Where to get a racing kart frame?

[Singularity]

Hello all!
I am starting my first go kart project and am disappointed to find out how there is no one producing TC's as good as they have been made before. Anyways, that is in another thread. For here I am trying to find a racing style go kart frame. I dont need suspension. I want the seating real low, I need to mount a briggs 9 hp engine on it and I want something quality that I don't have to build but doesn't come with things I already have or want custom, such as my engine.

So heres the bottom line, I want something small, light and low that will still fit a small adult with a monster utility engine.

Problem is, I am 14, and will only be able to earn about 1000 dollars this summer to pay for it. Research away! Any direct links or guidance is much appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[sexyvicta]

head down to your local racing kart track on a race day. Somebody will have an old frame they want to get rid of. Over here you can buy an older racing frame(but still good and suitable for club racing) for $200-500

 

[Bluethunder3320]

check your craigslist for something used.

i am 15 yrs. old and when i was 14 i got a go kart minus the chain and clutch for $50. it needed ALOT of tlc. and of course new paint and that stuff, but i know at my age its not much of a problem to put some time into it and bring it back to its glory days.

hope this helps...

 

[Singularity]

Great, I have a friend who races karts and I will go with him some day. Will a briggs 303cc ~~ 10hp engine fit on that frame? What Modification is required? Will a TC fit if I find one?

 

[Bluethunder3320]

Great, I have a friend who races karts and I will go with him some day. Will a briggs 303cc ~~ 10hp engine fit on that frame? What Modification is required? Will a TC fit if I find one?

cant tell just from saying its a race kart. gotta be a specific kind.

here are some examples, but go on the right craigslist for your area.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/rvs/2353766951.html

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/rvs/2312021655.html

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/2356036294.html

this one has a yamaha

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/2335737014.html

 

[redsox985]

If you plan on racing competitively, you will need a newer frame as well as a class specific engine. You may want to find an entry level class and find the kart standards at your local track for that class before you spend cash.

 

[anderkart]

Hello all!
I am starting my first go kart project and am disappointed to find out how there is no one producing TC's as good as they have been made before. Anyways, that is in another thread. For here I am trying to find a racing style go kart frame. I dont need suspension. I want the seating real low, I need to mount a briggs 9 hp engine on it and I want something quality that I don't have to build but doesn't come with things I already have or want custom, such as my engine.

So heres the bottom line, I want something small, light and low that will still fit a small adult with a monster utility engine.

Problem is, I am 14, and will only be able to earn about 1000 dollars this summer to pay for it. Research away! Any direct links or guidance is much appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

Welcome to DIY man

Your plan sounds just exactly like what I did a couple years ago. Check out my very first thread here on DIY for info, pics and ideas to help you out:--> http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3664

Even though you dont have the $$$ yet, I'd suggest you start monitoring all the go kart for-sale ads, from all the Missouri craiglists now:--> http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/mo , so you'll start to develop your sense of whats a good deal or not, and be a better informed buyer when your actually ready to buy a used-rolling racekart chassis.

Lots of us here on DIY have bought our used go karts on craiglist, and that's also how I found and bought all 3 of my complete rolling, racekart-chassis without engines. (all of mine were priced between $100-$500)

Craigslist does not have a special "Go Kart" section, so all the karts for sale end up getting posted in several different sub-sections, that would take forever to find just by simply looking at the ads...

So... its always best to use the craigslist search-window function, and enter several different search-terms/spellings, because you have to enter the exact same terms/spellings that the sellers used in their ad.

(dont eliminate/skip-over the karts that already have an engine installed, this will usually make it easier for you to swap in your 9hp. engine)

You should try using all of these different search terms to find the best deals a rolling race kart chassis:

race kart
racekart

race cart
racecart

go kart
gokart

go cart
gocart

kart
cart

Sprint kart
sprintkart

oval kart
ovalkart

LTO kart

Offset kart

shifter kart
shifterkart

shifter cart
shiftercart

rolling chassis

margay

 

[Singularity]

Reply.

Thanks for the help guys!

I have been doing lots of research- several frames I could purchase but I am still looking for a better deal. around the $500 dollar range.

I want a sprint type chassis, I love the way they look. I don't plan on racing competitively, just for cruising the neighborhood in style. What do I need to know to find out if it fits a 4 stroke? I figure a racing 2 stroke isn't quite what I need. What about a cheap pit bike motor, seems to be the best way to get a transmission and thus getting much much more out of the same kart.

What do I need to know to find out what type of engine it mounts?

 

[Singularity]

Just checked out craig's list, nothing of interest. Just checked out your project anderkart- exactly what I want to build! Just a minor detail I believe, I am pretty partial to sprint kart style body paneling. Whats the performance like? I want something fast through the full range- again something with a tranny seems best for that. Thanks again. I will continue to look.

 

[anderkart]

The only problem you'll need to watch out for when installing a 4-stroke engine (like my kart has (or also most any motorcycle engine too) is the location and angle of the frames rear cross-member that's between the seat and axle.

Check out all my karts pics closely and notice how the location of my rear-cross member allows any size sprocket to be installed where ever I need. My frame was made to use any 2 or 4-stroke engine. My axle also has 2 keyways machined in for the sprocket hub, one on each side of the r/r axle bearings.

(that's a 73-tooth/#35 rear sprocket in this pic, that sprocket has a 9"-OD. diameter...)

Some racekart frames were only intended for a 2 cycle engine like the Yamaha KT100. Most all 2-stroke race-kart engines have their drive sprocket on the outside/"out-board" like this KT100 kart pic below. See how close that cross member is to the axle?

On this kart pictured below you couldn't move your sprocket over to line up with a 4-cycle engine like on my kart, or even to line up with most all motorcycle engine drive gears... That dam cross-member is in the way!

So... besides that cross member clearance issue, also make sure your karts axle has 2 keyways machined into the axle so you can mount the sprocket hub inboard or outboard like my karts axle is.

You'll just wanna avoid karts with frames like this one below like the plague, unless you plan on butchering the frame and modding that cross member and also buying a new axle.

[/I]

 

[Singularity]

Do you all have any experience with pit bike motors or similar? I figure if I can mount one on a go kart frame it would be the cheapest way to get wide range of performance. I am looking at a 125cc lifan, it has 5 gears built in. Even better it produces 10-11 hp. I like my utility engine, but it is simply not build for high preformance, and the compression ratio is very low. Are these engines worth a try? What would I need to do to mount one?

 

[anderkart]

I've rode older Honda ATC's with engines similar to that but I've never installed one on a kart. But it shouldn't be too difficult.

Most used race karts will come with some type of motor mount like my kart has, you'd simply need to build an adaptor plate (kinda like I did) so your Lifan would securely bolt up and also so its drive gear could line up with the axle sprocket. You can buy motor mounts made for CR-80/125cc Honda engines but I have no Idea if those would fit that Lifan.

This on-line store sells those "CR" motor mounts and all kinds of other parts for installing shifter motorcycle engines in racekarts:--> http://sharkshifter.com/zc/index.php
(you could call/email them and ask if they sell a racekart style motor mount that would fit that engine if you dont wanna build or mod your own)

 

[anderkart]

I like my utility engine, but it is simply not build for high preformance, and the compression ratio is very low.

If your engine is the overhead valve model/not a flathead...

I realise you dont plan on racing, but to give you an idea...lots of very successfully kart/minibike racers start out with engines just exactly like yours, you could get as much as 50hp out of it with full mods and a nitro/methonal fuel blend. There's lots of speed parts available for your briggs model, check out these search links for tons of research info and videos:
http://www.google.com/search?source...1T4GZAZ_enUS369US369&q=Briggs+305+speed+parts
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1T...&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1007&bih=649
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Briggs+305&aq=f


(all the kart/minibike racers have nick-named your engine model the "305")


These are all 305's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzt_iKlUfsc

 

[Singularity]

Hey anderkart, Thanks for all the help so far! I bought a frame today, it will be shipped this week. It is a Road Rat XR. I went to alibaba.com and arranged for a "sample order" I got one rolling chassis for $400 dollars, no commitment required! It is set up for a 4 stroke clone engine, which will work best with the lifan 125, or 140 I believe. Just a few questions:

Which engine mount, from the site you recommended, should I get? I would guess to buy the cr-125 as this is a honda clone, but the engine is advertised to fit in a 50-80cc bike, does that make a difference?

How will I align the sprockets exactly? What allows the engine to slide side to side is what I mean?

What kind of sprocket/chain will I use, adapt the engine to the frame? or the frame to the engine?

Finally, what kind of set up will be required for me to pump fuel from the tank between my legs to the engine? as this engine is usually fueled by gravity.

Sorry for all the questions, there are so few resources on these things! I'm sure if I had it in front of me it would make more sense but I would prefer to get these things figured out now. Thanks!

 

[Singularity]

Also, one other thing; do you guys have any ideas for fabrication of the shift lever? Which I assume will just be an extension of the pedal shifter to run along side my seat? The shark shifter engine mounts look like they would hold my engine at an odd angle?

 

[anderkart]

I did a little research on your kart and checked out some pics. I'm guessing your kart will come with a motor mount made to fit a 6.5hp clone/5hp briggs, but the Road Rat XR motor mount pics I found seemed to be a completely different design from all the racekart motor mounts I've ever seen before...

Here it is, this is just a yard-kart style mount that's welded to the frame. Maybe you could just cut that off and install a race mount, I dunno:

I think your brand of racekart chassis must be a clone made in china or something. And I dont think you'll be able to just buy a motor mount to bolt on and fit your 'lifan 125, or 140'.

I think you'll have to weld/mod your motor mount to fit your engine... (or build a new one)
Sometimes guys cut up motorcycle frames and just use the part with the motor mounts for their kart. That would definitely be one option you could go for.

Every single modern/side-engine style race kart I know of uses a motor mount than clamps around the 2 frame rails and will slide forward/back for your chain adjustment.

Here's some pics of my other karts motor mount. Pretty much very brand of racekart made since around 1980 has used a motor mount designed very similar to this:

The pic below is basically how all 80 and 125cc shifter kart motor mounts look like, see how the mount is shaped to clamp around the 2 frame rails?

I could be wrong, but I dont think one of these will fit and work on your XR frame, but maybe you could just bolt one of these to your old mount (???)

You could call/email that sharkshifters link I posted above and ask if they sell a shifter motor mount that fits your lifan 125. (If they're not familiar with your lifan, just tell them its basically a clone of the old Honda 110cc ATC design produced 30 years ago)

 

[Singularity]

Ahh yes, that is the complete kart, I talked to them about that and they only weld on that cheapo mount when they build the kart. The rolling chassis I bought looks like this, and I confirmed this was an actual picture of the kart I will receive.

If it does come with that mount, from your picture it looks like I could just cut it off and file down the weld spots. Now, assuming that I will have the standard setup with 2 pieces of parallel tubing to mount a motor mount, what should I do. I found this:

I found this on the only other lifan shifter kart project I could find. If you want to look it is here: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9829

Anyways, what I noticed is that this setup completely does away with the whole bike mounting setup. He just mounted it straight to the plate. I can't find any specs on the bolt pattern but I assume I would be able to do just the same thing, of course mine I won't have to offset out side of my frame. Would it just be best to get a standard billet mount for this?

 

[Singularity]

Also, I look at these pictures, If I used any of the bike motor mounts it appears that it would bolt through the top and rear of my engine in those bolt holes. Wouldn't it be upside down/backwards?

 

[Probedude]

Where did you get that rolling chassis on Alibaba? I don't see one listed.

 

[Probedude]

Where did you get that rolling chassis on Alibaba? I don't see one listed.

Uh oh - wonder if MAP pricing made everyone go quiet.