Steering sensitivity / wobble?

[archgordie]

Hi there I’m hoping some one can give me some pointers, I have been doing up an old kart with my son over the lock down, we have only been messing about with it just nice to have a project together, I took out the old jack shaft and replaced with a torque converter added a few bits like suspension etc. Works great, threaded the torque converter to limit speed whilst he gets used to it. I just have one problem and I’m not too sure where to start.
The steering is very sensitive, not much happens at first when you turn them all of a sudden it grabs and turns, you then steer the other way and that grabs too so if your on tarmac you can end up with a steering kinda of wobble as soon as you get to about 10 mph where you correct one way then the other then back again and get a wobble from over correction. On dirt it’s not so bad which is what we do most of so not really an issue but it’s still kind of little steering you turn a bit more and then it suddenly goes so you have to hold the kart straight all the time. It didn’t pull on it’s own and it’s the same pull both sides. Steering ratio pretty much 1:1 and locks out one way at 45ish degrees the other a bit more (will put stop on that when I get a min). It seems to have a little toe in, 10 degrees at top of king pin going forward and I would say 10 degrees or maybe a few more leaning away from edges of kart going out at top of king pin. From what I have read that sounds about right. Was going to try a bell shape steering end to try add some Ackerman but not sure if that will really help as it’s too sensitive all of a sudden, can probably rebuild front end if I need too but the fact that it seems to be the same both ways makes me think it’s design rather than something broke. It has had a hit on left side which I think is put wheel out a little.

Any advice would be amazing and apologies for the long story!
Will host some pics and put them up too.

 

[Karttekk]

Put the front of the kart on stands and check for binding in the steering linkage. If it's tight, knock the tie rods off and try to narrow down what could be binding or bent. You'll need to eliminate components until you figure it out. Wheel bearings? Bent wheel?

 

[archgordie]

Thanks it’s the same both ways ie left or right on the steering which made me think it was more design than something damaged?
Would it be like that both ways if there was damage to only one side if so will start stripping down and investigating.
It’s a rough and ready old kart so will be fun trying to figure out.

 

[Karttekk]

Hard to say what's going on. Kids (and adults) thrash these things. They fly over bumps at high speeds, hit stumps and rocks, roll them over. Unless they're in mint condition they're a gamble. Fun toys though and learning about them is an adventure. You'll figure it out.

 

[Scott.A86]

Edit-- sorry for my lack of knowledge I now know the difference between trailing and leading links on spindal arms-- I dont know a whole lot about different set ups but, my spindles and pitman arm face forward. My kart also has control arms and poor steering radius. A bigger diameter steering wheel may help with control.

 

[archgordie]

Thanks for the tips gents will have a look think it may just be a case of trial and error, its not in mint condition for sure there are some bangs etc but the way its doing it so consitantly on both sides makes me think deisgn, will work through a few things and see what happens!

hi there made some headway, put a bit of weight on the front and found some improovements and changed the toe out a bit and now no where near as twitchy.

cheers!