Building A Go Kart

kart plan does not have to be that complicated it justare going to work. This can be a fatal mistake in that
involves knowledge about drive systems and thethe go kart can be set up and incorrectly and will stall
center of gravity relative to the performance of the gothe engine, smoke a clutch, and not drive very well at
cart itself.all.
A good go kart plan will show how to make a go kartPlacement of the steering is based on the 50-50
strong, safe, and easy-to-use (construct or follow).weight distribution calculations which were performed
There are a whole wide variety of go kart plans onearlier. A simple way to establish 50-50 weight
the Internet. Some are free, and some can bedistribution is through weighing the go kart. Weighing
purchased. Typically the price of the go kart plan isthe go cart at this point involves all the components
relative to the quality of the actual product.that are part of the go cart system.
Basically what is required is that the two sides of theThe position of the steering wheel is based on
go kart are fabricated then the two sides are joinedpersonal taste. However the ideal location of the
together by the horizontal members. The frame then itsteering wheel is so that the arms are comfortable or
is tacked together; then fully welded after the wholecan be maintained in that position for relatively long
design has been checked for squareness and flatness.periods of time without exhaustion.
The actual fabrication of the frame is accomplished byIf you are feeling making your own seat is a lot of
simple cutting of tubing that is joined together squarely,work you can purchase a seat however, the cost of
so that is easily welded together.buying a seat that is comfortable may end up blowing
I recommend using a jigsaw fit it with a metal cuttingthe budget for this go kart. Remember we're trying to
blade. If you have a saws-all it works beautifully whenmake a go kart out of junk and for less than $200 so
a metal cutting blade is mounted to it. Additionally, abuying a lot of extra stuff makes a go kart expensive.
vice is almost a must have for making a go kart.Remember the cable is just a medium of exchange, it
Basically the bearing holders, which are usually flatis not the primary and engager. What I mean by that is
plates, are fixed to the framework and tacked in place.you cannot push a cable, you can only pull on it. So
The go kart frame is held in the air or spaced into theconstant tension is required in the cable to make it
air with two by fours. The rear axle with wheelswork properly.
mounted to it is then fitted into the frame-bearingThe on-off switch, is typically mounted, in the center of
holders.the steering wheel. All that is required is a single wire
Make sure that you drill smack dab in the center of thefed to the ignition module on the go kart engine. When
paint spot. Drill holes which are identical in size as thethis ignition wire is grounded the go kart engine stops
engine mount holes. The reason for this is that therunning. The go kart switch grounds itself through the
engine will maintain position and not cause the chain toframework into the engine. So all that is required is one
come off because of poor tracking.wire from the switch to the frame and then another
One thing of note is that you may not want to weldwire to the engine.
the motor plate so solid that you can never move it.Priming the frame is a good idea, because the primer
So you may want to skip weld (not fully weld theactually bites better than paint. The primer acts as an
seams) and make it easy to grind off welds later.adhesive for the paint. A simple enamel paint does the
Make sure the go kart engine drive calculations havejob. If you ride your go kart frequently every summer,
been performed prior to committing to a drive layout.you will need to paint your go kart every two years.
One of the serious mistakes most go carters make isThe reason for this is that the pain will chip, especially
that they take hold of components and assume theyfrom rocks.