My PsychoKart..

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Here is my first welding project. I've always wanted to build from scratch an insanely over-powered racing GoKart. At 82 BHP, I hope it will be insane  Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:Side view of the mounted GS750cc 4-cyl 4-cycle engine. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:I hope the axle bearing holders don't break off the frame. I used for bearing to help with the excessive torque the engine will produce. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:Panic welding. That bearing holder is probably the most important weld on the frame. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:The center of gravity is as low as I could get it. With about 2 inches of ground clearance, this is definitely not an ATV. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:That thing looks like it's going to be a blast!  Looks like It would eatup my riding lawnmower with it's own kawasaki 250 two stroke.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:rock on , but please wear a helmet.
Reply:I built most of the front end tonight.    My good camera stopped working so I had to use my old 1 mega-pixel antique digital camera for these shots -- sorry for the really poor quality. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:I'm worried my front spindle bracket welds might break... I think I'll weld in some more re-enforcement L brackets above and below the axle. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:You can't have a PsychoKart without a real clutch to pop at 11,000 RPMs...  I just hope my rear axle does not twist up like a pipe cleaner.  I'll install a Hurst style floor shifter with direct linkage to the 5-speed transmission. Pull back or push forward to move in and out of gears (1 - n - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5). Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:This is how it looks from the drivers seat. I'm going make a small dash so I can mount the engine's TAC, The original Key-switch, and a start button (Engine has an electric starter). Also I'll mount the 7-segment digital gear-shift indicator (The transmission tells you what gear your in by lighting up the number in a 7-segment LED. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:Psycho,from the pictures i can see only a rear break disc, i would put front breaks like the 125 shifter karts and reenforce the axle bearing carier. looks wickedfred
Reply:Originally posted by fredo Psycho,from the pictures i can see only a rear break disc, i would put front breaks like the 125 shifter karts and reenforce the axle bearing carier. looks wickedfred
Reply:Sweet!  Looks like that thing is going to be FAST and INSANE.Just one question - do you plan to do any tight turns.I ask because I have a friend who made a barstool racer (go cart with a barstool for a seat).  Anyways, when turning almost any radius, it has trouble because it drives both wheels and there is no differential.Is this a concern for you?Anyways - looks awesome.  Keep us posted.
Reply:Hi Mic,Your friend probably doesn't need a live axle for a barstool racer unless he has a lot of power. For a barstool racer, I would just power one wheel with a sprocket attached to a single wheel/hub. They also sell gokart differentials but those do add some extra weight.When I want to make a turn in my PsychoKart, I'm going to crank the wheel, step on the gas, and slide the rear end round.    The whole philosophy behind building this gokart is to really drive it like a Psycho  Originally posted by Mic Sweet!  Looks like that thing is going to be FAST and INSANE.Just one question - do you plan to do any tight turns.I ask because I have a friend who made a barstool racer (go cart with a barstool for a seat).  Anyways, when turning almost any radius, it has trouble because it drives both wheels and there is no differential.Is this a concern for you?Anyways - looks awesome.  Keep us posted.
Reply:Originally posted by PsychoKart Hi Mic,Your friend probably doesn't need a live axle for a barstool racer unless he has a lot of power. For a barstool racer, I would just power one wheel with a sprocket attached to a single wheel/hub. They also sell gokart differentials but those do add some extra weight.When I want to make a turn in my PsychoKart, I'm going to crank the wheel, step on the gas, and slide the rear end round.    The whole philosophy behind building this gokart is to really drive it like a Psycho
Reply:Hi Mic,I plan to go as fast as I'm daring, but realistically, I don't think I want to be testing my frame welds at over 40 mph.  I'll know more about top speed after I drive it around for awhile and I get a better feeling on its overall stability as a gokart. My goal certainly isn't to go very fast,  but rather to really have insane short bursts of acceleration (like 0-30 in 1 second or faster).  At 2" above the ground, 60mph probably feels like 120mph. Originally posted by Mic Cool turning plan - that'll work (and its a lot more fun).  Agreed on the barstool.  He seemed to think that he would have trouble on hard takeoffs.  I figured you'd fall off before that became an issue.  But his kart, his plan!How fast are you anticipating this kart going??
Reply:The front end, the floor shifter + linkage, and the clutch pedal + linkage are done: Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:It looked brand new 2 days ago, now my floor shifter has rusted all up. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:Here is a recent front end view. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:Here is a recent side view. Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:I've got the dash + electrical all done now: Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:Front view with new dash installed... Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:There is a 7-segment display on the dash which tells you what gear you're currently in (1-2-3-4-5) and when I'm in Neutral, a bright green Neutral lights up on the dash. (Can you see I'm in 1st gear?) A red Oil pressure light, and my Tach+spedo back-lighting for night driving Attached ImagesPsychoKart
Reply:That thing looks like it's going to kick some serious tail, man.  Back in the day, a buddy of my brother's built one using the engine from an '82 Yamaha IT 250 (2 stroke), and entered it into a local hill climb.  He was racing against muscle cars, stock cars, ralley cars, anything anyone wanted to enter.  On the straights (1/8th mile tops, and there weren't many) he hit about 85 kph.  The thing would do well over that, but that's just psycho, lol.  He came in 3rd place.  Have fun!What does this button do?I should be test driving it next weekend if I get all the parts I need this week. If all goes well, I'll have someone video some driving footage, or I'll wear my helmet cam. Originally posted by Chubes That thing looks like it's going to kick some serious tail, man.  Back in the day, a buddy of my brother's built one using the engine from an '82 Yamaha IT 250 (2 stroke), and entered it into a local hill climb.  He was racing against muscle cars, stock cars, ralley cars, anything anyone wanted to enter.  On the straights (1/8th mile tops, and there weren't many) he hit about 85 kph.  The thing would do well over that, but that's just psycho, lol.  He came in 3rd place.  Have fun!
Reply:Are you welding with mig or arc?JLooking Great!!!!
Reply:Originally posted by IH Cub Cadet Are you welding with mig or arc?JLooking Great!!!!
Reply:that just looks evil!! how's she ride??StangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:sweet project dude! i have been looking into doing this recently. where did you get your motor? how much is into the project? man, that thing is just pure sexits just like the gixxer kart those guys in england built. they had the 1000 engine though. they thing is gonna be a drift monster. can you give some more info on the steering setup and how you made that? where did you get your knowledge on kart building? any good links.Last edited by greazymule; 09-18-2004 at 01:40 PM.
Reply:Originally posted by greazymule  man, that thing is just pure sex
Reply:Originally posted by greazymule sweet project dude! i have been looking into doing this recently. where did you get your motor? how much is into the project? man, that thing is just pure sexits just like the gixxer kart those guys in england built. they had the 1000 engine though. they thing is gonna be a drift monster. can you give some more info on the steering setup and how you made that? where did you get your knowledge on kart building? any good links.
Reply:I have a gs750e engine and I've always thought about doing the same. Although, the engine would not produce 80bhp unless you bored it and had flatside carbs installed ,along with intake porting and compression change. Which it does not look like you've done. but it still looks like something I'm going to eventually do in the near future.
Reply:Originally posted by PsychoKart I've always wanted to build this machine. When I saw the Gixxerkart video, I seriously started thinking about building one then as soon as I welded my first piece of steel, I went crazy and immediately start buying everything I would need to build the kart.I used 1" ID (1 1/4+ " OD) steel pipe (3 10 foot lengths I bought from Home Depot for about $11 each).  These 3 pipes run the length of the frame (2 outside members, and 1 inside member). All 3 pipes have a bend in them that I did with a 16-ton harborfreight pipe-bending machine ($199). I bought most of my parts (Axle, bearings,  bearing holders, steering components from BMI Karts    I bought the wheels, seat,  on Ebay from different people. I custom ordered a 28 tooth #630 rear sprocket from Jack's small engines .Everything else I fabricated myself.  The engine came from a fully functioning/ridable 1979 GS750 motorcycle I bought  from a private sale for $450.  I have plenty of pictures I took while building the kart. I didn't use plans, I just designed things as I went. Right now, the kart is basically complete. I'm working on a fuel delivery problem right now (Gravity fed vs. fuel pump).  I think I need to rebuild my carbs because when I pump fuel up to them, they just piss it right back out the vent lines so I think my float bowl valves are not working. Adrian
Reply:Neat project man! I've wanted to do the same thing for a long time. Not to pop your bubble or anything but your welding looks a bit scary. Especially on something that could potentialy be harmfull/fatal if something gave way. Not sure what mig your using but it looks like a 110v machine.Are you sure its gonna be strong enough? Some of that looks like if you wacked it with a hammer, the welds would break.....
Reply:he used a stick machineStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Originally posted by legendboy Neat project man! I've wanted to do the same thing for a long time. Not to pop your bubble or anything but your welding looks a bit scary. Especially on something that could potentialy be harmfull/fatal if something gave way. Not sure what mig your using but it looks like a 110v machine.Are you sure its gonna be strong enough? Some of that looks like if you wacked it with a hammer, the welds would break.....
Reply:C'mon, we want to hear more!
Reply:Originally posted by Tim C'mon, we want to hear more!
Reply:Hi Guys - I am new here - I am concerned about one thing with the PsychoKart:  If the rear sprocket pins were designed to shear (as mentioned in your previous post) I hope you plan to have some MAJOR shielding around it - if it does shear under tourque - WOW, that will be like a bomb going off. - Shrapnel anyone?  - I have built a few of these types of things - A cart with a live axle will not steer. like, really - it was such a pain I either switched to open wheel or installed a differential. - Hope this helpsLearn from mistakes but do not be ruled by them
Reply:That is going to be sick. I have a 23 year old Vespa scooter with a 200cc two stroke, with some mods it has about 25 hp and will beat street bikes off the line. It cruises well at 50-55 and I've hit 70 on it. You're going to fly at 85 hp, I'm guessing the cart weight a bit more than my scooter (250lbs), but still, that's a lot of get up and go...
Reply:Originally posted by DoIt Hi Guys - I am new here - I am concerned about one thing with the PsychoKart:  If the rear sprocket pins were designed to shear (as mentioned in your previous post) I hope you plan to have some MAJOR shielding around it - if it does shear under tourque - WOW, that will be like a bomb going off. - Shrapnel anyone?  - I have built a few of these types of things - A cart with a live axle will not steer. like, really - it was such a pain I either switched to open wheel or installed a differential. - Hope this helps
Reply:Those tie rods are going to flex. You might consider using some tubing with threaded bungs in the ends, like a normal car's tie rods are made.
Reply:I built a bar stool racer and run a live axle.  No biggie because you are not going to make any turns at high speeds or you will flip reguardless of the axle setup.  I just give it a little gas and it turns actually pretty good.  It also pulls the front end off the ground very easy.  Makes for some nice low effort wheelies. Build a Barstool Racer at BarFlyRacers.com!
Reply:Neat cart you have there.  I am glad that you are going to have another welder go over your welds. Next time you might want to use E-7018 rod. One thing scares me though. It is where you drilled through the tube and put bolts through it. The frame will crack in these places. The only time you drill into the tubeing is when joining them. Drill a small hole to relive pressure from the heat. If you dont there will be a pop as you conect the weld bead. This will make a weak spot where it will crack.Have fun, be safe and keep us posted.TOOLS
Reply:i am thinking that this isn't very safe...i have seen  a lot of homeaid go carts, but they were all made specifically for racing, and had a lot more to the floor. but after all that is a killer motor, and the speedometer and tach is nice
Reply:at the moment we have a 1300cc hayabusa motor in a jr-dragster chassis and it is NUTS, way too fast to be safe, the local dragstrip let us make 1 pass with it at the end of test & tune night and managed a 10.94 quarter smoking the tires for about 100' and then hazing them to the thousand foot mark, now I just need to fix the air shifter and get some wider slicks so it will grip, but then the issue will be axle strength
Reply:Man, UR psycho...the cart is so reminiscent of the cart I built with a Honda 50. I used screwed pipe though ....I didn't weld back then. I also noticed you didn't provide brakes....either did I!Gif
Reply:Psycho, do your self a favor and dont run the "L bracket steering" like regular go karts.  One thing I did years ago with one I built powered by a KX250...the steering was WAY to quick using the standard kart type steering.  I went to a local salvage yard and picked up a steering box from on old Ford Pinto.  Very small, about the size of a 16 oz soda bottle.  With a little fabrication, I had rack and pinion steering...very controlible at high speeds...just my .02 cents worth...good luck with your project...
Reply:hey that go cart is  so  spakin   i thought i was the only one .   Do your  neighbors stop and point when you open your garage waiting  to see your project come  out  and then  smile and say  your  crazzy  lol   don"t worry   we are all special in our own ways  lol  not true  be different when they say it can"t be done  prove them all wrong   !!!!    like skateboard with a motor / quad with a honda 750/ alummsnow board  just goes for ever     cool gocart keep it up