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| Posted: Sun Jul 8th, 2012 03:16 pm |
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1st Post |
Eric Kendrick
Member
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Hey guys, I'm lookin for an aftermarket sprocket carrier for my 1960 Bug Wasp that fits 1" rear axle, preferably a G.E.M., but interested in other makes as well. I'm also seeking a chainguard/engine mount for a west bend 820. Any help would be much appreciated, Eric
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| Posted: Sun Jul 8th, 2012 03:48 pm |
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2nd Post |
Ted Johnson
Member
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Hi, Eric. As for the Bend side mount, get a new GEM reproduction from Vince Hughes: http://californiavintagekarters.com/reproduction.html
You can also get a steel side plate from Vince, and drill and tap for your own chain guard. That's what I do on mine.
As far as I'm concerned, the best sprocket hub is the proprietary one made by Comet Kart Sales. It's a clamp-on, all machined and runs true. Here's their contact. Ted
Comet Kart Sales
Steve, parts gent.
(317) 462-3413
http://www.cometkartsales.com
Last edited on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 03:51 pm by Ted Johnson
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| Posted: Sun Jul 8th, 2012 04:34 pm |
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3rd Post |
Kevin Brown
Member
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Eric,
Vince is a great guy and his stuff is tops. He can and will polish to a near chrome finish.
That combo is still available from GEM . Or was , I got one about a year ago
Contact info 630/653-1800 Mon-Fri 9am 12pm Central Time
Good Luck,
Kevin
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| Posted: Sun Jul 8th, 2012 04:44 pm |
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4th Post |
Kevin Brown
Member
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Hi Ted,
Looking on the Comet site ...Which sprocket exactly are you talking about
Thanks,
Kevin
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| Posted: Sun Jul 8th, 2012 06:25 pm |
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5th Post |
| Posted: Mon Jul 9th, 2012 01:07 pm |
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| Posted: Mon Jul 9th, 2012 02:18 pm |
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7th Post |
Kevin Brown
Member
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Virg,
I'm guessin that's sarcasm? And answers a newbee's (mine) question about the
"era correctness" of that hub.
Thanks,
Kevin
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| Posted: Mon Jul 9th, 2012 03:09 pm |
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8th Post |
Ted Johnson
Member
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The Comet hub looks VERY much like the old Appco hub, and I was using the Appco in the eighties, so the look is thirty years old plus. I'll take a SLIGHTLY more modern look any day to get the better function. I've been running the Comet at events for six years now, and nobody has complained. Besides, I don't think they look at all out of place. It's not like spun wide wheels or Brembo brakes! I also run modern space chain and modern RLV, Williams and Horstman sprockets, as well as Jim Donovan's modern Max Torque clutches and nobody has yet turned me away. When they do, I'll put the karts in the kitchen and just look at them. TJ
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| Posted: Mon Jul 9th, 2012 03:26 pm |
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9th Post |
ken moss
Member
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I just got done reworking 4 Azusa vintage hubs not one ran truer than .030. after I got done I can get them to run under .002 with a little playing with the mounting bolts. most of this vintage stuff has a few years on it and some of it has not been treated well. as one of my machinist budys likes to say Hammer Mans been at it . I dont see any thing wrong with using some new things on these old things I try to pick something that looks vintage. is GEM still around I have called a few times and never got in touch with anyone left a message but they never got back to me Ken
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Ted Johnson
Member
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I refuse to use the taper lock sprocket hubs. They move when you tighten them, and I get too frustrated trying to start them off in the right place so they end up in alignment. We used to use the Reed clamp-on hub in the early sixties, but they are pretty scarce. The old GEM clamp-on is a good one, but there's not many of them to be found.
As far as GEM goes, she's still taking orders, you just have to keep trying. I just got parts from them recently. TJ
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Tom Smith
Member
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OK all you guys with ancient Bug Wasps should get rid of the original Hands sprocket hubs and replace them with newer nc machined billet aluminum hubs. It's real important that vintage karts should not be left original, after all if there were cheap billet aluminum sprocket hubs available in 1961 they would have used them.
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Ted Johnson
Member
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Pop and I were Bug products and Go Kart dealers 1958 thru 1964. The minute a Wasp, Stinger, Go Kart 800 or 1200 came in that was for our personal use, it went up on the big table in the hobby shop. Wheels, rear axles, sprocket hubs, and in the case of Go Karts, the pedals were stripped off and put up for sale in the "Take Off" section. They were replaced with Go Power wheels, Reed sprocket hubs and sprockets. Bug pedals went onto Go Karts because they were better, and aluminum or tubular steel axles went in place of the solid steel axles. We were not concerned with the machines being "original". We were out to win races. Today, I like my machines to be period correct, but I will replace Palmini disc brakes with Airheart, I will replace Azusa wheels with Go Powers and I will replace crappy sprocket hubs with taper hubs with Comet or Appco units. These are the same types of changes I would have made in 1961/1962. TJ
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Virg Love
Member
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Thankyou Tom... Ted is right everyone used the best stuff they could afford to win... Problem is they still do, to make it faster or in most of our cases easier... Call me crazy but I like em the way they were... We'd have replaced the Palmini brakes with Kelgate's or Brembos' if we could have. Oh that's right we can.... and do....
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Ted Johnson
Member
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Hey, Virg, I was a broke kid, and had a time affording anything, but we had the kart shop... Nice fat discounts on parts, and a full shop to do the work in. I remember my '61 Go Kart/dual Mc20's had one angled engine mount, and one horizontal mount. I couldn't afford two new matching mounts (I was all of 17, and spending money on girls..). Still won a bunch of B Super races! Sometimes we just had to make do with used stuff. TJ
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10th, 2012 01:20 pm |
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10th, 2012 01:43 pm |
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10th, 2012 02:00 pm |
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17th Post |
Ted Johnson
Member
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Thanks, Dave....I think! You're right about the "ahem" "older" bit. I still think, that unless we're building a full-on restorarion, the important thing is to have a good time and see old friends. I drive most of the way across the U.S. to go to TBO for maybe an hour of total track time. Yep, I cheat a little on some parts, because I absolutely HATE to sit in the pit wrenching on something because I installed an old faulty part that broke, or because I did something thst I shoulda known better than to do. I did just that at Bakersfield with the carbs on the 610. It's still worth the drive to see Charlie, Hank, Rob and Bob, Dick, Dave, Mike, Jack and Al, and all the rest. It's about the FUN. Ted
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2012 06:34 am |
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18th Post |
Eric Kendrick
Member
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Still lookin for a G.E.M. sprocket hub... Someones GOTTA have one!!! HaHa! If you have one PLEASE let me know. It's one of the few parts I need for completion. Thanks guys, Eric Kendrick
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