| What is it about go karts, the whistling wind in your | | | | steering mechanism is trying to do. The steering |
| helmet, the adrenaline rush when you take a corner? It | | | | system is trying to follow a curved arc that will direct |
| feels like a sports car, a high performance one at that! | | | | the go kart around a corner, however, the relationship |
| Trouble is getting your hands on a cheap go kart. | | | | between the turning wheels and the arc can lead to |
| We have heard the mantra | | | | either and under-steer or an over-steer situation. |
| Buy Used | | | | Additionally, unpredictable steering response and |
| Don't Get One Abused | | | | adverse tire wear can occur if the steering is not set |
| Think Smart | | | | up properly. |
| Don't Buy at Kmart | | | | The steering set up typically is either a Ackermann |
| But there is more to it than that | | | | system, or a bogey system (found on small carts and |
| You can build your own Cheap Go Kart out of | | | | wagons). The Ackermann system requires expensive |
| everyday materials using junk that can be found on | | | | components, whereas the bogey system (if set up |
| riding lawnmowers. | | | | properly and safely) can be fit together with every |
| The wheels, the steering mechanism, the engine, the | | | | day "cheap" materials. |
| belts, the pulleys, foot pedals and even the seat can | | | | Braking System |
| be used to make a fantastic head turning go kart. | | | | The final most complicated part of a go kart is the |
| As a side note, some would say take the whole rider | | | | braking system. Typically the expensive go karts use |
| and convert it, but I would shy away from that thinking, | | | | disc brakes, but a cheap go kart can use a rubbing |
| first because the Center of Gravity (CG) of the riding | | | | style brake. If set up properly, a rubbing style brake |
| lawn mower is too high, making it prone to tipping and | | | | can last years, instead of days. Most don't realize the |
| rolling very easily. Second, the transmission is heavy | | | | immense loads required to actuate a brake. The |
| and not wide enough. | | | | braking force exerted on the mechanisms can reach |
| You can however use the tractor parts combined with | | | | into the thousands of pounds, so a good brake linkage |
| either wood or metal tubing (or angle iron) to make an | | | | is required. A simple stick, doesn't cut it. |
| outstanding gokart. | | | | So to recap, a cheap go kart can be made out of |
| There are three elusive parts to the go kart and they | | | | every day materials such as wood and angle iron. |
| are: | | | | There is no need to actually weld a frame, a strong |
| - The drive system | | | | wood go kart can be developed with nearly no cost to |
| - The steering system | | | | you. |
| - The braking system. | | | | First, use of a simple drive system using belts is more |
| Most of your cost comes from the drive system and | | | | than adequate for a cheap go kart. Remember when |
| in the case of the cheep go kart, need not be. | | | | set up properly (belts are not burning) this a go kart |
| When I say cheap, I don't mean: "Works great for now, | | | | that will last years not days. |
| but will break anyhow." You can build a drive system | | | | Second, a simple steering system can be developed |
| that will last years, not days, but will not cost an arm | | | | using the bogey style system. If you want to spend |
| and a leg like the conventional go karts. | | | | more money an Ackermann system can be |
| Drive System | | | | developed. The Ackermann is the most widely used |
| The drive system I am talking about is the Belt Drive | | | | system on go karts today. |
| Wood Pulley drive system. Doesn't matter if you have | | | | Thirdly, a simple yet effective braking system that rubs |
| a vertical engine, or a horizontal engine, as long as you | | | | against the tire can be developed. Keep in mind that |
| have some sort of engine and a belt and wheel. | | | | the braking forces of the go kart can get into the |
| As a side note as well, a good understanding of drive | | | | thousands of pounds so a rubbing system with the |
| systems helps so that you aren't burning belts. But | | | | corresponding linkages needs to be developed. |
| once you get past that, you have a dependable and | | | | All in all a cheap go kart, less than fifty bucks in most |
| cheap drive system. | | | | cases, can be developed using wood, old tractor tires, |
| Steering System | | | | an old snow blower engine, tractor engine, riding |
| The steering system tends to be the most | | | | lawnmower engine... etc, and a pile of wood. |
| complicated part of the go kart because of what the | | | | |