Steering like a car?

[nak18]

Is it possible to achieve steering like a car without power steering using a pitman arm setup?

I don't want 3-5 revolution, 2-3 revolution lock to lock will work for me. This will be

I've been all over the internet looking at rack/pinion setups, and it's a little confusing on how to do it properly. I'd rather go with a pitman arm for now and switch to steering rack later.

 

[nomnom]

I've thought something similar would be nice, to give more precise control. I saw a video of a guy on YouTube building a kart with a pulley type system right on the steering column. The steering had a solid connection (rack) between each spindle linkage. There was a pulley on the steering column with a cable attached to two places on the rack on either side of the st. column. As you turn the wheel, one side unreels and the other winds up. I haven't tried it, but sure have thought about it...that's close, right

 

[landuse]

I have also seen steering that uses a sprocket and chain instead of a pitman arm

 

[fowler]

u can cut down a car rack and pinion fairly easierly

 

[nak18]

I've thought something similar would be nice, to give more precise control. I saw a video of a guy on YouTube building a kart with a pulley type system right on the steering column. The steering had a solid connection (rack) between each spindle linkage. There was a pulley on the steering column with a cable attached to two places on the rack on either side of the st. column. As you turn the wheel, one side unreels and the other winds up. I haven't tried it, but sure have thought about it...that's close, right

I have seen that video, but I ride bmx bikes and I know for a fact braided cable stretch. They even snap sometimes, when you dis your bike, so steering under a heavy load + force from a bump will more than likely render the cable useless.

Yeah, your close though.

I have also seen steering that uses a sprocket and chain instead of a pitman arm

Where? I would like to look into that.

 

[nomnom]

Yeah, I think you are right that over time the braided cable would stretch and could possibly break. Chain would certainly be nice.

The stretching of the cable though, wouldn't be too much of an issue. You would probably have to have a tensioning screw to adjust before each ride, but you'd need that anyway for initial setup. Also, as for breakage, if spec'd properly, it should be strong enough to take any bumps that the gokart could take otherwise...depending on the size/weight of the kart. Most likely a hard bump would make it hard to keep the wheel still.

Not trying to convince you one way or another, just fun to discuss. As previous poster said, probably pretty easy to get a rack and pinion from a small car at a junk yard or ebay.

Either way, hope you have success whatever you do and hope you share with the forums here.

 

[mrfreyguy]

Is it possible to achieve steering like a car without power steering using a pitman arm setup?

I don't want 3-5 revolution, 2-3 revolution lock to lock will work for me. This will be

I've been all over the internet looking at rack/pinion setups, and it's a little confusing on how to do it properly. I'd rather go with a pitman arm for now and switch to steering rack later.

Im pretty sure that the Mazda Miata rack in my buggy is only 3 revolutions lock to lock. The body of it is made of steel too so it was very eazy to shorten

 

[fowler]

ya the amount of turns are reduced because your steering arms are shortened

i would use a rack n pinion as steering boxes are usually used on bigger vehicals like vans and trucks and will be fairly heavy

cables are a bad idea
iv done it on our school ev kart
we used 5mm cable
it works fine untill u hit i tiny bump and it will stretch the calbe a little

 

[landuse]

As far as I remember the steering system using chain and sprockets are called "chain and sprocket steering". Maybe google it and see what you get. I remember someone on this site spoke about it once, but I cannot find the post.

 

[fowler]

me and i think either r 97 or toystory have made a rack n pinion useing chain and a sprocket

mine failed the other worked i think

 

[Badot]

I'd just be worried about what would happen if the chain decided to jump the sprocket

 

[r97]

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10414&highlight=chain+steering

 

[theo]

I used 2 sprockets with a 35 chain, it worked ok. I kept the chain adjusted by shimming the top bushing, this worked real good.

[/IMG]

 

[AceEngineer]

You can always build your own rack and pinion steering. Mine is 1-1/2 turns lock to lock. It also allowed me to have true Acerman steering because the gear box tie rod (in front of the axle) is seperate from the wheel to wheel tie rod allowing it to be behind the axle. This together with a differential (from a golf cart) in the rear make my kart drive very much like a car.

 

[porsche930dude]

yerf dogs have a rack. theyre cheap on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yerf-Dog-Ra...468?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bd04afe4

 

[nak18]

I used 2 sprockets with a 35 chain, it worked ok. I kept the chain adjusted by shimming the top bushing, this worked real good.

[/IMG]

What are the sprocket sizes?

You can always build your own rack and pinion steering. Mine is 1-1/2 turns lock to lock. It also allowed me to have true Acerman steering because the gear box tie rod (in front of the axle) is seperate from the wheel to wheel tie rod allowing it to be behind the axle. This together with a differential (from a golf cart) in the rear make my kart drive very much like a car.

Please post a tutorial on this or a video. How much did it cost?

yerf dogs have a rack. theyre cheap on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yerf-Dog-Ra...468?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bd04afe4

This is my price range right here

 

[nak18]

Would it be easy for me to make this work like the yerf dog one, or will it be harder to steer?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3357fd0799

I don't want to get stuck with a car rack and pinion, so I would like to know if it I can make it turn easily, because it won't be using powers steering.

 

[fowler]

u have made life a bit harder
u would have been better off with a non power type but it can still be used
i have never shortend one of those

http://www.edgebuggyforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=7287&hilit=steering+rack
http://www.sadik.net/gokart/plans/steering.htm

those links should help
i didnt make a new bushing i just settled for an offset rack

it will work just fine
the steering is a little stiffer than a pitman arm but much more precise and u dont get much movement back though the steering wheel

 

[AceEngineer]

nak18,
It's been a couple of years since I made that kart, but as I recall, the steering gearbox cost me about $45. Had to buy a piece of rack and a compatable spur gear, 2 sleeve bearings and a chunk of aluminum at the scrap metal dealer. That and a Saturday on the milling machine and it was done. I think I bought the rack and gear from Small Parts Inc. but not sure. That type of stuff is usually available from any bearing supply outfit. Check Martin Sprockets or Boston Gear, they both have online catalogs with loads of gearing. In fact, I will be ordering the spur gears for my reversal gearbox (see my thread in the intro section) from the local Martin distributor in the near future. If you want to know more, respond and I will get back with more details and photos.

 

[nak18]

@fowler, I didn't buy it. I was just using the picture from ebay.

So all I need to look for is a manual steering rack n pinion. My price range is $40, $50 max. Still got to buy a welder.