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Matt Hapip
Joined: 16 Feb 2013 Posts: 13
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:44 pm Post subject: weight distribution |
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Please excuse my ignorance as I am new to this. What is the optimal weight distribution in a shifter kart and how can I measure this? I am 5'11 190 and I have a 99 crg daytona heron if that helps. _________________ Take it easy. If you get it easy, take it twice. |
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Tyson Henry
Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 359 Location: United States, Texas, Arlington
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TJ Koyen
Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 1453
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Around 41-43% front weight. You need scales to measure it. A set of nice digital scales is pricey but the best tool. 4 bathroom scales can work as well. _________________ T.J. Koyen
OKTANE VISUAL - Custom Helmet Paint & Graphic Design
www.oktanevisual.com
www.facebook.com/oktanevisual
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DB Motorsports
Exprit/Leopard |
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Matt Hapip
Joined: 16 Feb 2013 Posts: 13
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys. Is there a weighing procedure I should mimic for accuracy(four scale weighin) and is weighted tape or just weights ever advisable if maximum adjustment does't yield proper weight distribution? _________________ Take it easy. If you get it easy, take it twice. |
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Joe Ricard
Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 882 Location: United States, Mississippi,
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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Go back to "move the seat"
If you carry ballast move lead locations on the seat. _________________ Arrow AX-8/ Rotax Sr. |
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TJ Koyen
Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 1453
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Factory seat settings are provided to help with weight distribution. You should be able to get it pretty dang close given the factory recommendations. _________________ T.J. Koyen
OKTANE VISUAL - Custom Helmet Paint & Graphic Design
www.oktanevisual.com
www.facebook.com/oktanevisual
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DB Motorsports
Exprit/Leopard |
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Brian Degulis
Joined: 13 Aug 2012 Posts: 454 Location: United States, Florida,
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure your front end is set equally side to side. Any variation in caster camber toe or ride height will effect weight distribution. I used 4 $10 bathroom scales. When I weighed in at the track I was within a few lbs.
Brian |
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Rob Kozakowski
Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 278 Location: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Matt Hapip wrote: | | Thanks guys. Is there a weighing procedure I should mimic for accuracy(four scale weighin) and is weighted tape or just weights ever advisable if maximum adjustment does't yield proper weight distribution? |
With bathroom scales, a couple things to keep in mind...
Try to "calibrate" them so that they all give the same (or very close to the same) reading for the same item. Most are "close enough", but sometimes you might get an odd reading on one of them which can set you off in the wrong direction if you're not paying attention.
Another thing to do is make sure the measurement is being taken on a level surface. Pull out a level and adjust scale height / shim as necessary to make sure this is close. This would also apply to the digital scales, though that is probably made a little more self evident when you set them up.
No matter what you're using to weigh, do it with your kart setup as close as you can to how it would be raced (front end aligned the same on both sides, rear track width adjusted equally on both sides, tire pressures at racing pressures, ensuring equal tire circumferences, etc).
If your total weight is alright without ballast, adjust the seat a bit. Factory seat setting should get you close though, so it probably won't need much movement.
If you're underweight (not too likely for your size), and in the factory seat position, you can move ballast. |
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David Goldman
Joined: 25 Feb 2013 Posts: 5
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| CRG has a tuning manual that says they recommend 43% front and 57% rear, but in shifter karts it might be better to have a little more weight percentage in back, maybe 58% or 59% as mentioned. Just as a thought but in some cases it might be better to leave the seat in the manufacturer recommended settings and then add ballast to get the desired weight percentage. You should be close as is, and you might be faster this way even though you would weigh 10lbs more. |
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joseph hollinger
Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 9532 Location: United States, California, san francisco
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:32 am Post subject: |
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If you are buying bathroom scales, its best to avoid the digital ones. Not because they are less or more accurate but because a lot of them shut off after some short interval to save battery life. _________________ A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. -- Winston Churchill. |
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Chris Hatch
Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 405
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| A trick when using bathroom scales is to cut out some 1/4 plywood to cover the scale and limit the deflection. Deflection leads to inaccuracy. |
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