Several Chassis ?'s

Chaz Clover · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 879

I'm curious about something.

Some chassis have a removeable torsion bar in the front of the chassis, between the spindle brackets. I understand only that this will affect chassis stiffness. I wonder in what way? By removing that bar, what effect could I expect?

A also wonder about the configuration of the waist of the chassis. Some chassis will form a sharv "v" in the waist while others will narrow somewhat, then run parallel for a distance. My understanding is that the former configuration is stiffer than the latter, but again, what effect?

Chaz
http://www.kartmonster.com

Mark Dismore Jr · Advertiser Joined: 21 Jul 2001 Posts: 1097

quote:
Originally posted by Oscar Aguilera:
When the fronts are out you get more grip. The torsion bar in the front offers the leverage to twist the waist which gives more grip. With it out you get less grip.

Actually it should give you less grip with it out because the front tires are not working together as much.

quote:

The earlier design where the bar by the master cylinder is longer offers more grip when used on the "A" style chassis. The u-shaped front section design like a Tony or CRG Heron trys to give more grip in the front and be loose in the rear by dividing into two sections.

Take a tube and try to bend it when it's straight is easy, put a couple small bends in the same tube and it get's harder to bend and twist, finally bend the same tube a bunch and then try to bend and twist it. The less straight sections of tubing the stiffer the tubing. The same ideas apply to main rails on a kart.

BTW, remember stiffer more grip, softer less grip.

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

Maybe I didn't expalin myself fully.

With the bar out you get less grip. I meant with the wheels out you get more grip as far as width goes. The bar acts as the leverage to hold down both sides as they work together to steer the kart. I agree with Mark maybe I didn't type it out clearly.

As per the straight section I understand your explanation of straight and bent. The chassis is typically stiffer with a long straight bar where the waist is because this means that the "A" arm section is narrower and bends less. The waist section that goes imediately to a bend will have a Greater "a" arm section and bend the chassis up or down more with the added length tube. View a chassis from the top view to understand what I am talking about here.

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

When the fronts are out you get more grip. The torsion bar in the front offers the leverage to twist the waist which gives more grip. With it out you get less grip.

The earlier design where the bar by the master cylinder is longer offers more grip when used on the "A" style chassis. The u-shaped front section design like a Tony or CRG Heron trys to give more grip in the front and be loose in the rear by dividing into two sections.

Being at home is driving me crazy I'm glad there are some posters to ease my racing disorder via the internet.