So I picked up this go cart dirt cheap and it's too small for a 6' tall person. I want to extend the frame. The only welding I've done is my charge piping and exhaust and some other random small stuff with an HF flux core welder.

I have never done anything like this before really, I was thinking of cutting the cart in half behind the pedals and getting some steel pipe to extend it a couple feet. I first though of getting piping that will fit snug over the frame rails where I cut them, then weld it in place. Does anybody see any problems with this, or have a better way of doing this? Here's a couple pics to give you an idea of what I'm working with

 

just move the pedals forward.

Increasing the length will increase the flex, plus it was probably not designed for the weight of an adult if it won't fit the size of an adult. The tubes are probably to small/thin wall

 

I thought of that first, but the pedals would have to be at the very front if I did that, past the steering. My feet would actually be hanging off the front of the cart. I understand that it will flex more when lengthened, that's why I would be reinforcing it. I just don't know how I'm going to go about doing that yet.

 

If you extend it it will flex, picture putting a piece of 2x4 on top of 2 garbage cans, and standing on it...

to reinforce it you would have to do somthing like this. along the sides of the frame instead of just tubing

 

It's not going to flex quite as bad as in your example, but yes it will flex some. I'm going to go the route of slipping on extra tubing that fits snug over the existing with some overlap, then welding it in place. It should hold, hopefully. I'll also have to mess with the steering column, throttle, and brake linkages but that should be the easy part.

Here's a very rough picture




Modified by HMTforlife at 9:49 AM 6/5/2008

 

The only real way to "brace" it for vertical flex would be to take it out of plane, i.e. build up/down.

However, for that small cart, I would say you could certainly settle for either the technique you described, just using larger slip tubes, or use slugs that slip inside the tubes and weld your extensions to both the original tube and slugs.

I would suggest a combination of tube extension and moving the pedals, as to keep the extensions as short as possible.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Goullish &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">However, for that small cart, I would say you could certainly settle for either the technique you described, just using larger slip tubes, or use slugs that slip inside the tubes and weld your extensions to both the original tube and slugs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How would you be able to use slugs inside and a tube slipped over the existing frame?

 

On second thought, I might keep the frame as it is and redo the steering mount so I can keep my legs in the center, and just move the pedals to the very end and add a frame extension if necessary.

 

Lol at first glance, i thought someone was saying to put wings on it for lift to help the flexing of the chassis after extension

On a more productive note, u could move the steering wheel angle upward, increase room for your knees

 

shorter legs

 

You could extend the the porch . that would be u shaped tube in front of the steering . it's a lot easer to do kart handling stays the same . legs get some room . On my kart it's a Ultramax RD350 side mounted motor . i built one a longggggggggggg time ago it had an RD350 in the back .

 

I decided to make sure I can get the engine running first before I start messing with the frame extension and pedal relocation. I picked up some new gaskets and diaphragm for the carb today, hopefully the engine has spark.

 

Haha exactly what i thought. I was like WTF and then i figured out that he just cut the picture and slide it over. Too Funny!

 

Yea, I'm an expert with Paint

I got the engine running yesterday after getting new gaskets and diaphragm for the carb, it seems to run perfect! Even though I still haven't ridden it yet.

Today I started by relocating the steering support hoop. There's much more room for my legs now and the wheel isn't jammed into my crotch anymore. Just gotta work on the new pedal mounts now.

Old vs. new:

 

thats tight!!

 

that thing has lawn mower tires on it.

Firs thing I'd to, personally, is build a cage. That doesn't look like it'll be used on the road........so a cage would probably be in your best interest!

 

I don't have any plans to build a cage for it. I am going to try and extend the front end today though.

 

Extended the front end

 

I would say the next mod is to remove the seat belt. I have a bunch of experience crashing go karts and if you don't have a cage, you don't want a seat belt. Much safer to be thrown from the cart than to be crushed under it...

 

Good to know. That's a little beyond my technical abilities though =P

 

Redid the steering column support to allow for more legroom

 

looks like that will work so far, keep us posted!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HMTforlife &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Redid the steering column support to allow for more legroom

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I would think that the loop for the steering column would also serve as added protection for the legs. I would not have bent it so your legs are on the outside.

 

If stuff is hitting my legs I have bigger problems to worry about. The cart was designed from the factory for the legs to go outside the hoop, as is with almost all go karts.

 

sweet hatch