Steering too sensitive?

[mikepctvman]

Whats up everyone, noob here... just picked up this kart recently (see photo) looks like a Thunder Kart? took it for a ride, 5hp briggs motor runs but needs a tune up, trying to get this sensitive steering issue fixed first. I read around and saw a few people have reversed the tie rods on the pitman arm and drilled new holes on the pitman, or simply fixed the alignment. any advice where to start with photos would be great!

 

[chancer]

Search "Ackerman" or look in the FAQ section for Ackerman. You are on the right track with your suggested fixes.

 

[DHC]

Look at the end of ur steering wheel shaft vs this one...

 

[mikepctvman]

Hi DHC - I see you've reversed your steering arms on the pitman, was going to try that... you think that will make a difference? will I need longer steering arms or will they just adjust long enough?

 

[DHC]

"Should" adjust out...

I know my Ackermann steering... but only you can say if it works for you... being an opinion an all...

FYI... its not my kart. Id show u mine... but then all sorts of other questions would popup (mine is VERY custom steering n not like most out there).

 

[mikepctvman]

gotcha. ill give that a try first and adjust the alignment as well before I go drilling and modifying things, right now any improvement will be great. I don't even wanna go too fast on it right now afraid it will flip its so sensitive. ive had other karts in the past similar to this one and don't recall them being this sensitive with the steering either

 

[DHC]

Ur lil plate will need to be bent to be straight... or the tierod(s) will contact the frame n hinder a FULL swing.

 

[mikepctvman]

any advice to bend it straight? blow torch, pliers?

 

[DHC]

Heating it n bending would be the safest method...

Personally id use 2 hammers n beat it straight / flat... but i can reproduce the plate if it should happen to break... couldn't say if you can...?

 

[mikepctvman]

ok ill give that a try, wonder why they made them bent like that

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:35 PM ----------

if I recall I think the pitman arm is welded to the steering shaft

 

[rocketkart]

Thunder Karts are made like this from the factory with a bend in the plate. i have several Thunder Karts and had quite few and thay were all like that and naver had a sensitive steering issue.

 

[mikepctvman]

yeah because all of the Thunder karts like mine I see the pitman arm is bent at the top and the tie rods aren't crossed, im willing to try it if it will make a difference but if it was designed that way it was for a reason, thinking it might be out of alignment or something else that should be easily fixed without any major mods. gonna try an alignment first

 

[mikepctvman]

Dont mean to get off topic but does Anyone know how old or around the time these thunder karts were produced? The date code on the motor reads 11/28/95 looks like it could be the original motor too, its one of those 5hp Briggs "fun power" models. Just curious lol

 

[Poboy kartman]

"Off topic? " It's a question about the kart in this thread...(yours....and your thread!!!) Sheesh...look around...one poor guy here is looking for a minibike and we hijacked his thread and started talking about bullet drop!

That's not off topic at all....hopefully someone can help you with that...

 

[mikepctvman]

True lol I'm sure there's some info, I saw someone had posted a neat sales brochure on a thread here too

 

[OzFab]

Well, this is a first, we usually have questions about under sensitive steering...

Dont mean to get off topic but does Anyone know how old or around the time these thunder karts were produced? The date code on the motor reads 11/28/95 looks like it could be the original motor too, its one of those 5hp Briggs "fun power" models. Just curious lol

IF it's the original engine, it's a good guide but, honestly, you have no way of knowing for sure; case in point, I don't think I've ever seen a 20 year old kart with a paint job that looks that good... not to mention that colour...

I could be wrong but, I would think it was rebuilt recently (withing the last 5 years) & they bolted on an engine they had sitting around, not necessarily the original...

 

[mikepctvman]

Forgot to mention it was definitely spray painted, I can see parts of the original blue underneath

 

[mikepctvman]

adjusting alignment on thunder kart

today I tried adjusting the alignment via loosening the four nuts (circled in pic) on the steering arms, as the pitman arm has to be turned slightly to the left to go straight, problem is the wheels didn't seem to move or adjust at all am I doing something wrong? fyi this isn't my cart in the photo but is similar, my steering arms aren't crossed

 

[Poboy kartman]

Not sure exactly....but I think this is what's going on.....

Those are just locknuts..(to lock down the adjustment) ....adjustment is achieved by turning the rods themselves....

 

[mikepctvman]

Yeah I tried turning the rods but no difference