Thread: Go-cart "for the kids"

As we get a bit older we have to rethink our bush transport, I think I've got it sorted, my new hunting set up. Homebrew.357. .

Te Miro primary school hosted its annual trolley derby. I entered my oldest daughter into the event on the gokart made in this build thread.

What a fun day, loads of crashes, bumps and scrapes on the kids...but no health and safety Nazis were there to stop the fun and everyone there had a great day! My daughter ended up coming second place in her age division, which was an awesome bonus to end an already fantastic day on.

https://youtu.be/CwZJvaXLcIY

So, more speed required for next year....hmmmm

Kj

I've got a mig too, but it's only single phase about 180amp. It does okay...but the arc does it better. All things considered the welds it's making aren't terrible for a hobby arc welder.


Kj

Looks alright to me, but im no engineer ;-)

Is far from perfect, I should have looped back to avoid the hollow spot at the end of the run...but it's fine for what it is.

My mate has a tig that I use (far too much), now that way of welding is the king of pretty welds.



Kj

Got a little bit more done today:



That rear end, is becoming literally a pain in the rear end...but it's falling into place and will be awesome to have disc brakes.
Kj

And the front end, done this morning:







And then I thought Fuck this...time to get outside and do something...



So I rang my brother and we went for a quick bow hunt for koi carp. My daughter enjoys the clubbing part, strange for such a girly girl...but she's happy to get blood and guts on her.

Might have another day off tomorrow, then look at finishing next weekend.

Kj

It looks like you need a bit help with your steering arms, you want the thing to turn not push!



If you design it like this you will have the correct amount of "toe out on turns"

It's like an addiction...snuck in a cheeky hour this morning. Seat mounted, swapped steering around to clear master cylinder on hydraulic brakes.


I'll make up a bumper for the front to protect the brakes and steering arms.

Steering shaft next on the list.

Kj

A wee bit more progress. Hours of work have gone into it, but it's all the fiddly stuff that takes time to figure out, then make.

Brakes:

Yep people just dont realise how long it takes to make stuff especially in the average garage.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yep people just dont realise how long it takes to make stuff especially in the average garage.

Yeah, even I grossly underestimated the amount of time this would take.

Front axles made and welded on now:


But I'm still enjoying the project.

Kj

Playing with the steering, think I've got it figured out?

Used long arms that will give about the right turning radius on each wheel, plus miss the brake master cylinder etc...


Will tidy this up tomorrow and fit steering wheel.

Kj

On the home straight...

Steering:

I modified a boss kit from my old Commodore that was spare, striped out the guts of it and machined it to fit


Then lathed up some bushes to act as plain bearings for the steering shaft.





Bottom support tacked in place. Second support made, but I need my test pilot (whose currently asleep) to sit in the seat so I can set the position of the steering wheel.

Kj

Steering now fully sorted, tacked in place and working great! Will do final welds when ready to paint, as is locked in place by welds.


Note the last piece of the puzzle, is the rear wheels. I'm using wheels off a hand trolley. You get two wheels for $28 and an axle for parts. Only issue is the rear wheels need to be solid mounted to the rear axle. So my plan is to machine up some little spacers to replace the existing bearings.

So off to the lathe again...




Just need to hammer out the bearings and weld these bad boys in!

Kj