Winter Kartin'

[dave1701]

I have a dream. I have a dream that come first snowfall, I will hop in my kart and drive on down the big parking lot near my house and do donuts until I drop. I have a ton of traction on my kart in the summer time, but in the winter it will be a fun relief to drive around on buttery surface. Just a inch of snow on the pavement ought to do it. Anyone do this before. Freeze to death? Advice on winter kartin'?

 

[kendelrk]

use 10w30 oil, i run it year round, and i believe toystory goes winter karting. i know i used to love to take my mini bike out on the snow and ice, i never wiped out, but you have to remember that your not going to have the best traction, sort of like driving and blown tires, your tires might spin faster as they good and turning will make you spin in a circle, be ready for ultimate drifting, but also remember to dress warm

 

[r97]

HAHAHA, well the only advice i have for you from my personal experience is don't use slick tires, .

 

[kendelrk]

you could take small nails, push them through bike chain and put a masterlink on it as some homemade snow tires

 

[dave1701]

Well, I already got snow hog tires in the back, so this thing ought to go pretty good in a little snow.

 

[kendelrk]

take her out on some thick ice

 

[dave1701]

Hell yea.

 

[kendelrk]

i use to take my brother out on the sled and haul him through the ice when i had the 6.5 in the manco, that thing slipped at first but im going to say once i got going, i was flying, and my brother got the thrill out of me slowing down and turning because he spun out and slid, ice and snow is a blast, i promise

 

[redsox985]

Skip to :30. This was when I first brought it home and the driveway was still slightly covered. I have golf cart turf tires with about 10% tread on them back there.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

use 10w30 oil, i run it year round, and i believe toystory goes winter karting.

Yup- I run 10w30 year 'round, too- and buzzing around in the winter is a gas. You do have to dress warmly, and if you have a full-face helmet or ski goggles, you'll want to use them. Cold temperatures feel exponentially colder at speed, and your eyes will water so badly you can't see. On the downside, I have to completely readjust my 4pt harness seasonally, because I sure as he// wouldn't fit in it with all the winter clothes and coat on!

 

[r97]

Yup- I run 10w30 year 'round, too- and buzzing around in the winter is a gas. You do have to dress warmly, and if you have a full-face helmet or ski goggles, you'll want to use them. Cold temperatures feel exponentially colder at speed, and your eyes will water so badly you can't see. On the downside, I have to completely readjust my 4pt harness seasonally, because I sure as he// wouldn't fit in it with all the winter clothes and coat on!

Well I suppose there is one advantage to slick tires, You never get going fast enough to experience windchill! , your description reminds me a little bit of skiing, its still fun though!

Maybe if I finish my kart while snow is on the ground i will get some winter tires and take it for a spin!

Oh yeah, I run 10w 30 Mobile 1, 365 days of the yea too.

 

[tony7281]

I was actually thinking about this the other day as well. Does anyone have any good ideas for something cheap to use as a sled to pull behind the cart? The nice commercial tubes run about $100, and the cheap ones from wal-mart and target won't hold up to pulling adults around and 15-20 mph.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Tube? Yeah- a tube! Back to basics- Tractor-trailer inner tube. I have two my kids swim with. The real question is whether you'll have enough traction to pull them.

Personally (PSA Alert!), I think it's not a particularly safe idea. Kart has brakes, tube doesn't- you do the math...

 

[dave1701]

I run SAE 30 oil. Will the motor be OK in the winter?

 

[ABB]

Oh yeah. My brother and I used to do donuts and pull each other in a sled all the time in the winter. So much fun.

Dress warmly and try to wear goggles or something covering your eyes.

 

[Clayton]

Yep. I remember the good ol days when I had my trike. I would hook a tractor tube behind my trike and whip nuts with some one in the tube. They usually didn't stay in the tube long lol. I run 10w40 in the summer but usually run 10w30 in my toys during the winter. Except I use special arctic cat oil in my sled.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

i used to use 10w30 last winter but ive been using sae 30 because i think its what the manual says... both are similar?

i dont know if ill be riding in the winter. maybe. my plan was to not destroy the bike so quickly.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Double check the recommended temperature range. SAE 30 will only go so "cold". Best bet is 10W30 if you're getting anywhere near freezing. Using the wrong grade for the temperature could make starting more difficult, and will not provide sufficient lubrication during warm-up.

 

[dave1701]

My manual says that sae 30 can be used all the way down to 32 degrees on my Tecumseh. I think I'll risk it. I won't go riding much below that temp.

 

[4wd_for_field]

im working like mad trying to get mine all done before the snow!