Mr_Asa
Reader
1/20/20 10:13 a.m.
Friend has a 13 year old that is fascinated with mechanical things and she wants to encourage that. To that end she wants to get him what he needs to build a go kart.
Family doesn't have much engine/vehicle related experience, but they are one of the more hands on and independent group of people I know so it shouldn't be a huge deal for them to figure out most things, but they lack a starting point for the knowledge base.
Do you guys know of good forums or other sources of info to start digging into? A good how-to book would probably be welcome
I believe the rough plan at this point is to find a non-running kart, or even a frame for under $100, get some basic documentation of how to build a go kart, point the boy at it and say "ok, what does this need" and guide him along.
When I was 13 (1983), I too really wanted a go-cart. I think I could have built one myself if not for the fact that each and every power source I could get my hands on was vertical shaft. Save for my folks tiller and, well, they took pride in their vegetable garden. Turns out, I learned many years later, it’s entirely possible to convert a vertical shaft to a horizontal. Vertical shafts are far more common and basically dime a dozen. That’s my 2 cents.
http://www.diygokarts.com
And a predator engine from harbor freight?
Hagerty just ran a series of YouTube videos where two of their employees built a go kart, it's worth watching for the general requirements of building one.
Dusterbd13-michael said:
http://www.diygokarts.com
And a predator engine from harbor freight?
This. For sure. It's where I learned to horrid a predator 212 for cheap (almost free)
Mr_Asa
Reader
1/20/20 2:26 p.m.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
Looks like they have a decently active forum as well, which will be helpful.
I saw mention of the predator engine from HF in a thread when I was wandering through old stuff here a week or two back, but I'll be damned if I can find it.
What issue years ago did GRM show you how to chop an old rear engined lawn mower into a Go-Kart? It was June 2010. Also this thread: Home Made Go-Kart Thread