Go Kart Tie Rod Time

Because we all need to be masters of our destiny. Tie rods are pretty easy to make so I make a couple.
I mention Allen Millyard(one of my heros) again so link to him / allenmillyard
And Amazon links to the parts I got. They don't give me any money and you should get stuff local when you can, but this was an easy way to get the parts without spending the day driving around looking for stuff.
Tubing
www.amazon.com...
Rod ends/heim joints
www.amazon.com...

[@heathenprojects2639]

My yard kart needs a ton of work one day I'll get to this

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Start a TH-cam channel, I find it obligates me to get some work done every week.

[@heathenprojects2639]

@@WhatIsTheWheel I did sometime back my problem I work 6 12 hour days lol

[@gz7463]

2yrs late but hey this comes in handy thank 4 info

[@jeremyoshea7941]

Nice vice brother!

[@itsonlyahobby7412]

Great video..😎

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Thanks, I really appreciate that.

[@jeffg8478]

nice video. thanks for the details.

[@MAS-Garage]

Just a little bit of geometry advice. The turn radius of your wheel doesn't line up. The pivot point of the rods ends and the pivot point of the wheel as to meet in the center of the rear axle. This way when turning, the inner wheel will have a smaller turning radius and the outer wheel will have larger turning radius. Juste saying cause I built one and this geometry was redone like 4 times before I got it perfect.

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Thanks, when I built the steering knuckles, it was based on the geometry of the originals which had, approximately, the same angle these do. Once I got it assembled and messed around with it, I realized that this was reverse ackerman, with the outer wheel turning a smaller circle. I am going to leave it be for the moment and see how it handles. Some race cars(like Formula 1) use reverse ackerman, maybe it will work. I can't angle them out much because they will hit the tires. I can space the tires out some but that can create some other issues. I may end up creating the effect at the steering shaft using an arm for each tie rod.

[@MAS-Garage]

@@WhatIsTheWheel th-cam.com/video/vERStnw3Cg4/w-d-xo.html this is my Go Kart build. It was mainly for the kids, but daddy is having more fun

[@koljag5]

@@WhatIsTheWheel if you run a triangular pitman arm and cross over the tie rods you can correct for ackerman.

[@daniellecastellistrader7615]

The camera really loves that drawer of hammers...

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

I don't know what the deal was. I was trying to be all arty, using my thirds and resetting the focus, but my camera has a thing for hammers.

[@marcguerard4278]

you can buy that stuff cheap at the kart shops you get those tires, wheels, hubs. unless you are a determined , stubborn, want to diy'er. its all good

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Thanks, for the comment. I could just buy the stuff(I could have just bought a kart) but what is the fun in that? Parts cost for the tie rods was about $26, BMI(as an example) sells custom length tie rods for $20 each, so this was a little cheaper, and it only takes about 15 minutes per rod. Often I find that the thing I want does not exist or that is cheaper and easier to just make it.

[@marcguerard4278]

I am also Do-it-yourselfer and try to make everything myself as much as possible . Just saying, for the average guy,trying to make a kart for his kid. They may not have access to materials , machine shop tools , left-handed taps. I now pick my battles , Right now if I had to buy aluminum and a left-handed tap,It's cheaper to buy it at one of the discount big kart shops. But appreciate creativity.

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

@@marcguerard4278 For a home shop, I have a pretty good setup(except for space).I try to show things the way someone with basic tools would do it and I understand just buying the parts. I could have welded up the stock cam then put it in a four jaw chuck on the lathe and cut a new profile, but it is way easier to buy one from someone that knows what they are doing.

[@Timotheousturalyon]

Bolt the ends to the cart and measure the distance between them no math.

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

I do "size to fit" a lot. Especially on the the lathe. It is usually easier to be accurate that way.

[@greyladder4524]

I know what I was thinking just get one that’s longer and adjust them until it’s right and then pull them off and cut them if you need to. I’m sure this is informative to a lot of people but I always usually work with inches nobody asked me how big is your wiener 32 cm.

[@stevecurrier2462]

Should split the difference to get close to 0 toe. Then you can set toe by turning equal number of turns on each end.

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Thanks for the comment. For initial setup I would do it exactly like that. When I crossed it was easier/faster to jack up one side and adjust one tie rod, race, then turn it back. It made the wheel a little crooked but the car was never going in a straight line so you didn't notice.

[@igokarts4510]

Tubing cutters instead of a hacksaw? Cuts will be square

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

You know, I have a couple of tubing cutters but didn't even think about using them.

[@demondanderson2010]

I can't find those wheels and tires anywhere

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

This is where I got them
www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Tires-Wheels-Pattern-Holes/dp/B09GVSD1C8/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?crid=25Z75I5ML32MS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OMclJkzO46hOGJB4CSThwsR09ao5fFrZ-_EwabvF7LN0Guvl3nNAOSh2WrKPIRNumZMtxrnNqRNlbf_uMOsCpnwmug4yE_i7kZ5LXhf4IvssQr2RYboewnv5KdgnrobJ34frtxU5fdkSz6t-mPzIwtEtXzKHAdjzremD2tHzC2U8g-Z_ea3u2idqUDisry9GhkcwsQ9Ln2nJKCk0UyTrClhHsl62QHPqoMJA8edsYJ9RcW2WL3Z51tAcDOXZ4i119SHF_5dT_GHYbs3KqrwmHgiD-8nN0MNWCghIJ5lpVwI.JPkOMF4yVXFrlwk_if65QguyTGWMEih1ydNjjKq_sH0&dib_tag=se&keywords=vevor+go+kart+tires+and+rims&qid=1708820484&sprefix=vevor+go+kart%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-11-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

[@megmo1]

Is there a schematic available for the frame? Or was it purchased somewhere?

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

I got this as a bare frame used off Craigslist for $75, which is the way to go for a fun project. Gokartalley sells one that is similar for about $500
There are probably plans for building them like this, it was a popular double hoop design.

[@megmo1]

@@WhatIsTheWheel Thank you, I appreciate the response. Maybe I can reverse engineer it from the videos.

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

@@megmo1 look around on the used/for sale sites and find a cheap one to work from.

[@samvura4294]

Anyone know of any good videos if you want to make a wooden go kart, but you are doing a two seater instead of a single seater. Trying to understand how you do the tie rods for a two seater as opposed to a single. Plenty of single seater videos out there, but not two seater videos.

I don't want to take your illusions away, but kart chassis works by twisting the frame - precisely calculated tubes of different thicknesses and dimensions. Race teams try and test and improve the frames for more than 40 years. Your kart can never ever work properly on the track. Craftman skills are amazing on the other hand. ;-)

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Thanks, no illusions, I don't doubt modern karts use tubing diameter, geometry and gusseting to affect the handling/compliance of the karts. I have seen some vintage re-pros that used tie rods between the front and rear hoops to adjust the feel of the kart. But if you look at the early days of karting there was a lot of using what was on hand and using thinner tubing to make the kart lighter more than affect the handling. The vintage re-pros typically use thicker tubing because it makes the kart more durable and is easier to weld. The stuff on this kart is not water pipe but it is pretty thick.