Unveiling The Kids' Kart!!!

[Doc Sprocket]

Wow- this is pretty trippy. I've got the kids working on their kart even as we speak. Feels strange (but cool) to take a "hands off" approach, and let them do it! I'm so proud, I could cry...

We (yeah) tore the engine off, and ripped the governor out. To our surprise, the governor had completely exploded inside the engine! The flyweights, retaining pins, and button were loose in the crankcase! Arrgh! Cheap, chinese crap!

Damage appeared minimal. Some score marks in non-critical places. The big thing was that the oil dipper had struck something, bent a bit, and scored the side of the case. I re-clearanced the dipper, and we proceeded.

The kids are bolting the engine back on the chassis right now, we'll do a test-start shortly. I'm so proud!!!

 

[souperman000]

....I'm so proud!!!

I'm sure it makes you feel good to see your kids take to your hobby.

They sure have a good teacher!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Alrighty, she runs... Danged loud with the straight pipe I fabbed up the other night, too! We still have to tweak the new throttle linkages a bit. The return spring is interfering with the fuel tank, no big deal. Might put a fancier tank on it. The chain was getting a bit crusty, so it's in an oil bath. We'll finish tomorrow, and I'll see if maybe Garry wants to add some notes here.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Armed with helmet and GPS, I took 'er for a spin. Initial results indicate 52 Km/h (33 MPH) at about 5450RPM. Garry's driving the wee out of it as we speak...

I think I hit the gearing bang on. Acceleration is still pretty good for the 4hp it is, and while top speed is pretty, the valves do not appear to be floating. Final ratio now is 7.5:1. When I built it, I geared at 12:1.

 

[toystory2]

Holy smoke's!!!!!! My go-kart is so fast! My dad clocked it with his GPS and it was 52Km/h which I think is fast!!!!! I'll be on it tomorrow morning as early as I can trying to do drifts and speed up my driveway.(Good thing there's no speed limit. Ha ha ha ha!!!)

 

[OzFab]

There's an old saying: "those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." My little addendin: "Masters can do both."

Well done guys: Chris for having the patience & ability to teach the youngens & Garry for having the ability to learn, you have a great teacher

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Thanks for the kind words, Fab- They are well appreciated. I am by no stretch a master, and don't even consider myself a particularly good teacher. But I guess it'd be better to ask the student.

What I can say, is that today was a wonderful day! I had a truly enjoyable time teaching my son to wrench, and watching him doing it. The work was successful despite some mechanical defects, the kart's just boogying.

The real reward for me was watching Garry's face- First, when we did the initial start-up- and the engine that he worked on actually started; and secondly, right after his first pass up and down the driveway... Priceless!!!

 

[OzFab]

I am by no stretch a master, and don't even consider myself a particularly good teacher.

Did he complete the task with only your instruction; you didn't use any tools?
Was the task completed successfully?
Could he do it again with minimal or no supervision?

If you answered yes to all of the above, then consider yourself a good teacher.

IMO,to teach is to pass on knowledge & gain a successful result on the part of the student. Isn't that what you did?

What I can say, is that today was a wonderful day! I had a truly enjoyable time teaching my son to wrench, and watching him doing it. The work was successful despite some mechanical defects, the kart's just boogying.

The real reward for me was watching Garry's face- First, when we did the initial start-up- and the engine that he worked on actually started; and secondly, right after his first pass up and down the driveway... Priceless!!!

It's the ultimate reward...

But I guess it'd be better to ask the student.

Well Garry, how did he do?

 

[landuse]

There is nothing better than getting dirty with the kids and teaching them some usefull skills.

Well done Garry! Not many kids your age have even started an engine, let alone seen the inside of one.

Toystory, good job too!

 

[TUK101]

That is a very nice build. The hydraulic disc brake has got to be sweet. Now if I can just land the right rear engine riding mower I can put together something similar!

 

[Kelly Wood]

THAT is Awesome.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

And its just steps away from getting a recently-acquired Honda GX160- WooHoo!

Also on the table- It has a differential that I originally installed to give it good road manners while the kids were learning. My older son is a speed freak, who's been doing his ****edest trying to drift it in wet grass with that peg-leg. So, I'm likely to weld up the pumpkin soon! He's gonna dig it, big time!

 

[tractor guy]

WOW! Homerun dude! I was toyin with the idea of deere colors for the kids kart when i saw the john deere colors in rattle cans at my heaven on earth, tractor supply. i have since decided it will eather be deere yellow and black, or blaze orange and black, since i want it to be bright and visable for safetys sake.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Thanks! The whole Deere theme came incidentally. My son said he wanted it green. I came to realize that the Tremclad I had was John Deere green, so I just went with it.

 

[DaiSan76]

You need some new videos of this rig.