Wanting to start on a little go-kart project

  • Thread starter ghsnu
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ghsnu

ghsnu

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United States
Tucson, AZ
spedy7
A couple years ago, I traded my old iPod touch for a 4 stroke go-kart engine from a friend with big intentions on making a little off roader or something. I think it's a 6.5hp greyhound engine.

But after seeing a couple guys build a soap box Model A (I think it was a Model A) and reading about the guy who built a Countach in his basement, I was thinking of making a little cruiser myself. Only problem is, I don't know where to start. And I don't have a big understanding of go-kart engines work (yes, I'm an unlucky gear head who hasn't tinkered with a go-kart engine...).

I don't know whether to find a cheap chassis or just build one with some tubular steel/aluminum. And then the body - I was thinking aluminum and trying to replicate a classic Ferrari (maybe a 250 TR or California). I want to try for a FR layout if possible (show off that sexy 5hp engine xD). Only main issue is cost.

Any ideas how toget started?
 
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Well what you can do is dependent on your budget. Let's look at what you're trying to achieve; you're trying to make a kart that is capable of going offroad. You will need some kind of off-road treaded tyre but I imagine that isn't much of a problem.

Next thing you want your go-kart to be like; a FR layout which is going to be hard as hell. Every kart I've seen has a RR layout or the engine directly next to the driver (You could call it MR but it's not directly centred). Direct drive karts have a chain connecting the gear mounted on the rear axle to the engine itself and the chain has to go in a straight line. So you would have to extend the engine's driveshaft (is that what's it's called) and have the chain go in a straight line to the rear axle.

But you might want to build a barrier protecting you from the chain inside the cockpit because it's going to be rotating at high speed, and the last thing you want when you're testing it out is to have an injury.

And the last thing you want your kart to be like is a Ferrari, preferably a classic one. You could bend some Aluminium over a basic chassis and then paint it red. No problems budget wise here (I think).

And most of all, good luck with this project :D .
 
Well, I think the body and chassis are the easiest parts - buy steel/aluminum and weld.

I'm trying to find if it's possible to use a manual transmission, which would be better than a little dinky forward/reverse gearbox.

I think I have most of it planned out, except for brakes, a steering system, and throttle linkages.


This is what inspired me to try and do this:


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Yes, that is a half-size Mercury. All custom built. I was thinking of doing the same, but give it a classy Italian body instead and a whimsy 6.5hp engine.
 
An FR layout will be tough to pull off without some kind of frabrication and machine for a driveshaft, and depending on wether or not you want to have some sort of gear system with a clutch etc like some ATV's. I'm not sure where to go with it but I always was interested in doing something similar seeing as my buddy can weld me up a frame and I can do the rest.
 
ghsnu
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Yes, that is a half-size Mercury. All custom built. I was thinking of doing the same, but give it a classy Italian body instead and a whimsy 6.5hp engine.
Click to expand...

I don't think you're going to get your kart looking anything like that, but hey you could be a naturally talented craftsman :) . But I think you should be focusing on how you're going to pull off the mechanical side of this project and how you're going to get it to work. Building the frame or buying a cheap chassis to base your project on is the easy part :indiff: .
 
I don't think an FR layout with a 6.5 hp go-kart engine would be very viable. My advice would be to start simple like a tubular frame such as those little buggies and then experiment with harder things once you have the understanding of the drivetrain down and you understand how much time it takes to do all that. I've always wanted to do something like this myself but with time constraints and eventual boredom I know I couldn't finish it by myself.

You can definitely do that but I suggest that before you start you try to research as much as you can on the Internet and gauge the time and money you have to put in
 
motortrend
I don't think an FR layout with a 6.5 hp go-kart engine would be very viable.
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This. In my opinion I see that there is no point in putting the engine at the front as its quite likely that there is going to be close to no difference at all. It's easier to put the engine next to the driver or behind the driver.
You can definitely do that but I suggest that before you start you try to research as much as you can on the Internet and gauge the time and money you have to put in
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This too. This isn't my project but ghsnu, if you insist on having a FR layout then I suggest that you do some research online so you can have a better understanding of them and then try to build it for yourself.

Again, good luck for this project 👍 .
 
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Formula SAE Baja does a similar thing, but teams of college students work on them. Look into their solutions, perhaps?
 

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