DONE!

The kart is DONE! Finished it today. Everything's on, secured and working. There's always something to tinker with, though: the gas tank leaks, the engine should really be a 5hp, the seat could use more permanent padding, etc, but for now - switch to on, pull choke, pull cord, press gas pedal! Works great. Here's some action shots from this evening.

Driving video...is...uh...weird.

This is funny, and disturbing. I sound like a chipmunk, and the boys sound like aliens, but it's still a moving picture...so I guess that's kinda cool? I dunno what happened to it. I blame Google Video.

Making it official

I have a video I need to post that shows what the boys have been doing with the kart for the last few days, but I'm still in the queue with Google Video. I guess they want to review it to make sure it's not porn or something copyrighted, I suppose. I'm sure it'll be posted next week.

In the meantime, I got everything properly adjusted and installed (except for the left hub - it's stuck on the driveshaft - I'll have to get that off later - too angry at it right now!) and the boys drove it around the yard for hours. Adam sat in the rear of the seat with DJ scooted forward. They had so much fun! DJ learned to do cookies in our driveway, and figured out counter-steering through a skid. By himself. Adam screamed the whole way and couldn't get enough speed.

So seeing as everything's ready to go, I did all my final welding and painted it this evening. One coat of cold galvanizing primer and two coats of Rustoleum red.

I need a few Ferrari emblems...

So lots happened over the last 2 weeks with the kart. I got it fully assembled, all parts installed and accounted for, and took it for a drive. What a blast! I did figure out it has a weight limit with the little 3hp engine and 60 tooth axle gear. We'll have to explore a 5hp sometime in the future and maybe a torque converter setup, or at very least a 72 or so tooth gear.

Regardless, here's a few action shots as I took it out on it's maiden voyage around the block. I was breaking the speed limit in the 3rd picture! Whee!! As expected during a first drive, a few things failed: the brake, right wheel and steering fell apart and the clutch was smoking heavily when I pulled into the garage (which lead me to believe I'm a bit heavy for it - ya think?). Loc-Tite is on the to-do list. Luckily it all happened after I turned back into the driveway.

It can't go, but it can stop

I made some good progress on the kart over the last few weeks. Got the brake parts from eBay and installed 'em, got the sprocket, chain and clutch (eBay), and purchased a set of really nice tie-rods and ends (again from eBay) . I also finished the spindles and installed a brake and throttle cable set I sourced locally.

I'm particularly happy with the disk brake - the cable return setup is made from a carburetor throttle return spring, some carefully cut and hammered angle iron, a custom fabbed clevis joint thing (don't know what it's called) and some parts from an excersize bike!