Trying to indentify this old kart.

[Pati0furniture]

While doing some cleanup on my girlfriend's parents property, I found this abandoned go kart. My girlfriend says she remembers driving it as a kid, so that'd place it in the mid to late 90s. Nearly all labels/markings are long faded except for a couple seen in the pics. Just wondering if it's worth restoring as I think it'd be a cool gift/blast from the past to get it running for her.

 

[panchothedog]

It might be worth fixing up and having some fun with. Except for a very few old racing karts, there is no such thing as restoring, as one would do to a full sized car. That floor board is completely rusted through. I would check out the rest of the frame REAL good before putting any time and money into it.

 

[Denny]

Looks like a fairly complete kart. But only you can say if it’s worth it.

 

[Pati0furniture]

It might be worth fixing up and having some fun with. Except for a very few old racing karts, there is no such thing as restoring, as one would do to a full sized car. That floor board is completely rusted through. I would check out the rest of the frame REAL good before putting any time and money into it.

Yeah that's the idea. I just plan on cleaning it up, maybe some spray paint, tires, and getting it running again. I have a few random small engines laying around too, and I'll probably tinker with it/do some tuning just for fun and see how fast I can get it to go lol

 

[Pati0furniture]

Looks like a fairly complete kart. But only you can say if it’s worth it.

Fair point. Just trying to see if it or something else with compatible parts is still in production.

 

[Denny]

Yes you can get parts for that kart from almost any of the big suppliers.

 

[Master Hack]

Worth it and girlfriend are a dangerous combination of words when used in the same paragraph. Be safe! Supposing she were to read your query here on a public forum?

Just a little sage advice.

 

[Hellion]

The large decal on the floor pan would seem to say "The Eagle Series". Otherwise, this is a tough one to ID. I'm thinking it's either:

Carter Brothers
Ken-Bar
Yerf-Dog

I'm leaning slightly towards an early Yerf-Dog fun kart. Regardless, I know it is of domestic manufacture as is the Tecumseh OHV engine. I'd fix up the engine too even if you don't use it.

Just wondering if it's worth restoring

Monetary worth or sentimental worth? If it was free, you might refurbish it to something worth $350-$500 (current market price for a nice go-kart) maybe more depending upon what someone will pay.

I love projects so I'd just do it anyway.

 

[Denny]

By the pedals it has to be a God-Frey or a late Manco.

 

[Hellion]

By the pedals it has to be a God-Frey or a late Manco.

Those pedals (or pedals like it) were on a lot of karts. Seen on early Fox(?) go karts too and/or just early rear engine karts.

Actually if you look at the pedals closely in photo #4, they only mimic "Manco" pedals. The ones on the kart are more crude and have a straight stem instead of the curved arc shape seen on the Manco style. Kart has a solid plastic "deep dish" steering wheel that is unique to Ken-Bar and a few others. . . .

Hey Patiofurniture, If you can, photograph the throttle cable linkage. People are always asking about the factory throttle hookup on karts, the way it was done from the factory. Tecumseh's are kind of unique.

 

[Denny]

Red Fox and Silver Fox were Manco models.

 

[Pati0furniture]

Worth it and girlfriend are a dangerous combination of words when used in the same paragraph. Be safe! Supposing she were to read your query here on a public forum?

Just a little sage advice.

Ha! Good point.

 

[Pati0furniture]

The large decal on the floor pan would seem to say "The Eagle Series". Otherwise, this is a tough one to ID. I'm thinking it's either:

Carter Brothers
Ken-Bar
Yerf-Dog

I'm leaning slightly towards an early Yerf-Dog fun kart. Regardless, I know it is of domestic manufacture as is the Tecumseh OHV engine. I'd fix up the engine too even if you don't use it.



Monetary worth or sentimental worth? If it was free, you might refurbish it to something worth $350-$500 (current market price for a nice go-kart) maybe more depending upon what someone will pay.

I love projects so I'd just do it anyway.

The closest one I could find after googling some more was a "Tecumseh Eagle 2". It looked nearly identical except the frame/roll cage was slightly different.

Just for fun/sentimental value. I think its more likely after we play with it, we'll probably give it to her family, she's got cousins that live nearby with a lot of kids I'm sure would give it a good second chance at life. And plus I hated seeing it sit there rotting away when the frame is straight and solid (except the floor board but that doesn't seem very difficult to fix/replace).

 

[Pati0furniture]

I appreciate the replies, this gives me enough info to get started.

 

[Denny]

While doing some cleanup on my girlfriend's parents property, I found this abandoned go kart. My girlfriend says she remembers driving it as a kid, so that'd place it in the mid to late 90s. Nearly all labels/markings are long faded except for a couple seen in the pics. Just wondering if it's worth restoring as I think it'd be a cool gift/blast from the past to get it running for her.

You know in thinking about it some more we would need to see pictures of your girlfriend. You know to see if it’s worth it or not.

 

[Hellion]

The closest one I could find after googling some more was a "Tecumseh Eagle 2"

Your Google-Fu is excellent. Found this (for all interested) using your search terms:
https://www.bigiron.com/Lots/TecumsehPowerSportEagleIIGo-Cart

Still can't find who made it, there is a "____ Industries, Inc" decal on it but the pics are low res and I cannot read it. Tecumseh never (knock on wood) had a go kart line, just engines, so that leaves "The Eagle Series - Eagle II".

I wonder if Jim D. knows who the manufacturer is.

 

[Hellion]

there is no such thing as restoring, as one would do to a full sized car.

Restoration is a little-understood and mangled word in the fixer-upper fan base. I cringe when I see a "fully restored" something and it is in reality a repaired or "made-functional-custom" with neon green paint and the whimsical notions of the "restorer"...

Sure, he could "restore" this kart. He could repair the rusted-out floor with new sheet metal of the same gauge and blend it in so the repair disappears and looks original, then fluff and buff everything on the frame and engine and he might be able reproduce the decals to make it appear 90%+ close to original. That's all that most restorers are able to do anyway unless they start with a complete car for example and they're merely tidying up the cosmetic (faded paint) appearance.

But I know what you meant. There's no point in it unless it was a labor of love. Tons of people out there who do it just to do it.

 

[Hellion]

While doing some cleanup on my girlfriend's parents property, I found this abandoned go kart. My girlfriend says she remembers driving it as a kid, so that'd place it in the mid to late 90s. Nearly all labels/markings are long faded except for a couple seen in the pics. Just wondering if it's worth restoring as I think it'd be a cool gift/blast from the past to get it running for her.

Mystery solved. The outfit that made these karts was known as:

Minat Inc.
115 East Front St.
Annawan, IL 61234
Firm out of business

They are the 5th manufacturer on the list that was affected by the recall:

CPSC Announces Recall of Additional Go-Karts

Consumers should stop using these go-karts immediately and contact the appropriate manufacturer to receive a free axle guard kit with instructions for easy installation.

www.cpsc.gov

Your kart appears to be a U.S. Eagle Series kart. Seems fairly rare and unique to me since I have never heard of Minat Inc.

The old company may yet exist as Brave Industries, same address.

Brave Industries | Annawan, IL - Macrae's Blue Book

115 E Front St, Annawan, IL, 61234-9706. Complete contact info, phone number and all products for this location. Get a direct or competing quote.

www.macraesbluebook.com