Racing go-carts is a fun pastime and a great hobby, especially for kids. Building your own go-cart will help you to have at least some experience with car assembly and welding, but beginners can try their hands at this project with the assistance of someone more experienced in this area. Building a go-cart will work out a whole lot cheaper than buying a readymade one.
Materials
- Throttle kit
- Brake it
- Nails
- Steering assembly
- Seats
- Pipes
- Round or square tubing
- Sheet metal
- Tubing bender
Tools
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Chalk
- Welding tool
- Screwdrivers
- Pencil
- Paper
Instructions
- Sit in the area where you will be assembling the cart. Imagine you’re in the cart and use draw a chalk outline, wide enough to allow you space to move, around you. When the outline is completed, measure it with a tape measure to determine the length.
- Measure the widest area and the middle point; multiply the figures by 2 and then add 6. Mark the rear and frontal sections with 6 inches. For a clearer understanding of these steps, use reference pictures. The scale at 1 to 1 when recording dimensions.
- Weld the cross pipes at the points marked 6 inches. Take a pipe 8” longer than the requirement and weld it to create the front bumper. For the rear bumper, weld a pipe that’s at least 4” longer than the previous measurement.
- Measure and mark 2” at the center of the just welded pipe. At the corners, mark and weld a 4” tube. When building the go-cart, place one tube between each of the corners.
- Measure 4” from the passenger section of the cart and weld a pipe there that is equal in length to the cart. Take a tubing gauge 1 ½” at the front end and fuse the tubing there.
- Cut a piece of sheet metal to the same length and width as the go-cart.
- Fuse the engine mounting plate into its appropriate spot, ensuring the welding is done securely. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions accompanying the steering kit to install it.
- Install the throttle and brake adequately and precisely then fuse your chosen seats into place. Make sure you choose seats that are comfortable for both you and the passenger.
- Fasten the engine to the place and link the chain. Lastly, add the wheels tightly and securely.
Tips and warnings
- When designing and building the cart, consider who it is for. If it is for a child, safety should be the primary focus.
- After you’ve assembled all the parts to make up the cart, you can decorate it appropriately to your liking. If using paint, ensure it is no-lead, non-toxic, and safe paint.
- Wear protective gear when working with tools, especially when welding.
- Both driver and passenger should wear a helmet and other safety gear when racing your go-cart.
- Some recommend buying or obtaining a set of well-engineered and designed go-cart plans that incorporate some of the tried and tested automotive principles. Your go-cart will be many times safer if you build it from approved plans.
- A simple cart will cost between $600 and $700 US or more. In comparison, a good set of plans will cost about $40 US or less.