I picked up a worn-out Yerf Dog two-seater for my wife and kids to drive a couple of weekends ago. It "runs and drives" but it definitely needs work.
One thing I can't stand about live-axle go-karts is the steering radius. None of the karts I've ridden have had Ackermann steering and all of them had terrible bump steer when driving over rough terrain. We live on a farm where pasture driving is pretty much the only option and "waffling" everywhere is unacceptable.
Unfortunately I didn't get "before" pictures. The steering knuckles were on top and the tie-rods connected directly to the steering shaft arm, the left tie-rod being about 5 inches shorter than the right.
I swapped/flipped the spindles which put the steering knuckle down and rearward. I would need some type of "hanger" to place the center control point of the tie-rods as close to the pivot of the A-arms as possible. I decided to connect the tie-rods directly behind the pivot of the A-arms, attached to a pitman arm hanging from above. I made the pitman as long I could fit so it would swing as linearly as possible (larger diameter circle/arc) to prevent any drastic changes in geometry when turning.
Then I shortened one of the tie-rods and lengthened the other to get them to the very center of the kart which puts them within an inch of the pivot point of the lower A-arms. Setting the central control point so close to the pivot of the A-arms eliminated all noticeable bump-steer.
The old girl drives straight as an arrow and turns MUCH better now!
With a new CVT belt and rear tires this old thing should be ready to turn lose!
One thing I can't stand about live-axle go-karts is the steering radius. None of the karts I've ridden have had Ackermann steering and all of them had terrible bump steer when driving over rough terrain. We live on a farm where pasture driving is pretty much the only option and "waffling" everywhere is unacceptable.
Unfortunately I didn't get "before" pictures. The steering knuckles were on top and the tie-rods connected directly to the steering shaft arm, the left tie-rod being about 5 inches shorter than the right.
I swapped/flipped the spindles which put the steering knuckle down and rearward. I would need some type of "hanger" to place the center control point of the tie-rods as close to the pivot of the A-arms as possible. I decided to connect the tie-rods directly behind the pivot of the A-arms, attached to a pitman arm hanging from above. I made the pitman as long I could fit so it would swing as linearly as possible (larger diameter circle/arc) to prevent any drastic changes in geometry when turning.
Then I shortened one of the tie-rods and lengthened the other to get them to the very center of the kart which puts them within an inch of the pivot point of the lower A-arms. Setting the central control point so close to the pivot of the A-arms eliminated all noticeable bump-steer.
The old girl drives straight as an arrow and turns MUCH better now!
With a new CVT belt and rear tires this old thing should be ready to turn lose!
