The Rat Kart (radio flyer rat rod t-bucket thing)

[mckutzy]

This is truly a cool build....very nice...

Your band brake, can you explain more about it..... I thought something looked odd... Pop rivits... Cool idea...
Is that header wrap or cotton rope??? (Reminds me of my buddy's old model T, it had a cotton liner instead of wood for the transbrake, the luxurious version.)

 

[anickode]

The brake band is padded with semi metallic industrial brake friction material. It comes on a big coil. You cut it to size, drill and countersink for rivets, and attach it. Normally it's done using flat head brass rivets, but I was in a lazy mood so I used aluminum pop rivets.

The drum is a power steering pump serpentine pulley with the grooves and shoulders ground off. I just bored the center out to 3/4" and welded it to the axle.

 

[anickode]

Working in finding a new hosting service... Sorry, I ain't paying no 400 bucks a year for you guys to be able to see my stuff.

 

[mckutzy]

Direct upload to this site...

 

[anickode]

Getting pics working

 

[Bbqjoe]

Working in finding a new hosting service... Sorry, I ain't paying no 400 bucks a year for you guys to be able to see my stuff.

So, what are you using?

 

[anickode]

So, what are you using?

For now I'm just direct uploading. A buddy of mine tells me that he uses Flickr and it's much better than the bucket anyway, so I'll be looking into that.

---------- Post added at 01:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------

And yes, that's an OOOOGA horn on there.

No lighting coil, just a rechargeable SLA battery for the lights and horn.

 

[Hellion]

...And yes, that's an OOOOGA horn on there.

No lighting coil, just a rechargeable SLA battery for the lights and horn.

I'm catching up and the OOOOGA horn leapt out at me.

Would love to see video of the kart running the open road (or sidewalk) and the horn scaring innocent passerby.

I want one of those horns for my speed buggy but don't know if they can hold a candle to the originals at all.

 

[bob58o]

I'm just wondering if you crash, does your face go directly into the steering mechanism?

 

[anickode]

I'm just wondering if you crash, does your face go directly into the steering mechanism?

Uh, no worse than having a steering wheel there.... Except unless you hit something going dead nuts straight, the steering is swung to one side or the other.

 

[mckutzy]

The brake band is padded with semi metallic industrial brake friction material. It comes on a big coil. You cut it to size, drill and countersink for rivets, and attach it. Normally it's done using flat head brass rivets, but I was in a lazy mood so I used aluminum pop rivets......

Just relating back to this topic, whereabouts did you buy this brake material from? I have done a few searches, mostly came up with industry search results.

 

[anickode]

Just relating back to this topic, whereabouts did you buy this brake material from? I have done a few searches, mostly came up with industry search results.

I got a coil of it from work. We switched to a more modern friction material on all our holding brakes, and I couldn't see fit throwing it out. Nothing wrong with this stuff, but the new stuff we use is more oil resistant and works better wet.

I believe we originally bought it from a local truck repair place. It is available online but I can't remember the place off the top of my head.

However... Do a search on an antique car forum. Those old car brakes (model T and such) used this type of friction material, and those guys all have their sources for stuff like this.

 

[anickode]

I want one of those horns for my speed buggy but don't know if they can hold a candle to the originals at all.

Eh... They're loud but they wind up faster than the old school ones, so it sounds more like the dive alarm on a Balao class submarine.

 

[Goat]

That is one cool kart.

 

[ond]

I'm with Goat....very cool build !

 

[anickode]

Well, I broke down and ditched the wagon handle steering, in favor of a steering wheel. I almost couldn't bring myself to do it because I liked the handle so much, but it made it so hard to control in corners, I just couldn't justify keeping it. Problem is there was nothing to hold onto or brace against. Start to turn left, and it tosses the rider to the right, and as you go, you take the handle with you, making it turn harder left. After getting thrown from it 3 times (even after adding an oh **** handle) I said forget it.

Yeah, I could just keep it as a cruiser, but its just so much fun to thrash around.

 

[mckutzy]

That still one of the coolest rides here...... very nice..

 

[anickode]

On the bright side, with the wagon handle gone, perhaps I can come up with a grille of some sort to stick in fro t of the motor.

 

[Bubba_Z]

Well, I broke down and ditched the wagon handle steering, in favor of a steering wheel.

Honestly, I looked at the first pics and thought,
If you front end something that thing is going to impale you......

Like the movies where the pole goes through the drivers window and comes out the back seat.....

----------------------------------------
Why buy it when you can build it for 3 times as much?
Bubba

 

[anickode]

Honestly, I looked at the first pics and thought,
If you front end something that thing is going to impale you......

Like the movies where the pole goes through the drivers window and comes out the back seat.....

----------------------------------------
Why buy it when you can build it for 3 times as much?
Bubba

Well I had originally intended it to have a little 2hp engine on it and top out around 15. The fact that it goes double that speed was part of my reason for changing it. Although being made from EMT and that long, it would have bent sideways before impaling anything.