Steering caster?

BradleyMiller · Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1 Location: Blue Springs, MO

I have a scratch-built kart that I'm fixing back to something more interesting. The kart brings "WIDE TRACK" to a new level. (49.5 inches across the rear tires) The thing has a live axle so I'm afraid that it's going to push like crazy. I've sawed off the front spindles to narrow the front (it was 51 inches across front tires). The front kingpins were straight up and down -- I'm going to put some caster in the front end to help with steering and stabliize it on straight-aways. Any suggestions on how many degrees I should put in it -- or am I off track here?

Patrick Hubbell · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2001 10:32 am Post subject: Steering caster?

quote:
Originally posted by Bradley Miller:
I have a scratch-built kart that I'm fixing back to something more interesting. The kart brings "WIDE TRACK" to a new level. (49.5 inches across the rear tires) The thing has a live axle so I'm afraid that it's going to push like crazy. I've sawed off the front spindles to narrow the front (it was 51 inches across front tires). The front kingpins were straight up and down -- I'm going to put some caster in the front end to help with steering and stabliize it on straight-aways. Any suggestions on how many degrees I should put in it -- or am I off track here?

You only need enough to unweight the inside rear wheel to make the thing turn. 8 to 12 degrees should do it.