So where do I start?

Larry Andrews · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject:

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.

I've seen Eric Nelson pop into his Ribtect enough times to know it can be done - but I'm probably not as limber as he is nor in as good of shape. It's really not all that bad - just requires a twist of the upper body as you go in.

Brian Weikert · Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 3

Thanks for all the good responses, lots of stuff to think about.

How does one go about starting a Kart on the stand anyway? I thought that they didn't have pull-starts, do you rig up a strap on the tire like someone suggested, or use an electric drill etc. to spin it?

Onward into more detailed Kart info, are there any particularly good brands (or bad ones)? I read somewhere that TonyKart made an excellent product.

On engines, is anyone running the stock Honda engine that the stock class in California is running (read a couple of writeups on that class)? Those appear to be an extremely reliable engine, but would it be competitive (at least moderatly) in Solo2 F125?

You have to bleed the brakes on Karts every outing? Why, and is this problem not something that is correctable?

Thanks again for all the information.
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Brian

Vernon Head · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:58 pm Post subject:

Starting a kart on the stand usually requires one person to spin the rear tire and one person to give it some gas. The throttle on my engines has to be open to get it them to fire. What I do is pull the throttle open a small amount like half an inch and then clamp the cable with a small spring clamp. After it starts I usually have to quickly release the clamp to keep the revs from rising too fast.

Stock motors can be quite competitive in Solo II. The stock engine is more driveable and because the tires never get up to temperature it's hard to use all the power of a monster engine. Also, with only 3 or 4 runs on each course, many mistakes are made. Usually it's not the most hp that wins.

Of course if two drivers drive flawless runs in two perfect handling karts the higher hp motor wins.

Mark McCrary · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject:

Well, like I said before I am so new to karts just do not listen to what I say but if I was going to buy a chassis with money not being a real issue I would either go with CRG or Tony Kart. I might consider a Arrow or Birel.
As for starting it. I just usually lay something on the throttle and crack it open, spin the rear tire and quickly pull off whatever I use to crack open te throttle and then you can just take a twist tie and put it between the pedel and chassis and it should stay just enough rpm to keep running.
The newer chassis you will not have to worry about bleeding the brakes as much. I am sure you will have to bleed then everyonce in a while but not everytime out. If they have resivors you will be fine. My kart does not have that so it just collects air.
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Mark McCrary

Bob Monday · Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 91

I saw an electric starter that a guy rigged up. He took a small Yamaha KT100 starter (not one of those in the big aluminum box!), drilled a hole in the side of the seat, welded a socket to the starter shaft, and starts it off the bolt on the rotor/stator. I don't know if he had to reverse the battery cables to spin it the right way or not, but my guess is that he did.

Learing to push start a kart is a good idea, though.

Bob Monday

Alan Sheidler · Joined: 09 Aug 2001 Posts: 471

Paul Williamson · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 4:24 am Post subject:

i run a stock 125... so, while the kart is on the stand, if it's cold, i blow into the overflow tube of the gas tank until i see fuel flowing into the carb... then i put a dime, or something around that thickness between the stop bolt of the gas pedal and the frame... next, in 2nd gear, i grab the wheel with both hands and give it a spin... it usually fires on the first spin... if it is warmed up, it always fires, and have not needed to use the strap method... also, i have my idle turned up so that once i get it fired, it stays running... starting a shifter was a concern of mine, but it's really pretty easy...

paulski
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My Behavior Does Not Reflect Anything

Larry MacLeod · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:40 pm Post subject:

Brake Bleeding? I haven't bled my brakes since.... I can't remember? May... maybe? Probably after I rebuilt the calipers with new pads/seals at the start of the season. Or maybe a little in June after a track practice day. And I run my kart in Solo *almost* every weekend, including Nationals, usually with a co-driver.

If you're bleeding brakes too often and all you're doing is solo II, then you have something else wrong with your brakes (probably a leak somewhere).

As for starting, I always do mine in 2nd gear with a strap wrapped around the right rear tire, but I pull towards the front of the kart. That way I can stand by the gas pedal to blip it when it fires up. But once it's running, the carb will idle.

Lefty
I have already run my last laps in the kart for 2005
That is unless a crowd of F125 shows up in Detroit (DTE Theatre) on Sunday, then I'll run the kart. Otherwise, Porsche Boxster S it is!! ((borrowed ride)
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F125 #196
Old Birel/ hodgepodge Honda CR125
Lefty Funk
Detroit Region