How To Build A Go Cart

American Sportworks Manco Go Karts

2012-01-24T13:05:00.001-05:00

I love go karts and karting in general. I also love learning about new go kart products that come out every year. It seems the four wheeled industry keeps evolving as everything in the world does. The adult go carts are becoming larger than life it seems. Lets take a look at American Sportworks former Manco go karts best selling models.

American Sportworks (formerly Manco)

American Sportworks took over the name Manco in 2007. Their line of go karts still stands strong and they have an excellent line of UTV (utility vehicles) that are extremely popular.

The Quantum is a 9.9 hp 39mph powerhouse that is set up for all types of terrain and for adults only. It comes equipped with a host of options including:

Dual wheel drive
CVT transmission
Rack and pinion steering
Hydraulic disc brakes
150cc liquid cooled engine
Full suspension
adjustable seat
For adults only!

Their other best selling off road go kart is more tailored to the 13 and up crowd. The Black Widow is a 136cc four stroke go cart that is capable of hitting speeds of 24 mph. Here are some more of the options it comes with:

136cc four stroke engine
Dual wheel drive
Rack and pinion steering
Dual 3 point shoulder/lap belts
1 inch chassis/brush bars for safety
Ages 13 and up
CVT transmission
Single hydraulic disc rear brake

These two monsters are an excellent addition to the go carting family. They come with 3 year warranties and have an outstanding reputation.

How To Find Used Go Carts

2009-07-02T22:11:00.001-04:00

Children love go carts and as adults we want to please out children so we decide that its time we got them what they wanted. However with this economy money is not exactly flowing out of our pockets so we have to look to cheaper means and that entails looking for used go carts.

This is possible because there are so many people looking to sell what they have to pay for their necessities and one mans trash is another mans treasure. Since this is going to be your childs first attempt at go carting you definitely do not wanna buy new otherwise you are looking at a lot of money when chances are they are going to run it into something at some point.

When I was 11 my dad bought my sister and I a go kart and we got to drive it all over the neighborhood. I eventually wrecked into the light pole up the street and it was never the same nor was my father. My dad bought it new but he told me that day that he never should have done that.

To find a used go cart you can get on cycle trader or auto trader and you can also check out Ebay and Craigslist. They always have great selections of name brands like Carter and Manco. If that does not work for you then you can always get the parts and build your own go cart.When you decide to buy a kart first look local.

The last thing you want is having to travel only to waste your time looking at something you thought was good. Pictures on the internet never do anything justice so I suggest local classifieds and Craigslist. Look for yard sales in your area, people are always trying get rid of hobbies. Why not put an ad in the paper telling what you want and let someone come to you. Remember as a society we tend to procrastinate and be lazy so there may be the ideal go cart for you sitting out there in someones garage that is too lazy to put the ad out to sell it.

Once you find a used go kart you like start the process of asking questions. How long have you had it? Has it been wrecked or rolled? Can I test drive it? Can I bring a mechanic to come look it over? If you get a no to any of the above questions or vague inconsistent answers then I would look elsewhere.

Also once you see the go kart first hand look for any rust or damage to the frame. Smell the oil and if it smells like gas then you may have a leak on your hands. At this point I will tell you to run and find another deal because this one will be trouble.

Go cart kits For Your Build

2009-05-05T14:12:00.000-04:00

Go cart kits are the perfect family project for your son or daughter. You can buy everything to put your go kart together excluding the motor, clutch and tools to build it with. What better way to bond with your kids than build them a go cart for all of you to enjoy.

There are many go karts available on the market with different tire sizes and frames to choose from. Each go cart frame is jig welded for maximum strength and accepts most Tecumseh or Briggs & Stratton horizontal shaft engines with up to 5 horsepower.

That may not seem like a lot but for your 7 to 10 year old that is plenty of fun and excitement. The frames come unpainted so you will have to take care of that part yourself. Simply pick your paint color and have it professionally done.

Go kart kits also come with an assembly manual for easier building. You can also find the same companies to build mini bike kits as well. Even mini go carts are a blast for children and can be put together with little mechanical knowledge. One thing to consider when looking for a go kart kit is that you have a reputable company so that reliability is your main focus. Companies like Manco, Carter and Hammerhead are among the tops in the industry.

Its your children's life you are protecting so you want to make sure they are safe at all times. The best places to buy go-cart kits are your local Pep Boys or other motorcycle shop and of course the internet. Amazon and Ebay have a host of kits for go carts as well as online retailers. Just do a search of go-kart kits and there will be tons of results.

Go Kart Parts

2009-04-22T21:59:00.001-04:00

When you decide you want a go cart whether its for fun or for racing the first thing you have to do is figure out how much money you have to play with. Hobbies are not cheap these days and a go kart is no different. One of the ways you can cut back on the cost is by building it yourself, if you have some mechanical knowledge.

This way you can save on the labor and costs of many man hours as the result of putting a go kart together. When first determining what go cart parts you need obviously a frame or chassis is the first choice. This is what the go kart will be built around and thus is the most important piece in building a go kart.

The other go kart parts involved will be an engine, wheels, tires, throttle and brakes. There are a lot of nuances to building a go cart and it is best to look to someone who has experience in building from the ground up.

These mechanics are usually easy to find and build all sorts of motorcycles and pit bikes as well. There are books and manuals on how to build go carts but one thing is for sure if you dont have the right go-cart parts your kart is not going to be functional or safe. The internet plays host to lots of great deals new and used.

Used go cart parts can be found all over Amazon, Ebay and Craigslist at a fraction of new parts prices. If the parts you need are online then go after them. Check local classified for used carts so that you may be able to use parts off of non running machines to build your own.

Another great option is to check local flea markets and yard sales. They almost always have either used go carts for sale or parts from an old cart they no longer need. Yard sales are a great place to find parts for you kart or buggy.