 |
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 12:30 am |
|
1st Post |
Phil Howard
Member
|
If I move my engine mount down about 2" and over 1/2" I could move the seat back some more and have a lower center of gravity. I would have to move the clutch gear(needs replacing) closer to the clutch housing or move the axle gear over. Except for the cutting/welding/grinding, I see no downside. What do you think? Attachment: rsz_goat-kart_008.jpg (Downloaded 143 times) Last edited on Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 12:38 am by Phil Howard
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 12:41 am |
|
2nd Post |
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 12:54 am |
|
3rd Post |
Ted Johnson
Member
|
Phil, there's absolutely no reason to move your engine unless its to line the clutch up with the bottom sprocket. It'll make zero difference in the handling, and will be a great deal more trouble than its worth. There are hundreds of great handling karts out there with their engines much higher than yours. If you need more legroom, buy some Fox pedals. they move the feet forward over an inch due to their design. You could also add a "front porch" to the front end of the kart. Ted
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 01:22 am |
|
4th Post |
Steve Miller
Member
|
im with tj., if your lucky motor prolly weighs 15-20 lbs with about or less than that many ft. lbs of torque .......averg driver 175 ??? ill bet it dont matter where its at or witch way its pointing you might notice tiny difference if it were handing two feet off the rear bumper .. watch your sprocket clearance if you insist on movong motor ..i might have 11- 68 one week and 10-76 the next need lotta room sometimes ..
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 01:32 am |
|
5th Post |
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 02:53 am |
|
6th Post |
Steve Welte
Member
|
The general feel is to have more leg room. these karts were never meant to have leg room. I have one with a small front porch added but not enough to totally destroy the cosmetics of a classic kart. You may want to put it in the living room for a couple weeks and practice sitting in it to watch TV. That way your joints will learn to bend more. LOL
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 03:41 am |
|
7th Post |
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 03:53 am |
|
8th Post |
Joe Drabicki
Member
|
Hey Steve W.,
LOL I did that when I was single. I would have my whole kart in the living room, sit in it to watch F1 races and tv shows. I did not have much furniture any ways and being single I did not care what anybody thought if they did not have a place to sit. Here are a few pillows to sit on the floor! LOL
Sometimes I grab one of my padded Tillett seats to sit in to watch tv. The wife does not want a whole kart in the house. She gives me a hard time just having a few kart parts scattered around my desk in the living room.
Get a rear engine or sidewinder Blackhawk kart. They have plenty of leg room. Dave L. is right, with plenty of practice and limber legs, you will be hopping in and out like a bunny.
Kind Regards, Joe
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 04:16 am |
|
9th Post |
Joe Drabicki
Member
|
Hey Phil,
What brand kart is that? There were several brands with the axle running through a tube. The Caretta does it, I had a Hoffco Hurricane and a Traci\'mstupidhackerster that way.
To answer your question, I echo what Dave L. said. Personally, I would not alter the originality of the kart. I would leave the seat in its original position. You might try different positions of the engine without altering the original frame. How about mounting the engine UNDER the rear axle tube?
I see your clamps that hold the rear engine mount to the tube. Loosen the bolts. Try pivoting the engine back and down just above the road surface and see how it looks. That would lower the C of G. Then you might want a clamp on rear bumper to protect the engine.
Kind Regards, Joe
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 04:32 am |
|
10th Post |
Phil Howard
Member
|
I am limber enough to put my feet behind my head with a little stretching. I would not alter the frame, just one of the engine mounts. The seat is held in place by set-screws, so it is adjustable, could move back a couple more inches if it didn't hit the starter assy. The current mount has been repaired rather sloppily and should be fixed anyway. The lower center of gravity is an excuse kinda like headers give you better gas mileage, true, but not the real reason you get them! I have NO IDEA what frame it is, wish someone could identify it for me! Oh, I thought of another excuse,err reason to lower the engine. Better aerodynamics!!
Phil
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 09:09 am |
|
11th Post |
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 11:15 am |
|
12th Post |
Steve Miller
Member
|
i think its either 60L or bug special .i never really seen good full side shot .. almost 100% sure its got bug stearing wheel
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 12:22 pm |
|
13th Post |
Alan E. Lidke
Member
|
But like Dave said, the biggest mass of the setup is the driver. Maybe a little more "lean" in the corners as was the norm back in it's day could help more than any actual modification to the kart. Just a thought....  -Alan-
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 01:27 pm |
|
14th Post |
Ted Johnson
Member
|
It's not a Bug unless it's much modified. Once again, the CG is already lower than many karts that handle great. It is your kart, but if it were mine, I wouldn't be altering it for so little reason, and possibly destroying whatever value it has. I once had a dead axle Bug to which I added a Reed Engineering live axle kit. I thought it would be great to lower the rear end as much as I could, so I welded the new bearing hangers on top of the main rails. I ended up with 5/8" of ground clearance at the back of the floor pan. My friend welded his bearing hangers below the rails, and his kart looked like a jack rabbit. I still have a pic of his kart from 1961. After driving both Bugs, we couldn't really tell any difference in the handling. My friend, Lanny, won A Junior that points season with the jack rabbit against some stiff competition. TJ
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 01:44 pm |
|
15th Post |
Eddie Katcher
Member
|
Ted, your bud's kart mod transfered more weight to the front axle and made it stick better in the turns, I'd bet.
I dig that raked look myself.
pnd
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 02:08 pm |
|
16th Post |
Pruit Ginsberg
Member
|
If you could get a clutch with an inside sprocket and do something with the header, you could move the engine over and down by building a different mount.
I don't think it would be a noticable change, though.
Bug did not make an axle like that , Steve. I don't know what it is. You prolly have one like it some where in your barn behind all the tractors and snowmobiles and 55 chevys. Did you get your Apache running?
|
|
Back To Top
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 22nd, 2012 03:24 pm |
|
17th Post |
Steve Miller
Member
|
sold it sunday when i was at fathers day car show guys comming after the rest of it in few just left with half of it ten minutes ago .. sucks cuz i need the money for hay season i wont get it back till sept .. oh well win some lose some .. im buyin me a 1958,59,60,61, nomad no matter what ...plus i cannot stand having empty spot in shed .!!!
|
|
Back To Top
|
|
|
|
