How hard is building a go-kart?

[spazntwich1]

I think I'll buy the frame, but I'm going to do everything I can custom.

The story is my friend and I are going to need something to do over the summer. Building my computer this last summer was pathetically easy, so I'm looking to move onto something mechanical. I think I'd like to use a small motorcycle engine, because I want this thing to have enough power to do some non-trivial off-roading.

What suggestions/experience/insight can you all offer?

 

[Nocturnal]

im sure if you have all the parts and tools its quite simple.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< How hard is building a go-kart? >>

Not very.

nik

 

[spazntwich1]

TTT.

Doesn't anyone want to elaborate?

 

[HOWITIS]

i don't know, but it looked pretty easy on junkyard wars.

 

[JC]

Here, try Northern, they've gotcha covered.

JC

 

[Colt45]

its easy to make one that functions, but making one that looks good takes a little more effort

can you weld?

and what are you going to use for a tranny?

 

[Scootin159]

<< its easy to make one that functions, but making one that looks good takes a little more effort

can you weld?

and what are you going to use for a tranny? >>



well considering he's using a motorcyle engine, I would imainge a motorcyle tranny would be a logical choice.....unless you aren't planning on those speeds, might want a taller gear.

 

[spazntwich1]

<< can you weld?

and what are you going to use for a tranny? >>



I've got access to welding equipment, and I'm going to have an entire summer to learn how to use it.

As for tranny, I'll go the simplest route and probably use a motorcycle transmission. Thing is, I've got a few gear-head friends who can probably tell me if a motorcycle engine is the best choice for me, as well as tell me exactly what kind of tranny I should use.

 

[crab]

Try making a jet engine out of a turbocharger.

 

[spazntwich1]

<< Try making a jet engine out of a turbocharger. >>



I wonder what would happen if I turboed a go-kart...

 

[Scootin159]

<<

<< Try making a jet engine out of a turbocharger. >>



I wonder what would happen if I turboed a go-kart... >>



you'll run out of backyard real quick.

 

[crab]

<<

<< Try making a jet engine out of a turbocharger. >>



I wonder what would happen if I turboed a go-kart... >>



Well it wouldn't work too well, you'd need a way to extract geared down shaft horsepower... Thrust horsepower would give pretty much no torque... meaning it would take SO long to get going, and it'd most likely stop going up any incline.

Anyway, both of these are pretty unrealistic with a turbocharger engine, they just don't put out any power.