and most of the older mowers I have seen have 15x6.00-6 tires on the front and 18x9.50-8 on the rear.

What is the rim size on these?

Going to look a PA to see what they have.

Sh!t all of PA rims have 3/4" bore and I used a 5/8" bolt on my spindle stub axle.

 

[EastCoast]

Maybe something like this for the front

http://www.princessauto.com/trailer/trailer/trailer/tires/8064768-6-x-2-wheel-assembly

Or

http://www.princessauto.com/trailer/trailer/trailer/tires/2020060-4_10-x-3_50-4-wheel-assembly

 

[gokart14]

dont use either of those neither have high speed bearings and many will tell u they break

 

[EastCoast]

Bolt pattern is 5 on 4 1/4" Will these work for the rear axle? They have a 1" bore. Just need to find rims if they will work.

 

[EastCoast]

dont use either of those neither have high speed bearings and many will tell u they break

So mower tires. rims and brass bearings would be no good either?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Not to be a jerk, but it doesn't look like you're measuring that correctly. You need to measure the actual bolt circle- the pic looks like you're measuring off opposing bolts.

The 6x2 wheels in the PA link above are not only completely unsuitable for kart use, they're smaller than you think. The total diameter is 6", not the rim diameter.

The 4.10x3.50x4 are a little closer to reality in the size department, but complete crap and guaranteed to kill you or your kids.

If you find a good set of the 18x8.50x8 turf tires from a lawn tractor, you can get a pair of 8x7 trailer/ATV rims from PA with a dead common 4-on-4 bolt pattern that will work with them. PA also has a "drive flange" available that you can use to make hubs for that. The flange has a 4-on-4 stud pattern, and a bore that works with their weld-on hubs, so you's select the hub for your shaft size, put it on the flange, and weld together. I can supply SKU numbers if need be.

EDIT- If there's ANY chance you're mis-measuring those hubs like I suspect, the spread might be 4 1/2"- in which case you're dead lucky- that pattern is the common 5-bolt trailer pattern! Take a hub to PA and try it on their 5-bolt version on the 8x7 rim!

 

[getitdone]

I recommend a HIGH QUALITY chain and M link.. I broke to chains and master links because of low quality GAH-BAGE


Alex

 

[EastCoast]

Not to be a jerk, but it doesn't look like you're measuring that correctly. You need to measure the actual bolt circle- the pic looks like you're measuring off opposing bolts.

The 6x2 wheels in the PA link above are not only completely unsuitable for kart use, they're smaller than you think. The total diameter is 6", not the rim diameter.

The 4.10x3.50x4 are a little closer to reality in the size department, but complete crap and guaranteed to kill you or your kids.

If you find a good set of the 18x8.50x8 turf tires from a lawn tractor, you can get a pair of 8x7 trailer/ATV rims from PA with a dead common 4-on-4 bolt pattern that will work with them. PA also has a "drive flange" available that you can use to make hubs for that. The flange has a 4-on-4 stud pattern, and a bore that works with their weld-on hubs, so you's select the hub for your shaft size, put it on the flange, and weld together. I can supply SKU numbers if need be.

EDIT- If there's ANY chance you're mis-measuring those hubs like I suspect, the spread might be 4 1/2"- in which case you're dead lucky- that pattern is the common 5-bolt trailer pattern! Take a hub to PA and try it on their 5-bolt version on the 8x7 rim!

Ok not sure when the next trip to PA will be as it is about a 2 hr drive from me, But I will take the hubs and try them.

What should I do for front rims and bearings ?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Sorry, I didn't realize it was such a trip for you. I don't suppose you have a trailer with 5-bolt rims you can check with?

 

[EastCoast]

Sorry, I didn't realize it was such a trip for you. I don't suppose you have a trailer with 5-bolt rims you can check with?

nope but my neighbor does

Any ideas what to do for the front rims and bearings?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Great! Hopefully he's got a spare so you don't have to actually pull a wheel off to check. I hope it works out- any opportunity to save a few bucks is worth taking.

The front tires might prove a bit trickier. Mowers typically use bushed wheels (as you noticed). If you want bearings (which is preferable), you'll have to look around carefully for rims that are suitable. If you're really having a tough time doing it on the cheap, you could use the mower wheels in the meantime- keep the bushings well lubed, and/or replace with new. As long as they're not badly worn, they will do the job. The downside to bronze or oilite bushings is that they will wear, and obviously create more drag than bearings.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I just had a look thru my catalog, and PA doesn't seem to have any 6" rims with bearings. They DO have several with tires already mounted, but they get a bit pricey. For a 15x6-6 turf tire on a bearing-equipped rim, they want $59.99. It IS, however, a brand-name Carlisle tire. They've got a 13x5-6 for $32.99. For another option, they have a 16x6.50-8 for $49.99.

 

[Diesel_mech85]

I'm in the process of sizing up bearings to replace the bronze bushes in the front wheel of an old AMF mower. Idea is that they should press in tight to bore of wheel have a sleeve in between the bearings so it can be tightened up and with either 14, 16mm Id. Or 1/2" 9/16" so I can just use a bolt for a spindle. Do u guys use metric much in america. Or mostly imperial a/f still?

 

[EastCoast]

I just had a look thru my catalog, and PA doesn't seem to have any 6" rims with bearings. They DO have several with tires already mounted, but they get a bit pricey. For a 15x6-6 turf tire on a bearing-equipped rim, they want $59.99. It IS, however, a brand-name Carlisle tire. They've got a 13x5-6 for $32.99. For another option, they have a 16x6.50-8 for $49.99.

Yeah I was looking at them too, but they all have 3/4" bore and I used a 5/8" bolt to make my stub axles, because that is the size bushing the mowers use.

I also seen 2 pc press-in flange bearings 5/8" OD 1-3/8", too bad they would fit in the mower rims. They are only $2.99

 

[EastCoast]

Ok made another seat the other day out of the school chairs. Cut the legs off and welded them together and made a base for them to sit on. I will put pics up soon of it. It is42 & 1/4" wide and when I set it on the bench with the back to the wall it is 19 & 1/2" long from the wall to the front of the seat. I want to make the seat adjustable for shot or long legs.

I was thinking of making a frame 5' long and 34 & 1/2" wide. Well the seating area has to be wide enought to mount the seat to. I was thinking of making the front wheels (outside to outside) the same width as the frame and the rear tires only stick out the diference of width then they are from the front wheels. Hope you can see what I mean in you head.

 

[EastCoast]

Here I made a pic I want to make something like this. That should be 5' not 5" long, lol typo!

I need to figure out more measurements and better angles.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That's pretty wide! Then again, it'll be nearly rollover-proof! You should do a scale drawing to get a better feel for it, and it well help work out the dimensions and angles. If you get yourself some 1/4" graph paper, you can scale at 1/4"=3", or 1"=1'. (1:12 scale)

Use your existing seat dimensions, your axle, ideal tire sizes, engine dimensions, whatever you've got.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That's pretty wide! Then again, it'll be nearly rollover-proof! You should do a scale drawing to get a better feel for it, and it well help work out the dimensions and angles. If you get yourself some 1/4" graph paper, you can scale at 1/4"=3", or 1"=1'. (1:12 scale)

Use your existing seat dimensions, your axle, ideal tire sizes, engine dimensions, whatever you've got.

 

[EastCoast]

Yeah its wide but it needs to seat two people at once.

 

[redsox985]

A 3' wide seat with sides would most likely be enough for 2 people.

Does anyone here have a 2 seater kart with a bench seat they could measure the width of?