To build or To Buy.

[new2me]

Lately I have had an extremely strong.......hmm "want" for some kind of small motorized toy. I like speed but prefer 4 wheels instead of 2. I am really leaning towards building a kart, but my lil bro has shown me this site that sells pocket rockets and the such cheap. I seen this low sitting pocket quad with a 49cc engine for about $350 shipped with claims of up to 40mph. Could a kart be made for that kind of $$$ and performance?

I manage a property on 2.3 acre, part is paved and part is grass & hills. But this is where I will be playing with it most of the time.

Can you guys help persuade me into a decision? I have gone from electric mountain bike to go kart to shifter kart and now this. lol My budget is under $500 so the shifter was quickly denied and my mountain bike is to nice to hack. ~Chris

 

[GoAlterBridge]

You can make a really cool kart (Or bike!) with 500. my budget is only around 200 and so far I'm doing okay. If I were you, I'd make the kart instead buying the pocket bike.
First off, you can do repairs and fixes easier because you know all about what was used to make it, (you'll be the one making it!) and you should and shouldn't do to it. Second, It'll give you a great oppurtunity to learn about karts (if you don't already) and understand the induvidual components for "next time". wheich ever one you pick, i'm sure in the long run it'll end up fine.
I hope I convinced you one way or the other.

 

[mikeandike]

do you have access/own a welder? Because a decent welder costs $$ so if you have access to a welder then i suggest build a kart. Its more fun to make one, it's custom built for you and it will probably last longer too ( depending on how strong you make it)

 

[RobertD]

What's the website link for the cheapies? A 49 cc engine will probably be amazingly underwhelming.

 

[new2me]

minipocketrockets.com is the site with the 49cc dealy. I do have a mig welder that I bought a few years back from harbor frieght. It does a pretty good job, but i need to finish running my 220 line for it in this house. Im still learning about these toys for now. Im thinking I will go with square tube frame since I dont have a bender, and for a motor Ill keep it simple and do the 5-8hp. It seems that jackshafts make the machine more versitile from what im reading but could be reading it wrong too. If I set it up with a jackshaft couldn't that allow me to go bigger in the engine some time down the road?

Anyways thank you for your replys Im sure I will have many Q's later. I will start buying some metal next week and planing it our.

 

[RobertD]

i made an "extension cord" for a buddy of mine that wouldn't pull the trigger and get his 220 run. If your clothes dryer connection is close enough to the garage, you can use that service.

about the 49cc:

if those things will do 40, it's on a hill with a tailwind. plus it's got 3" clearance and is two feet tall. That's tiny!

 

[new2me]

i made an "extension cord" for a buddy of mine that wouldn't pull the trigger and get his 220 run. If your clothes dryer connection is close enough to the garage, you can use that service.

about the 49cc:

if those things will do 40, it's on a hill with a tailwind. plus it's got 3" clearance and is two feet tall. That's tiny!

What awg wire did you use for that cord? I have it piped to the side of the house I just need to pull the wire threw and hook up the breaker & outlet. Unfortunatly I will only be able to use it outside unless I make an extention cord.

On a side note my youngest brother has an older yamaha shaft driven quad (200 or 250cc) It has a 4spd auto trans too. I am thinking that might be the engine for me somewhere down the road, if it will even work of corse.

 

[RobertD]

Mine is 10 guage. Here's a link with some discussion about dryers:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=271475

 

[new2me]

Excellent link!

OK so help me sort some things out, please.

If I get a 5-8hp engine, build a frame, and setup a "1 wheel wonder". What would be my best option for putting the power to the wheel? (clutch, torque converter, or jack shaft)

If I set up a jack shaft does that set me up for a larger engine later, or is that just used for components that dont hook up easily?

Sorry for the newb q's but like my name says, its all new 2 me.

 

[RobertD]

You can use a jackshaft if you're needing to change the ratios for some reason (using a high RPM engine, for example) or if you just need to xfer the power a long way, if the engine is mounted far from the axle, for example. You don't want to use too long a chain, basically.

Torque convertor is like a auto transmission, and will give you super-power. Clutch style is the traditional method, but there's less low end power, (unless you gear it to have just low end power and no speed).

 

[new2me]

You can use a jackshaft if you're needing to change the ratios for some reason (using a high RPM engine, for example) or if you just need to xfer the power a long way, if the engine is mounted far from the axle, for example. You don't want to use too long a chain, basically.

Torque convertor is like a auto transmission, and will give you super-power. Clutch style is the traditional method, but there's less low end power, (unless you gear it to have just low end power and no speed).

Thank you robertjung that makes a lot more sense!

I was talking to the lil brother last night asking him what he plans on doing with his 93' timber wolf, because he dont have a place to store it. Well the conversation ended with him saying "Dude your a d#$!, I was going to sell it & now I want to see what its like in a kart, lol".

How much of a pain will it be to run a 250cc Yamaha w/clutch-less 4spd, oh and its shaft driven?

What kind of components will I need to accommodate this? (axles, sprockets, etc....)

 

[jackdawson]

were

does anybody know were i can get a double flanged hub?

 

[RobertD]

you can get a combo from northern, or order it alone from BMI.

http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/ddiprod?lid=41000000009404703&pid=1337
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/ddiprod?lid=41000000009404703&pid=1334

 

[new2me]

I remember reading that if you have a live axle you need the inner tire to lift so to speak. If I only put suspension on the front will this due the job?

 

[RobertD]

that's a good question. I think the lift is all about the angle of the tire when it turns... But I'm unsure. Can you remember where you read that?

 

[new2me]

http://www.diygokarts.com/kart-parts/go-kart-drive-axle.html

See the only reason I thought about going this route is I will have it on the road 75% & grass field 25%. So I figure if I put the suspension on the front it would help with the brain boucing in my head. lol Plus I know I'll still play in the winter which 1 wheel will not do very much. Again this is just a thought as I have been doing a lot of lately.