Anybody ever built a go kart?

[rogerwa]

Lets see some pics.

I am thinking about starting from scratch, including learning to weld and bend tube. My kids are charged about doing it and I've always wanted to learn to weld, so no better way to learn than on a project.

I may start out with just a basic two seater but then modify it with suspension and an active backend. 6-8hp with a torque converter and big tires.

I also read all of the welding thread that was on here and from that and other research figure I can do what I want with a 110v (220 not an option) MIG welder using the flux core wire.

Like to know what you all have done in the past. and pics if you have them..

 

[JB]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I built and raced several Karts back in the 50s and 60s, Roger, but I don't think that is what you are looking at doing.

Even the "fun" karts can get pretty complex when you start looking at things like steering geometry and wheel alignment.

Go to a place that sells them and take a bunch of pix. That should get you started.

 

[jasonh]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

My son and I rebuilt an old go kart and it was a lot of fun. We basically had the frame, steering, and wheels with rotted tires to start with. We stripped it down, greased everything, bought new tires, bearings, and chain. The big day was when we went to Northern and bought a brand new, 5.5 Briggs & Stratton and clutch. We installed it and were driving it around a school parking lot that evening.

Darn thing will hit almost 35mph (GPS)with me on it. 35 seems a lot faster when you're only 6 inches off the ground!

eBay has lots and lots of go kart stuff. It may be worth it to buy a good frame and built up from there. If learning to weld is a major goal here, then maybe use a motorcyle engine as the power source; I'm sure you'd need to weld brackets and mounts to make that work.

 

[ddennis]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

Nah Dont build a go cart! Build a gas powered BAR STOOL!!! Those things are so dang cool! Google bar stool racer...

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

When my dreams finally merge with reality I may end up buying a used dilapidated cart with the right frame or a modifiable frame and go from there. I thought it would be cool to buy the metal stock and do a complete fabrication.

Something like this. ubuilditplans.com/NEWUBUILDITPHOTOS.html

But may end up buying something like this minneapolis.craigslist.org/rvs/428439625.htmland making it the way I want..

A good paint shop would do wonders

 

[Marc III]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I've wanted to build a custom cart for a while but haven't had the time or resources. I sat on a Murray go-cart at Wally World a couple of years back. It had an adjustable seat that went back far enough for me ( 6' and 230 lbs). I'd have wanted to pull the stock motor and put a 11 or 13 horse Honda on it.

A lowered Snapper mower would be cool too. Those racing mowers on tv really interest me. Some of those V-twin B&S powered mowers will do 60-70 mph and sound like a Harley.

 

[Gods Favor VIP 1800]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I personnally Have built over 15 go karts and 10 mini bikes plus a custom mini chopper. Over the past 7 to 9 years. I was running a small business out of my garage. I made one kart that had a 2 speed snowmobile tranny on it.
It had 2 clutch's! Man that thing would bugalu! And would take corners full out and never break loose. The jackshaft was 2 speed . They sell these on ebay as well. Not hard to do . but a fun project. I made use of just about everything you can think of to build a kart or bike. My mini chopper project
was custom built from chromemoly tubing and the handlebars were made from handles off of an old workout gym. It runs a 6.5 h.p tecumseh with a comet torque convertor. The motor has a real ram air intake with a chevy small block Edlebrock chrome 10" air filter. Super cool! Right now I'm trying to sell it.
Check out the Gokartgalaxy web site. Clint stutts has a ton of parts -good prices. He sells frames and the works. Just no engines!

Gods Favor VIP1800

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

47 years building just about anything 2 or 4 wheeled fun stuff (besides the wet stuff). I might not trust your 110v welder on a kart frame, plus welding tubing is a VERY difficult skill. Google Northern Tools..they sell kits/plans....much safer..
I still miss the kart my dad brought home somewhere in the 50's, so I would stop pulling his lawnmower engine on the mower while he was at his business, to use in my mini-bike....
Plus I'm STILL building fun stuff at 57...I'll post a few pix in a second on a project I built out of a old 2hp horizontal shaft mower, and a 84 CR125 dirtbike with blown motor..now the worlds slowest dirtbike (the seat is $2.99 at Goodwill...off an excersize bike!)...I LOVE to tinker!!

 

[muskyone]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

you can buy a nice little clark welder from farm and fleet resonable and i would spring for the gas only cost around 100$ extra and well worth it.
i built one about ten years ago. think the steel then was 100 moter was a 65 for a yammy 650cc it was the axel that was expensive.. you can get the basic steering off a old lawn mower. northern selles everything eles.
good luck have fun

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

OK, few pix here...built my first mini at 10 (gearhead sibs and dad) in 1960...belive me, years, thousands of miles later..I still get a grin off this putting down the road (neighbors already know I'm wacky anyway)
(YES, I have since built a good chain guard!..belt idea didn't work...and yep, those are my 3 Harleys in the background, and the "dungeon")

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I built one from scratch using a 125 Suzuki 3 wheeler engine. Used the Wooly Boogers from it as well. It ended up looking like a small sand dragster. It had reverse and 2 speed ranges. After blowing the engine, I installed a 175 Honda dirt bike engine. Son took it out while I was at work and didn't put oil in it after draining it for the oil change. Then I had a Honda 350 twin that I paired up with an EZE Go golf cart rear end. Finally a good suspension. That sucker would dig a hole so quick at launch it would burry itself to the frame. My grass in the yard didn't have a chance, I think most of it ended up in my neighbors property. It got to dangerous in handling and speed. I finally sold the engine seperatly and gave the rest to a friend. I had about $2500 in it total. Besides that is about the time I took boating back up.

When building, keep in mind there are different alloys of tubing. This makes a big diff on how ridgid or flexible the frame is and how well it can handle vibration. On my experience, it was a lot of trial and error,,,,,mostly error. BTW, making your own will cost a lot more than you will think. No one got hurt on mine, but there were times when I think someone was watching out. So keep safety in your mind while building.

Like others, find something and expand on it first, then build one from scratch. Good Luck.......SS

 

[i386]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

Make sure it's got a roll cage. I had one as a kid before they started putting roll cages on them and a nice scar on my gourd to prove it.

 

[Windykid]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I have built mini choppers, bar stool racers and custom motor cycles. i think the impertant thing is to have the time and memories with the kids, they grow up fast. Also the kids tend to learn and become do-it youselfers later in life.

 

[Gods Favor VIP 1800]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

My son was riding a customized lawn tractor at age 4 . And since then has ridden and driven everything from minibikes to go karts and now motorcycles.
It has been the best learning tool for him. He now understands that fools get
killed. He currently has a 110 cc mini chopper with 4 speed manual clutch.
I had redone the gearing several years ago and now it will do at least 70mph.
He has never had a problem handling it. Never wrecked any bikes or karts.
And never been arrested or ticketed for street riding... Now he's learning how
to drive my boat...

Gods Favor VIP 1800

 

[jasonh]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I really should have taken a picture of this, but when we went to Northern to get a new throttle cable, my son spotted a bolt-on receiver hitch thing. He begged and begged me to buy it and said he had this great idea on how to use it. It was only $20, so I grabbed it.

When we get home, he climbs up on my lawnmower and grabbed an old hitch I had on a shelf, complete with bolt and cotter pin. He slid that into the receiver we just purchased and slid the bolt through the lined up holes and locked it. His plan was to install this on the rear of the go kart and tow the trailer that came with his pedal tractor. I'll admit I really got on board with the idea.

Long story short, we had to run a 2x4 along the rear and used U clamps to affix it to the round frame bars. With a flat surface, we bolted the receiver to the board, installed the hitch, and with the ball removed tied the tongue of the trailer to the hitch. When mom was not looking, I put him in the trailer and towed him around a little bit. The plastic trailer wheels "drifted" nicely, so I could get up to about 10mph and turn and the trailer would just hang out there real cool like. My god he loved that! Before I get my chops busted for being unsafe, I never got up to speed with the trailer back there, despite me being urged to go faster and faster.

I came home one day and he had dis-assembled it in an effort to modify it or something. Have not gotten around to putting it back on.

 

[tommays]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

Ya gotta start doing it and stick with it

As you build your skills soon you be doing good enough work people will pay money

It took me a FEW years to reach a Pro quality BUT i learned so many things it was well worth it

The best was when some frames started wining races


Tommays

 

[1730V]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

I've built a couple of Mini Bikes. Both were from kits. I had the engines.

I think assembling a kit would be very fulfilling for you and your children. Spend time on the modifications and paint schemes but leave the design and welding to the pros.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

Small machines are just too much fun....

The motor bike in the background is 8hp!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

Hey Mark42, now that's what I'm talking about.. Did you build the frame or buy it??

I also see that looks like one of those Comet Torque converters. Does that really help over the centrifigal clutch??

What size motor is that and how fast does it go??

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Anybody ever built a go kart?

From my recent learning experiences you will need to practice a lot on metal tubing before stating on a go cart frame. About a month ago I purchased a Lincoln Electric 3200HD MIG/Flux Welder, and I have used it about 4 times a week on various projects since I bought it. Practice, practice, practice is the only way to get the feel for tubing. The last thing you want to do is burn it out, and not have enough metal to fill in the gap that is left.

When you buy one you might want to practice for 3 or 4 days before even thinking about building anything substantial. It will take you at least that long to get consistent beads, and proper weld penetration. It's harder to learn on your own without an instructor since sometimes you don't know where you're going wrong.

Something I did that might help. Sit in on a few welding classes at the local tech college. They should be starting up about now with their improved welding classes. I did that for a couple of nights, and it drastically improved my understanding of the concept.