The idea of this project is to build a geared kart, make it reliable, but most of all as cheap as possible. Its not going to be built for any particular class of karting, just for some fun, so any purist karters out there look away now, as compromises are being made for the sake of cost.
I started with the chassis, which are available very cheaply on the internet, apparently when they are out of date they have little value, in fact I paid £21 for two! The guy I bought the chassis of also sold me wheels, tyres and axles (£25), the only problem being the axle was too big a diameter for my chassis, more of that later. Separate purchases from ebay got me a seat, brakes, steering wheel and column etc.
What supprised me is that with karts a lot of the stuff seams interchangeable between models, not like cars.
Then looking through my shopping list I realised there was a couple of bits still missing, ie. Engine and gearbox. Then a stroke of luck, and much pestering of people bagged me a accident damaged Yamaha bike. Now it is only 50cc, but a bargain for £50 as there will be parts for me to sell on. Now it may only be 50cc, but it is two stroke, water-cooled, electric start, with a six speed gearbox! Apparently its one of these Minarelli engines which rev to about 12k, perfect.
Any way I threw it all together to make sure everything fitted, and ran ok, then stripped it back down to the bare chassis to build up propely, which is the stage I’m at now. Some pics, hopefully.
then stripped down for proper build
condensed bike electrics
I started with the chassis, which are available very cheaply on the internet, apparently when they are out of date they have little value, in fact I paid £21 for two! The guy I bought the chassis of also sold me wheels, tyres and axles (£25), the only problem being the axle was too big a diameter for my chassis, more of that later. Separate purchases from ebay got me a seat, brakes, steering wheel and column etc.
What supprised me is that with karts a lot of the stuff seams interchangeable between models, not like cars.
Then looking through my shopping list I realised there was a couple of bits still missing, ie. Engine and gearbox. Then a stroke of luck, and much pestering of people bagged me a accident damaged Yamaha bike. Now it is only 50cc, but a bargain for £50 as there will be parts for me to sell on. Now it may only be 50cc, but it is two stroke, water-cooled, electric start, with a six speed gearbox! Apparently its one of these Minarelli engines which rev to about 12k, perfect.
Any way I threw it all together to make sure everything fitted, and ran ok, then stripped it back down to the bare chassis to build up propely, which is the stage I’m at now. Some pics, hopefully.
then stripped down for proper build
condensed bike electrics