With the kids home most of the summer (camps will be limited) I’ve been working on ideas to keep them occupied. With twin boys (9) and two girls (11 and 13), I’m also hoping to get them interested in some wrenching.
So I had an idea of a go kart. Ultimately I’d like to have a balance of having the kids work to build something, teach them some basics wrenching (or maybe even some metalworking, which I would learn along with them), and give them something fun to do.
Where I’m currently waffling is on the “build versus buy” scale.
I could go all out and build the frame from scratch and buy the engine, steering, etc. That would mean buying all of the metal, working at my brother in law’s place (he has the cutting and welding equipment), learning to metalwork, and buying all of the “make it go” parts (engine, wheels, axle, steering, etc.).
The plans I’ve looked at from kartfab.com are pretty simple, a no suspension boxed frame. It is nice that they have partnered with a site that sells all of the needed “make it go” parts in a bundle.
Or I could buy a kart that mostly just requires assembly. The ones I’ve looked at are more advanced than I would build, with front and rear suspensions. There is some assembly, and I would probably want to make some frame modifications for added safety. And probably enhance engine performance...
From my research though, I’d end up spending a few hundred bucks more on the build-from-scratch than I would on the “assembly required” kart.
I’m also not going to kid myself, as much as I want my kids to “earn” it, I’m not necessarily looking forward to weeks of fabrication either. I’d like to get my kids excited, but not sure how much they will take to the process.
To build some momentum we did start with a lawn tractor this weekend. My brother in law has one he wasn’t using, so with the kids we stripped all of the mowing parts off and got it working. That did spark some interest, as we had to trace the non-starting issue (battery and blown fuse), then clean out the gunked up carb. On top of that they got to run around on it in the backyard for a while, so they got some reward for the work they put in.
My brother in law and I talked about making the tractor into a kart, but agreed that would be more work than building a kart from scratch. Though it does start with a solid 16HP engine.
So that is where I am right now. I’ve more or less promised the kids we would do some sort of kart, but I’m indecisive.
Chop up the tractor and hot rod it?
Buy an assembly required kart?
Build a frame from scratch?
Disappoint my kids and do nothing?