Trying to resurrect 1950's build

[renewoldkart]

Well, long story short. Grew up driving my grandpa's kart around his 3 acre lot. Kart was built by my grandpa for my dad to race on asphalt. Did well I hear. It was given to me during my high school years to bring back to life in my auto shop class. Unfortunately one of my classmates blew the engine and I let it sit till now. I am now 38 and want to bring life back to this. Grandpa has passed recently, my dad, sprung for a new Predator motor recently and my buddy and I spent one night "making it work" to the kart (beer included of course). Need some help with throttle cables mostly as well as linkage to the motor. I'd like to fit this to my 4 year (almost 5) daughter plus 2 nieces and one nephew. Not sure where to start so any assistance would be greatly appreciated! I am willing to provide any pictures needed.

Thank you for your help in advance!

Matt

 

[renewoldkart]

Oh geez, forgot. One of my main problems right now is raising this thing up a couple of inches so the kids can ride it in the grass. Since it was initially made to run on asphalt.

 

[landuse]

Oh geez, forgot. One of my main problems right now is raising this thing up a couple of inches so the kids can ride it in the grass. Since it was initially made to run on asphalt.

Welcome to the forum!! Post some pics of your pedal setup and we can see what the best way would be to hook up the throttle

Have a look at these for engine hookup ideas

HF Predator throttle hookup
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18571
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18751
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19856

As for raising the kart up, the easiest way is to get larger tyres, but that creates a whole mess of problems of it own. Increasing tyre size affect the gear ratio of the kart. The larger the tyres the lower your gearing has to be to compensate. What is the tooth count on your clutch as well as the axle? This will give us an idea of your gearing and if larger tyres will work with what you have now. What is the tyre diameter now?

 

[OzFab]

but

 

[chancer]

Just went over this with pics for another guy this weekend. Check this out...
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28789

AND I want to see pics of a '50s kart please.

 

[renewoldkart]

I will have to get a count again on the drive sprocket. The clutch is 12 teeth I believe but I can confirm when I count the other. The rear tires are 4.10x3.5x5. The drive sprocket is welded to the wheel so any new tire that will fit on this will have to be narrow I believe. Without changing the entire sprocket and wheel hub out. Don't laugh at the rig mixing the throttle cable with the rod. It was a night with a buddy and a few beers just to get this thing running. My grandpa had used a series of rods and rod ends which would not mate with the Predator engine.

 

[renewoldkart]

My main problem right now is getting this thing up off of the ground a little bit so it won't bottom out as much in the yard. Without doing any major changes if possible.

In the long run I believe I'll replace the throttle rod/cable setup with just one cable and eliminate the rod. The way it's working right now it's either all or nothing on the throttle. Good for me...bad for a 5 year old.

 

[chancer]

I cant tell from the pics so far but on the front end you may be able to just flip the spindles over and swap them left to right to get a couple inches up front.

I think on the rear you may need to get into fabrication which may take away dfromthe nostalgia of a '50s kart.

 

[renewoldkart]

I have it in the back corner of the shed, I'll try and get it out in the next few days to get overall pictures of it. Good thought on the spindles, off the top of my head I'm not sure that is possible. I definitely do not want to modify (cut chop weld) the frame. Not worth it to me for sake of preserving the history. Thank you for your help so far.