A Geek's Go Kart

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Enlighten yourself smartass

If I wanted a link to Google, I would have GIVEN it to you. With comments like that, the signal to noise ratio is worse than a tabloid.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: EliPlus, with a motorcycle engine, you get GEARS! Imgine the possibilities......

That might be handy. As it is, I have two major problems to still overcome on paper: transmission and suspension. I've got a very good idea of everything else.

I've been wanting to build a motorcycle powered kart for ages....

It would be orders of magnitude better than any single-gear go-kart.

Better than gears, however, would be if I could somehow mount a continuously variable transmission. Perhaps I could just slap a torque converter on or something? I don't know.

Yeah. There are torque converters designed to handle up to 20HP, made by Comet, the centrifugal clutch maker. I am sure there are "indistrial" versions available, or somesuch.

Hrmm... I wonder if I could somehow use a friction clutch with high gearing to accomplish anything.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Enlighten yourself smartass

If I wanted a link to Google, I would have GIVEN it to you. With comments like that, the signal to noise ratio is worse than a tabloid.

I have no idea why emphasized "given" but you are a fool for thinking statements like yours are witty...

 

[Evadman]

You can follow along with me.

 

[Eli]

BTW, if this is really going to be a "geek's go kart", don't forget the laptop with the CHT, EGT and AFR readouts...

Oh, and you'll need one of these for RPM.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Enlighten yourself smartass

If I wanted a link to Google, I would have GIVEN it to you. With comments like that, the signal to noise ratio is worse than a tabloid.

I have no idea why emphasized "given" but you are a fool for thinking statements like yours are witty...

I guess that's the problem with being a nerd, but I don't need your commentary.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Enlighten yourself smartass

If I wanted a link to Google, I would have GIVEN it to you. With comments like that, the signal to noise ratio is worse than a tabloid.

I have no idea why emphasized "given" but you are a fool for thinking statements like yours are witty...

I guess that's the problem with being a nerd, but I don't need your commentary.

It doesn't matter whether or not you need my commentary. Spread misinformation about engines and you'll get my commentary whether you like it or not. btw, welcome to atot noob.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
btw, welcome to atot noob.

You're two years late, ass hole. Go find another thread to nef up for your millionth post.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: cr4zymofo
All I know is that air plane fuel (JP-5) is not as combustible as Hollywood made it out to be.  I have personally put out a kerosene torch in it.

That's jet fuel. You're sadly mistaken. I'm talking about the kind of fuel used in PISTON-driven airplanes. It has a higher octane rating, giving it a higher resistance to knock and therefore a tolerance to higher temperatures without spontaneously combusting (causing a "backfire"). Therefore, I would be able to compress the air/fuel mixture to a higher pressure without having to worry that the mixture will ignite before it's supposed to.

I hate semantics. That was the wrong word but the right idea. A backfire is technically caused by unburned gas being ignited by successive combustions in the exhaust, right? However, I'm certain that I'm using the word "knock" correctly.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
btw, welcome to atot noob.

You're two years late, ass hole. Go find another thread to nef up for your millionth post.

How can I be two years late when you haven't been on the forums for two years?

Please take your attitude elsewhere. Now.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[BoyFreak]

Its best to use chromoly tubing, because of its strength. I used that on my Mini Baja, which basically is a go kart, that I had built as a senior project while I was in college. You can check out a pic of it at http://zotbaja.tripod.com

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: BoyFreak
Its best to use chromoly tubing, because of its strength. I used that on my Mini Baja, which basically is a go kart, that I had built as a senior project while I was in college. You can check out a pic of it at <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://zotbaja.tripod.com
">http://zotbaja.tripod.com
</a>

How would that compare to DOM tubing? I'm a n00b when it comes to the different kinds of steel.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: BoyFreak
Its best to use chromoly tubing, because of its strength. I used that on my Mini Baja, which basically is a go kart, that I had built as a senior project while I was in college. You can check out a pic of it at <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://zotbaja.tripod.com
">http://zotbaja.tripod.com
</a>

Breaking down the mini baja into sub-assemblies is great, but it's not exactly like writing code function by function. That sounds hard. The suspension guy needs to know how heavy the thing will be and how high the center of mass will be, but the guy who designs the seat needs to know how the suspension will be. It's almost like solving a differential equation without using advanced techniques.

My hats off to you for working together in a team on a project like that! I have it easy... I'm doing most of it myself.

 

[BoyFreak]

It was tough organizing everybody together and assigning all the jobs to everybody. Also as team leader, i had to be involved with every part of the design. Suspension was not too difficult, you just need to know how much travel you are willing to have. Whether you are going to do big jumps or not. It is possible to adjust the shocks to accommodate the stiffness of your suspension. Seat is not so much a problem, rather the harness. It is always ideal to go with a bucket seat, just so you know you are well situated in there, but i would definitely recommend a five-point harness to strap yourself in there nicely.

 

[kevinthenerd]

What of the DOM tubing?

 

[BoyFreak]

DOM tubing? I'm not too familar with DOM tubing, is it some sort of stainless steel?

Chrom-moly, is strong stuff. Its got 18% carbon in there, i believe, which makes it uber tough. You can basically beat a stainless steel tube with a chrom-moly pipe like how you can crush a soda can in your hand. This is a little exaggerated, because its based upon the same wall thickness. I'm actually talking about 316 stainless steel not 304, cus 304 is pretty weak.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

You sound like a 12 year old kid whose head is filled with impractical ideas. 2G?? You are going to spend so much money on this. How are you going to build a suspension from scratch? Steering? Brakes??

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
You sound like a 12 year old kid whose head is filled with impractical ideas. 2G?? You are going to spend so much money on this. How are you going to build a suspension from scratch? Steering? Brakes??

Well, let's see here....

I'm getting a bunch of money from relatives for my 21st birthday, and I'm getting a very nice refund check from my taxes. That amounts to quite a bit of money.

I'm going to build a suspension from scratch (after designing it carefully) by going out, buying parts, and welding and bolting as necessary.

Oh, and unlike you, I don't let the fear of impracticality paralyze me. There was a good section in Henry David Thoreau's Walden about the fact that nobody has measured the full potential of man, and nobody will. You don't know what you can do until you do it, and I whole-heartedly agree.

 

[BoyFreak]

There is no way possible to build every from scratch. You will definitely need to buy shocks, brake discs, calipers, seat, tires, rims, steering column, rack and pinion. There are a lot of stuff you have to look into, its not just a weekend project, it took my team a whole year to actually get the car the way it is. You definitely need to do a lot more research. My suggestion is to go to a motorcycle shop and just talk to the people there.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
You sound like a 12 year old kid whose head is filled with impractical ideas. 2G?? You are going to spend so much money on this. How are you going to build a suspension from scratch? Steering? Brakes??

Well, let's see here....

I'm getting a bunch of money from relatives for my 21st birthday, and I'm getting a very nice refund check from my taxes. That amounts to quite a bit of money.

I'm going to build a suspension from scratch (after designing it carefully) by going out, buying parts, and welding and bolting as necessary.

Oh, and unlike you, I don't let the fear of impracticality paralyze me. There was a good section in Henry David Thoreau's Walden about the fact that nobody has measured the full potential of man, and nobody will. You don't know what you can do until you do it, and I whole-heartedly agree.

What did that aristocrat Thoreau say about posting your failures 4 months later?

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: BoyFreak
There is no way possible to build every from scratch. You will definitely need to buy shocks, brake discs, calipers, seat, tires, rims, steering column, rack and pinion. There are a lot of stuff you have to look into, its not just a weekend project, it took my team a whole year to actually get the car the way it is. You definitely need to do a lot more research. My suggestion is to go to a motorcycle shop and just talk to the people there.

shocks
brake discs
calipers
seat
tires
rims
steering column
rack and pinion


That honestly sounds like a short list. If I actually sat down and thought about how big that is, I'd probably give up, so I'm forcing myself to believe it's easy until I get too far into it to quit. Know what I mean? It's all a state of mind.

I mean, seriously.... I'll jump those hurdles when I get to them. For now, I just need to get started by breaking it down into pieces.

 

[BoyFreak]

As far as suspension goes, double A arms are the best way for the front, because it bascially allows independent suspension if you have no shaft connecting the tires. For the back, I used a swing arm, because it was easier and cheaper than having CV shafts, which are telescoping shafts that will allow for independent suspension. However with a CV shaft, you need to get a differential to drive it. Best place for parts is the junk yard. Its cheap and you can try out different ideas.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: BoyFreak
As far as suspension goes, double A arms are the best way for the front, because it bascially allows independent suspension if you have no shaft connecting the tires. For the back, I used a swing arm, because it was easier and cheaper than having CV shafts, which are telescoping shafts that will allow for independent suspension. However with a CV shaft, you need to get a differential to drive it. Best place for parts is the junk yard. Its cheap and you can try out different ideas.

You won't need telescoping shafts if the shaft joints are the same as the suspension joints.

 

[BoyFreak]

List of Parts for a 1 seater Go Kart:
~100' of chrom-moly tubing (try not to weld as much as possible, use a pipe bender because you do not lose rigidity of the tubing)
bucket seat
engine
CVT clutch (simple, no need to mess with gears)
brakes - discs, calipers, brake line, fluids, pads, pedal
acceleration pedal - with line to engine
steering column, steering wheel, rack and pinion control, tie rods to rims
tires (smaller ones on front)
floor (use diamond plated stainless steel), fire wall to protect yourself from the engine
shut off switch (very critical)
suspension (depends what you get, but you're gonna need shocks)
gears and chain to drive rear axle - I advise you to get a chain guard

Thats all i can think of right now.

 

[BadNewsBears]

Use DOM tubing , we use it to make rollbars for extreme 4x4's. I can build you a lil briggs and straton or kohler up to somn crazy. Damn easy to work on, would be fun considerng I build monter 8's all day.
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