Two Seat To One Seat Conversion

[OneTimeUser]

I'm going to convert my bench seat Fox Hornet to a single seat. It's really kid sized and I'd like a bit more room for me.

It's a pretty easy job that involves some cutting and welding, nothing too complicated.

I'm writing to ask this question: should I buy a Chinese rack and pinion with the steering wheel centered, or cut and reweld the existing rack and pinion I already have to move it from left drive to center drive?

Another way to ask this is "has anyone bought an Amazon rack and pinion lately, and are they junk"?

The old rack on my Fox is of pretty high quality and I don't want to replace it with some Chinese junk that will give trouble.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Functional Artist]

IMO it's probably best, if you can leave the "rack to the wheels" as stock

Just mount your steering wheel in the center
...& use a "knuckle" joint, in the connecting shaft

 

[Hellion]

If it’s an honest bench seat and not the kind that is two high-back buckets joined together, there’s really nothing to change and the steering wheel position does not bother me. I better go look at your pics to refresh my memory. I suppose if you never intend to have 2 people riding or two 9 year olds (the people most likely to fit comfortably), then by all means change the seat and move the steering wheel so you truly are in the center and there’s no weight imbalance...

I like F-A’s idea.

Where’s the photos? Let’s see the process, this is a good topic.

 

[OneTimeUser]

Thanks for the help. I'll post pictures when I get started. BTW, I'm very pleased with the Tillotson. It's faster and quieter and (now with a little break in) click starts hot or cold with no choke. I'll install the cable choke kit anyway, 'cause I don't know how it's gonna act in the winter. It's been at over 100 degrees here lately. Whew.

I'm like FA's idea also, but am going to move the whole thing to center. Otherwise why do I have a torch and a welder?

My only concern is getting some Chinese junk with (say) a plastic pinion gear and having it be sloppy and/or wear out quickly.

I'm studying up on Amazon products and reviews to help me make a choice.

I'm also hunting a seat. Everything from dedicated fiberglass single cart seats to tractor and lawn tractor seats from Tractor supply.

 

[Master Hack]

These are handy when ya need some wiggle to connect up steering boxes to steering wheels. Nothing cheap about em but the work well, and hold up to abuse.
You probably shouldn't use some cheap amazon junk for steering anyhow.

Universal Joints

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[Hellion]

I'm studying up on Amazon products and reviews to help me make a choice.

Amazon is starting to suck and limit views on reviews. As Whitetrashrocker once said, don’t trust the 5 star reviews but read the 1 star reviews (and 2 star, says I). How can every product be 5-star perfect? None, and a lot of them are paid reviewers or sent a free product to review. /End rant.

 

[panchothedog]

Master Hack said exactly what I was going to say. Just put a U-joint in the shaft and angle the steering column to the center. If you like rack and pinion that's on there now,
I sure as h@ll wouldn't trade it for anything from Amazon.
FWIW, bought some rear view mirrors for my little buggies. Add said they were for off road use. They were absolute garbage. A few days later when they asked me to review the product, I told them the truth. They wouldn't accept my negative review. No cuss words no foul language. They said my review was not helpful. Probably wasn't helpful for them selling any more junk mirrors. I think a universal for a 1/2" or 3/4" drive socket would be strong enough if welded into place. Cheaper for sure.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Steering Knuckle, Cheetah/Blazer 200 (6000093250G000)

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Go-Kart Steering Kit Complete (KDSTKIT)

The Go-Kart Steering Kit Complete is a comprehensive set of components designed to provide a smooth and responsive steering experience for your go-kart. This kit includes a 17.5" long main steering gear, two tie rods measuring 6.5" long, two rod ends measuring 1.5" long, a 12.5" steering knuckle...

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Challenger X Steering Gear (4.000.030-250-UTV / 4031000150U002)

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[OneTimeUser]

Spark, Thanks for that. I'm first going to try the old cut off wheel and welding method. All I have to do is shorten one (?) tie rod and lengthen the other and move the pinion gear and steering wheel to the center. Piece of cake, no?

If I F that up, I'll break out the check book...

 

[Sparkwizard]

Sounds like a good plan, and I agree that I would do that first, too.

 

[OneTimeUser]

Before.

 

[OneTimeUser]

Before.

 

[Sparkwizard]

I do not think cutting tie rods is going to get you where you need to be. You will need to cut and reweld that rack and the housing, too.
The pinion (steering shaft) is close to the mounting bracket, so moving it will be a semi-major surgery.

 

[OneTimeUser]

During. The housing connect point in the rack sheathing is now centered.

Next comes aligning the rack cuts with the now centered opening in the housing. I'll do the measuring and cutting on the rack but take the rack itself downtown to a pro 'cause they can weld stainless and I can't and (hard to believe) actually weld a little itty bitty bit better than I.

Stated differently, I am a very bad welder and won't trust the rack itself unless a pro does it.

The housing doesn't have anywhere as much stress on it and I believe my mud dobber welding skills will suffice.

For those who live in different environs and don't know the mud dobber, look it up. It is a fascinating and industrious bee like creature with exceptional construction skills.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

the mud dobber

We used to knock down their nests under a bridge when I was younger. One landed on my eyelid and I instinctively grabbed at it to wipe it away, thinking it was mud or dirt or something. It stung the hell out of my eyelid. Doctors thought I was going to lose the eye.

 

[OneTimeUser]

Not exactly on topic, but since you started it--I one time hit a blister beetle right between the eyes (mine, not his) while traveling at approximately 90 mph) on a motorcycle.

Blister beetles are very corrosive and toxic. This one was about the size of a pecan and splattered profusely.

For about a week my face looked like a pound of hamburger. I eventually got a little better and young children no longer scream and run away when they see my face.