Want to build go kart/dunebuggy, need help

[Mikel]

So I heard that predator, lifan and duromax are like kind good for their cheap price.

18 HP duromax (440cc)

predator 13 HP (420cc)

lifan 15hp (420 cc)

Which do you guys prefer, and which will last me longer riding at full speed from time to time?

2nd part

What size (ID,OD) of steel tubing are most go karts made of. Something that wont bend because of weight or a small bump

Thanks

 

[bob58o]

Are you planning on keeping the motor stock with the governor? Do you need electric start / charging?

 

[mrbeggs432]

I have the Duramax 18 in my golf cart...its a pretty solid motor.

I think you would have more performance options going with a Predator wich is also a good performer.

As far as your materials go...I have built with both 1" 11 gauge square and 1" round tubing - 0.095 ....If you dont have a bender - square would be the way to go.


Good Luck

 

[Mikel]

I think you would have more performance options going with a Predator wich is also a good performer.

But the durmax has more Hp and 20more cc, is there more to these motors that no one says?

As far as your materials go...I have built with both 1" 11 gauge square and 1" round tubing - 0.095 ....If you dont have a bender - square would be the way to go.

From what I seen, steel tubes are better because it requires less welds.
and to make "bends" with square seams hard.

Will try to see if i can do square, but it its hard for me may just go with tube

Are you planning on keeping the motor stock with the governor? Do you need electric start / charging?

Idk why i would need charging, I would prefer Electric start





How much is the cost for a frame

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

How much is the cost for a frame

It's like asking what color it will be. There is zero information provided to come up with a credible answer here. You could find steel bed frames in the trash and it would be free, or you could source cro-moly tubing and build a full roll cage buggy for $5000. I guessing you'll end up somewhere between those 2 points.

 

[anickode]

But the durmax has more Hp and 20more cc, is there more to these motors that no one says?


From what I seen, steel tubes are better because it requires less welds.
and to make "bends" with square seams hard.

Will try to see if i can do square, but it its hard for me may just go with tube


Idk why i would need charging, I would prefer Electric start





How much is the cost for a frame

You would need charging so that your starting battery doesn't die every few times you crank it. Plus you could run some lights if you wish. 95% of engines with electric start will also have a charging coil.

You can build a basic go kart frame with 2 sticks of water pipe and some angle iron, but I don't think that's what you have in mind.

Cost has a hundred variables, not just limited to materials either. Do you have the tools to cut and weld steel? Do you have the tools to bend and notch round tubing? Do you have the expertise to fabricate something good the first go-around so you don't end up having to scrap it or pay someone to fix/finish it?

 

[mckutzy]

Roud tube needs a notcher to make a sound joint, and a good bender to make a sound bend without it kinking...
Square needs just a chopsaw/grinder cut-off blade and no bender.

 

[KartFab]

lifan is a much higher quality that duromax or predator. Most karts use 14 ga or 11 ga tubing. 11 ga is overboard in my opinon except for critical parts like the front axle.

 

[Mikel]

It's like asking what color it will be. There is zero information provided to come up with a credible answer here. You could find steel bed frames in the trash and it would be free, or you could source cro-moly tubing and build a full roll cage buggy for $5000. I guessing you'll end up somewhere between those 2 points.

Steel is what most tend to use on diy I belive
Im sure this is the best cheap solution. something that wont break because its heavy. and strong enough to at least Handel some crashes

lifan is a much higher quality that duromax or predator. Most karts use 14 ga or 11 ga tubing. 11 ga is overboard in my opinon except for critical parts like the front axle.

Thought so. but does lifan engine last longer than duromax or predator. like how car engine gets too many miles that it may "die" after a certain ammout

Roud tube needs a notcher to make a sound joint, and a good bender to make a sound bend without it kinking...
Square needs just a chopsaw/grinder cut-off blade and no bender.

I honestly don't have a problem buying tools. just that material cost does, tools can be used for other things but once I weld the materials its used for that and that only until I scrap it and find another use for it

---------- Post added at 08:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------

You would need charging so that your starting battery doesn't die every few times you crank it. Plus you could run some lights if you wish. 95% of engines with electric start will also have a charging coil.

I don't know if any of the engines I listed have a charging coil. Don't see it in the specs

You can build a basic go kart frame with 2 sticks of water pipe and some angle iron, but I don't think that's what you have in mind.

NOPE

Cost has a hundred variables, not just limited to materials either. Do you have the tools to cut and weld steel? Do you have the tools to bend and notch round tubing? Do you have the expertise to fabricate something good the first go-around so you don't end up having to scrap it or pay someone to fix/finish it?

I have tools. and I take my time building things.

 

[itsid]

life expectancy is a matter of usage and maintenance as with any other engine..
Soo if you treat a 500 dollar Honda miserably (removed governor, no oil, high revs, no maintenance in dusty environments) it doesn't hold as long as a well treated 99 buck predator
that you maintain and service regularly.

And Honda's are considered nearly bulletproof in this world

If you treat all similarly well it's indeed a matter of production,
in which case Lifan's are amongst the best clones you can buy
(hence other companies even copy Lifan engine designations by now..)
Rato (and thus Predator) is catching up.
Duromax is well known and not a terrible choice at all,
but if you ask what company to pick from the three you listed...
I agree with KartFab.. Lifan first, predator second, duromax last;
predator-duromax order mainly based on the predator usually being cheaper
than the duromax enignes.

'sid

 

[Mikel]

After thinking I have come up with a conclusion.

First
I am going to build a go kart with square tube. and a smaller engine

Reason
To see how it goes, and if it goes well I can either take parts from this (like the 40 series torque converter, gears, etc.) and put it to my 2nd kart.

Also so I can build something cheaper and not having to be sad when nothing worked out how I thought it would and having tons of left over material and a spare engine(or sell the kart as whole or in parts offerup������ )



2nd kart
Dune buggy with a larger engine and possible 2 speed transmission. round tube


Thanks for all your reply.

as for engine I decided to go for lifan model

 

[Mikel]

I was quoted at my nearest metal shop

Steel Round Tube A500/A513 (Welded) 1in od X 0.120in Id

10 tubes 10 feet long little over 300$, but then I measured out 10 and they longer than what they needed to be, more like 8-9 feet, minimum 7. could proably easly drop this to like 230-260 total.

but still thanks to you all for good advice and helping me with final conclusion.

(don't know how to close/stop thread cuz its solved)