Need a smaller fuel tank. Trade?

Mark Sink · Joined: 13 Nov 2012 Posts: 32

Id like to drop my steering wheel down, but the tank is stopping me from doing this. Is there a tank that will allow this? Do you have one for sale or trade?

Thanks,
Mark
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Benn Herr · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1580

Birel tanks are different from everybody else's. All the other ones will require a bunch of adaptation. Are you sure you need the wheel lower?
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Greg Wright · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:38 am Post subject:

Jim White · Joined: 21 Jul 2001 Posts: 994

You might first try the angled steering wheel adapter. That might tilt it down enough for you.

Nathan Adair · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:02 am Post subject:

I'd say unless you have T-Rex arms, try to drive it the way it is for a while. What is comfortable to you when you first start will change as you get acquainted with the kart more.

Oh, and... nice driveway!

Mark Sink · Joined: 13 Nov 2012 Posts: 32

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for the replies. Let me give a little more info here. What I have read is that adjusting the seat should not be done just to get more comfortable. Seat position is critical to handling, and should be messed with, at least not at first.

I have yet to drive the kart, so what I have to say may change, but. Here is me sitting in the kart with back comfortably against seat back. This is as I received the kart, before making any adjustments.

I can hardly reach the pedals, much less push them, so I have tilted them down by adjusting the pedal stops as far as they will go. They are closer, but as I press then, the tops move up to the point where my small feet have to come up off the floor, or my toes will slip under the pedals. I have ordered some heel risers (big door stops) to get my feet up.

Next, the steering wheel. It came with an angled adapter, which I measured at about 10 degrees. I'd like to have more, but cant find anything more than 12.5. Would prefer not to shim it, but...

I then lowered the steering shaft as much as I could to get the wheel lower and more straight, but the tank prevents me form lowering it more. I thought a new tank would be better than adjusting seat.

Here is what I find to be a comfortable seating position, where I feel like my shoulders can get involved in the steering. Again, this is before making any adjustments described above, so things are a little better now.

So that's the deal. Adjusting the seat would help all of this, but that seems like a last resort mod.

Thanks,

Mark
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Mark Sink · Joined: 13 Nov 2012 Posts: 32

Russell Stevens · Joined: 15 Oct 2012 Posts: 100

Check the manufacturer documents for the seat. There is a (small) range of adjustment allowed. If you were to tip the seat forward just a small amount it might make all the difference in the world for drivability, and minimally effect the balance. I'm 5'2 and have to use pedel extenders so I feel your pain. Looking at the mount points on the seat, that one is about as far back as it can go. You can play with the angle that the seat sits in the kart without moving it fore or aft (much).
Thanks
Rusty

Mark Sink · Joined: 13 Nov 2012 Posts: 32

Is there a DIY seat space I can get locally? If I tilt the seat, I need smaller spacers. Something maybe I can cut down as I'm figuring out how far to tilt?
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Matt Dixon · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 3:20 pm Post subject:

Measure from the left kingpin to the edge of seat under left hamstring, and from Lf kingpin to middle of top edge of seat back and post those numbers...
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Russell Stevens · Joined: 15 Oct 2012 Posts: 100

DIY spacers = a stack of washers wrapped in tape or going to Lowes and buying a nylon spacer from the bulk bins and cutting it down. I have 3 karts like this. One came from Italkart with a seat mounted (stacked spacers and washers) and one from a local 4 stroke shop with a lot of local wins. A spacer is a spacer is a spacer, and unless it throws off the weight balance use what you have (that won't pung a hole in the seat and cripple you for life... or hurt and ruin a perfectly good seat).
Toss the pros here some measurements. These guys are annoyingly good. My untrained eye says that seat can tilt forward some.

As a side note. I mounted a new (fat guy) seat in my Kosmic per the factory measurements. Did not realise that the seats were different from one brand to the next. Set the kart on the floor, and had 2 wheels that would touch at any given time (seat was too low)... My mounting points looked about where yours are now. By rotating the seat up I got it off of the ground and was able to actually reach the wheel. That kart scales out almost perfectly with my butt in the seat. The point? Don't be afraid to experiment a little bit.
Rusty

Walt Gifford · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject:

Obviously your seat's too far back. Don't underestimate driver comfort. When you're out on the track little problems like stretching for the brake pedal get amplified.

Have you scaled the kart or dialed it in on the track to know that's where you need the weight? It doesn't make sense because if you're too small to reach the pedals you'll have to add weight to make class anyway so moving the seat forward should be no problem.

Gif Cool

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Mark Sink · Joined: 13 Nov 2012 Posts: 32

Matt Dixon · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:51 am Post subject:

Mark if it were me I would not move the entire seat anymore forward but I would bring the seat back up. I converted that to 106.7cm. Try 102cm and get petal extensions.

Don't worry about drilling a bunch of holes in the seat, you will notice the fast guys will have lots of holes. Seat placement is very important, the driver is the heaviest thing in the kart and will make very noticeable handling changes.
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94y Energy Corse/Swedetech

Michael Taksa · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:55 am Post subject:

Tillet T9 ML should be on top of the steering uprights in front. I mean right on them, with barely enough space to push the micron rpm lead through. Also if you are on a shorter side like me, don't be afraid to raise the seat up, so the bottom is 1/4 to 1/2 inch above bottom of frame rails. After you do that you can play with steering wheel hub. Move it back and fotrth on the column by drilling holes.