Did I get a good deal? What now?

[Bryan Shear]

Come from a MX background. Been to my local track a few times for some show up and race things. Always loved it even though the Karts were junk!

Picked this little guy up for 500.00

SPECS:

Hasse chassis KT Kart, 3 bearing rear, gun drilled axle. Yamaha KT 100 engine that has been balanced and blueprinted. RLV pipe, L&T wet clutch, brand new vented brake rotor. Black lansing wheels, Bridgestones, tillet seat, digitron dash with tach recall, rpm, head temp. Full set of fairings, extra RLV 3 hole can, 2 starters. Needs gas tank, it has a crack in it. Other than the tank it's in great shape. Runs strong.

PIC:



List of items I think I will check

Brake lines
Brake pads
replace tank
Fuel filter
Fuel Lines
Welds

This is my first kart and I live in Socal

[mike clements]

For $500 you stole it.
_________________
Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.

[Michael Taksa]

Now sign up for a race and the tech person will tell you what needs fixing:))) But on a serious note, you got lucky, go racing, run this thing to death, and then you still most likely will have a motor for a chassies you will buy in a year when you learn a whole lot. The best way to learn is to race the thing!!!

[Adrian Baran]

The motor alone is worth that. So yeah I think you stole it!
_________________
Adrian Baran
Mechanical Engineering Student
The Pennsylvania State University||Penn State Racing (FSAE)
Birel AR 30|Hoosier R60a|Yamaha KT-100

[Bryan Shear]

Well can't wait to take it out and get it all fine tuned. I am sure I will have many headaches learning how to tune it and I am sure I will blow it up.

Any recommendations for gearing RPMs and engine temps to keep the motor alive for longevity?

[Paul Makarucha]

Bryan,

Just a few things to help get ya started.
-If this is not your first 2-stroke, check the squish on the cylinder. Then pop the cylinder off and make sure there is no rust from where the ring has been sitting for the past x years (I'm assuming its been sitting). After cleaning replace and reset squish. If it has been run and doesn't need to be looked at, check the squish anyway, its just something good to know.
-Replace fluid in and bleed brakes.
-Remove the rear bar
-Remove the 4th rail bar
-That left seat strut should be mounted to the rear bearing (Looks like the right side one is), not the side of the chassis. Bend the strut as needed.
-The seat looks mounted way too upright. Lean that baby back, drill new mounting holes. If you need some measurements as a guide PM me.
-Safety wire ALL brake and steering components.

IIRC: Baseline carb settings with a pipe leaving the pits should be around 1-1/4 turn on the low; 1/8 to 1/4 turn on the high.
Once on track open the low to around 2 to 2-1/2 turns. With carb settings the more fuel you can throw at a KT100 the better.
_________________
CKR/KZ
CRG/ICA
http://WWW.ACTIONKARTRACING.COM/
http://neshifterkartseries.com/
http://Jaymotorsports.com
Do you have any special rituals when the helmet is concerned like many have? - "I wipe it so that I can see better." - Kimi

[Bryan Shear]

Paul,

Thank you for a great post.

That is some great info I didn't know and will for sure take your advice.

Just need to google squish now what's the best way to clean the cylinder if there is rust, because yes this kart has sat for about a year or 2.

What should my squish be? What numbers are bad? Cliff's notes

[Chris Livengood]

These Haas models were the same as the Tony Kart Crono with which I won many many races in the early 2000's. Great kart!

If i were you, i'd ignore just about everything Paul said, asides from making sure the cylinder is in good shape and fixing the brakes. Changing the seat position is something you might want to do after getting a serious amount of seat time, until then i'm sure it will work just fine. A bit of chain lube might be a good idea though.

Then go drive it. If the kart is reliable you can then start worrying about removing bars and adjusting seats.
_________________
http://www.Chrislivengood.net
http://www.Work-Racing.com
http://www.OurZeal.com
http://www.Karting101.com
"Auto racing, helping white guys get laid since 1887!!!"

[Jim Derrig]

Paul's advice is sound, Chris is just saying that driving time is more valuable right now than tinkering with the mechanicals.

I would also suggest that if it is available, use the money you saved to rent a Tag kart for an hour at the local track so you can get a feel for what a correctly set up kart should handle like. I agree with Paul that the seat looks like it was installed wrong. I'd also guess that the weight balance is too far forward, so that thing is going to be way loose. But who knows? You need a reference point to tune toward.

You also might grab one of the local hotshots to take a couple laps and tell you what seems off handling wise. I've had a few people mistake me for a hotshot and perform this service. I think maybe I helped.

[Paul Makarucha]

Ouch, my E-feelings are hurt.

I agree with Chris that Seat time is of utmost importance. But for a lot of us now is the 'off-season' and is the time to get things mechanically correct. My advise is based on the "I come from an MX backround" and I assume he is familiar with tinkering already and only want to give him a heads/leg up on where he would want the kart to be setup so he may find the sport more enjoyable when he's in a somewhat properly setup chassis instead of a chassis in left field.

Bryan, it would be advantageous to add your location to your profile.

EDIT: just notice the bottom of his post says SoCal, lucky! Ill make you a deal, find me a job out there and I'll tune your kart for free
_________________
CKR/KZ
CRG/ICA
http://WWW.ACTIONKARTRACING.COM/
http://neshifterkartseries.com/
http://Jaymotorsports.com
Do you have any special rituals when the helmet is concerned like many have? - "I wipe it so that I can see better." - Kimi

[Chris Livengood]

I ran a pretty upright seat in my Crono. The kart came with wheels that centered on the 40mm axle. We had to purchase hubs that had centering shoulders to even run wider the 50". Once we went out towards 55" the kart needed a pretty upright seat. This was in Formula Y Jr. then later Formula Y Sr. with YHC tires. I'm 5'6"

The kart really was in its sweet spot around 53.5" to 54.5" rear width, never liked anything much wider than that.

Ninja edit: I have in my possession a book published by Tony Kart that lists the seat mounting dimensions for the homologation after the Crono. They were a more laid back position. We tried adapting dimensions to the Crono, they were dreadful.
_________________
http://www.Chrislivengood.net
http://www.Work-Racing.com
http://www.OurZeal.com
http://www.Karting101.com
"Auto racing, helping white guys get laid since 1887!!!"

[Bryan Shear]

Gas tank has a crack.

Best place to get one? I'm in SoCal
Which one? Online?

[Max Wood]

Below are links to a couple companies out west I've had good luck with. I'm sure there are many more.


http://www.italianmotorsusa.com/collections/fuel-systems-tanks-1

http://www.fastech-racing.com/fuel-tanks-catch-bottles/

[Bryan Shear]

[Robert Brooks]

Bryan,
Empire karts is in Redlands and has been there for over 15 years. (they have way more than 15 yrs experience) They are close to you and could locate just about anything you need. They are open till 9pm on wednesdays and most saturdays. I suggest going and visiting them, and maybe even taking the kart with you. In the long run, you'll get the where it needs to be sooner and with less trouble and less $.
www.empirekarts.com
(909) 793-9695

Tri-C karters has a place for you to race in the Sr 100 cc class when you are ready.
www.tri-ckarters.com
THX, RB
_________________
Straightaways are for fast karts, corners are for fast drivers....