I have been thinking how cool it would be to build a steam powered go kart! Not realy for speed or power just for something to say you have and works to put in parades and such. I have a rough idea of what i would do to build one in my head. What is everyones thoughts for or agenst building one beside exploshion chances?
Steam Powered Go Kart
- Thread starter SpeedBoy
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DS13
Annoying the Neighbors!!!
how are ya gonna set it up because i would be more worried about scalding yourself with hot steam than an explosion.
cumminsbayou4x4
New member
i saw a new paper article online some where about these kids in the 50s in saint lois or some where that built a steam powered go kart. It only went like 5mph and was really heavy but you may could make one to go faster
Kind of hard to explain but im thinking a old briggs and straton i have and converting it to steam because i dont have the ecuimpment to fabricate a cylender stsyem.
Hmm so its prolly possiple then! im not sure on how im gona do it all but i know it will take a long time to build, im going to need a sight gauge for a boiler and that will probably be the hardest thing to get my hands on or fabricate!
DS13
Annoying the Neighbors!!!
i think you are gonna have a problem keeping the temperature up to boil the water instantly and have a problem carrying enough water around to move very far. im not trying to discourage ya but you are gonna need a pretty big kart IMO.
Yes i know, i kind of know what i am getting myself into if i build it i know there is going to be alot of work and rebuilding. The water issue would be easy for me since theres no trails or nothin near me there is just a road i ride on that is never more then 40feet away and the water is good enough to use! Of course this wouldnt be like my other stuff where i can get off the edje road for cops and such but i think i could get by with the excuse im experementing with it.
DS13
Annoying the Neighbors!!!
Seems interesting though and im gonna keep an eye on this.
falcon52
New member
Keep us updated for sure. Looks like a cool build in the making.
Doc Sprocket
*********
Green? Nah- some tree-hugger would give you a hard time. You gotta burn something to make that boiler boil...
Lol truebut i mean itysd green for me cause normaly im running souped up gas engines that burn oil around, So burnen a lil wood or biodiesel or propne or charcoal (not sure yet) willbe a big step forward 
OzFab
Well-known member
I too have seen it done but, there's a lot of extra weight involved: water tank, boiler, plumbing, etc...
True but with steam you can get more torque and power out of a smaller cylender then a gas engine.
OzFab
Well-known member
Hey, I'm not saying don't do it, just keep it in mind...
Yep i know im not completly sure i will do it yet but the idea of being able to do it possiply is driving me nuts!
jman231994
New member
Im pretty sure weve talked about it in the past, but I once saw a Jay Leno video showing off his steam car, its called a Doble and only a few were made in the early 1900's.
They were absolutely awesome performance wise and didnt have a large boiler persee, instead they had a steam chamber thingy where a mist of water and a mist of fuel was sprayed, a spark plug ignited the fuel instantly boiling the water creating steam. To top it off it was a more or less closed system, where the used water was condensed and reused to top up the tank.
They were absolutely awesome performance wise and didnt have a large boiler persee, instead they had a steam chamber thingy where a mist of water and a mist of fuel was sprayed, a spark plug ignited the fuel instantly boiling the water creating steam. To top it off it was a more or less closed system, where the used water was condensed and reused to top up the tank.
I saw that vid as well and thats were i got the idea to try this from. Im not sure i could build a efficaint boiler like that though 
beansdaddy78
JR. Member
would be cool to see.
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