lyfesaver
Member
Okay, I know this has been talked about MANY times as this search result shows: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/search.php?searchid=1405330 , but I need to take a step back and rework it again.
Let's start from the beginning. I have a Murray Kilowatt that the steering has become FUBAR. Teeth are ground up on the gear and the sleeve plus the the shaft is broken at the base so the gear does not sit in the sleeve anymore anyway.
Backing up again just a sec, this is my first kart. I bought it on CL (Dallas peeps probably saw it 4-5 months ago) advertised as an 8HP. The engine turned out to be 6.5HP and the TC was bad. Also, the jerk removed the front shocks and replaced them with metal bars. Why? Because they kept falling off. This does not say bad shocks, it says you cant weld for crap. But alas, I digress. The steering issues it had were not visible due to the plate that covers those components. The frame, seat and 4 new Carlisle tires still made the deal worth it.
But the steering.... what's up with it now? Well I have taken it to the welder, bypassed the gear completely, but I will get back to that is just a second.
My plans for this cart are the same as it always was... to drive the heck out of it in my local ATV/Bike trails behind my housing complex. I have bought a 40 series and the 16HP Durmax with elec start (not installed) I have LED spots that produce over 4000 lumen, go pro cams, brush guard and knee padding (foam tubes) (all installed) etc...
So, back to the steering again. Like I mentioned I have welded past the gearing to a straight connected shaft, while this works it no longer has the ratio it once had, and this makes it less fun. You turn the wheel 5 degrees and the kart is fully turned. Seriously... 6 inches either way from center and the kart is fully turned. Add to that now the kart is 500% (no exaggeration) harder to steer. Now I figured both of these would be the case, but I did not know it would be as sever as it is. Let's assume for a moment I am okay with this result (and I am not) now a new problem has come up... in any lose dirt, sand or mud if you drive the kart less than a foot, the wheels just fold in. You don't have to turn the steering wheel for it to fold the front wheels in, as any lose type ground will force it to anyway.
Now I dont have any pics at the moment (sadly) but I plan to get some as soon as I can (I am in Plano, karts are in Denton - NOT a short drive for you non N. Texas peeps). Until I can, please understand that we used the same ideas that @realfast89gt used here http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17304
At this point: I am looking for any input you pros can offer this newbie. Any idea why the wheels would fold when all we did was bypass a steering gear? Any ideas if I can get back ANY of the turning ratio I had before losing the gear (this I highly doubt)? Any way to make it easier to turn?
And lastly what do you think of my current idea on what to do to fix it all: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400718291889
I appreciate any help you guys can offer and thank you for reading!!!
Let's start from the beginning. I have a Murray Kilowatt that the steering has become FUBAR. Teeth are ground up on the gear and the sleeve plus the the shaft is broken at the base so the gear does not sit in the sleeve anymore anyway.
Backing up again just a sec, this is my first kart. I bought it on CL (Dallas peeps probably saw it 4-5 months ago) advertised as an 8HP. The engine turned out to be 6.5HP and the TC was bad. Also, the jerk removed the front shocks and replaced them with metal bars. Why? Because they kept falling off. This does not say bad shocks, it says you cant weld for crap. But alas, I digress. The steering issues it had were not visible due to the plate that covers those components. The frame, seat and 4 new Carlisle tires still made the deal worth it.
But the steering.... what's up with it now? Well I have taken it to the welder, bypassed the gear completely, but I will get back to that is just a second.
My plans for this cart are the same as it always was... to drive the heck out of it in my local ATV/Bike trails behind my housing complex. I have bought a 40 series and the 16HP Durmax with elec start (not installed) I have LED spots that produce over 4000 lumen, go pro cams, brush guard and knee padding (foam tubes) (all installed) etc...
So, back to the steering again. Like I mentioned I have welded past the gearing to a straight connected shaft, while this works it no longer has the ratio it once had, and this makes it less fun. You turn the wheel 5 degrees and the kart is fully turned. Seriously... 6 inches either way from center and the kart is fully turned. Add to that now the kart is 500% (no exaggeration) harder to steer. Now I figured both of these would be the case, but I did not know it would be as sever as it is. Let's assume for a moment I am okay with this result (and I am not) now a new problem has come up... in any lose dirt, sand or mud if you drive the kart less than a foot, the wheels just fold in. You don't have to turn the steering wheel for it to fold the front wheels in, as any lose type ground will force it to anyway.
Now I dont have any pics at the moment (sadly) but I plan to get some as soon as I can (I am in Plano, karts are in Denton - NOT a short drive for you non N. Texas peeps). Until I can, please understand that we used the same ideas that @realfast89gt used here http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17304
At this point: I am looking for any input you pros can offer this newbie. Any idea why the wheels would fold when all we did was bypass a steering gear? Any ideas if I can get back ANY of the turning ratio I had before losing the gear (this I highly doubt)? Any way to make it easier to turn?
And lastly what do you think of my current idea on what to do to fix it all: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400718291889
I appreciate any help you guys can offer and thank you for reading!!!
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