Makership Kart Build
Contents
Plan
the goal of this project is to build a gas powered go-kart that can compete in the KYSCCA autocross events at the L-Ville convention center.
Day 0 Friday July 8
Arrived at space with makership approved, plan to start fabricating frame for kart. Cut side frame rails: 4'2" long 1.5" diameter steel tubing. Found 2.5" tube for the back rail and a 1.575" tube for the front rail. Got sidetracked building battleship frame
Day 1 Saturday July 9
began welding frame using a tubeular template generator to notch out the metal. Basic rectangular frame finished.
Day 2 Sunday July 10
Went to a junkyard and salvaged the steering system out of a lawn tractor. Also went to Harbor freight and bought 2 10" wheels with 5/8" ball bearings
Day 3 Monday July 11
Removed 5/8" ball bearings from wheels to make room for either 3/4" bearings or solid hub for power transmission. Made wheels for battleship game
Day 4 Tuesday July 12
Assembled test rear axle and discovered that my rear sprocket may be too large. Ran gear and wheel diameters through a calculator and discovered that my top speed would only be 22mph as currently configured (5 tooth clutch sprocket, 47 tooth drive sprocket, 10" drive wheel).
Day 5 Tuesday July 12
Bought full length rear axle, crunched the numbers to determine that my gear ratio corresponds to a acceleration equal to a 0-60 time of 15s (assuming 9.2 ft. lbs of torque and 300 lbs of kart+driver). My mediocre ford focus has a 0-60 time of 7.5s so the acceleration isn't great either. May need a more powerful motor. Plan on coming to the space to use scroll saw to make a chain guide and rough out the pillow blocks for the rear axle bearings.