Advice for a new guy

George Karahalios · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:12 am Post subject: Advice for a new guy

Good day all,
New to the forum and new to the Karting world! I'm looking for our first kart (pre-owned) have a limited budget (so I wont upset the wife) and just trying to get some advice from all of you.
I have come across a 2000 Birel CR32X, Swedetech CR125 motor with 4-5 hours on it since last rebuild. Alfano system, Kart stand, 1 extra set of tires, race suit with neck brace and body wrap armour.
She is selling it due to her husband passing away. She had the original owner call me and give me some history on the kart. It sound like a good kart, but its 5 hours away from home for us to see. I'm trying to do as much homework before making a offer to her so that the drive wont be a waste of time. She is asking $2000 but would take $1800. It seems like it would be a good deal, but without seeing it I wont know for sure.
Can you find a good deal on a used kart between $1500-2000? Or am I just asking for trouble? Would I be better off saving for a while and then get into something a little nicer?
I know a shifter is going to take longer to get better at than a TAG but it seems like it could be more fun in the long run.
I'm in Tucson, AZ so we would just drive at P1 kart circuit on open track days.
Well, what do ya think???
Thanks in advance,
George in Tucson, AZ

Jason Lee · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:29 am Post subject:

worse case Motor is junk, chassis is bent.

best case motor and chassis has been well taken care of and you have a decient deal on a complete shifter that is 8 years old.

Do you have any friends that know karts and shifter motors?
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George Karahalios · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:36 am Post subject:

I have one friend that used to have a couple shifters. He said he would go with me to see it.
So if the kart is in good shape, is this just a ok deal? Should I be patient and find something better?
George

Brian G. Wilson · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

George,

I started off with a shifter as my first kart and don't regret it one bit. Knowing what I know now, I would do it the same way again without a hesitation. Depending upon the condition of the chassis, I see nothing wrong with a 2000 model for your intended use. If everything checks out, that sounds like a smoking deal with the accessories included. I would expect to pay between $2,000-2,500 for a good used shifter, with a great deal for a little less money comming along from time to time. Especially in todays economy, for some people, $1,800 is their pocket is alot more important/useful than a $3,000 kart sitting in the garage. I would ask 2 questions about the motor. 1) Was the last rebuild a top end only, or a complete rebuild? At 4-5 hours since the last rebuild, it could be time for a new top end, which is not really a big deal and relatively inexpensive. If the bottom end wasn't rebuilt recently, that could get a little more expensive when it is needed. Neither of which are deterents to buying the kart at that price if you are prepared for them. 2) Is it a stock or modified motor? If it is stock, it will have a higher value and be easier to tune and drive. Modified motors generally eat parts at a faster pace, are harder to tune and drive. To me, a stock motor would be preferrable. If everything checks out, I would say $1,800-2,000 would be a great deal.
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George Karahalios · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:54 am Post subject:

Hi Brian,
The motor is a Swedetech, so I assume its a modified motor. Her late husband owned a auto repair garage, so I assume that he would have been good at keeping up with the maintenance, but you never know. The previous owner said that he had not seen it run in the last couple years, so that could mean that it sat or he just never saw it run at the track.
If it wasnt 5 hours away I would just look it over with a fine tooth comb:)
George

Brian G. Wilson · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

George,

Swedetech does stock motors as well. If you have prior 2 stroke experience with a motorcycle or something along those lines, then the motor questions become even less of an issue.
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Larry Andrews · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject:

Less than two grand is a pretty good deal for a shifter as you describe.

One thing to watch out for is the brakes. Check very carefully for oil leaks at the calipers and master cylinders. These older karts tended to have a lot of problems with wear to these parts and it's fairly expensive to fix unless you have access to a machine shop. (I fell into this trap...)

Also make sure you get it started so you can listen for any weird sounds coming from the motor. Make sure the clutch releases and the transmission goes through all the gears without any weird sounds.

IF the kart passes those tests - you have found yourself a really good deal. Be warned that it can be difficult to get some parts for the older karts but more often than not you can find a workable alternative for very little money with some research.

George Karahalios · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

I've emailed her again to find out if she knows when her husband ran the kart last. I called the previos owner today to see if he knew, but he saw it run a couple years ago and just hasnt seen it since. He says the owner was a very picking about his toys, so if he was a betting man he would say the kart is fine.
If I go up there and the kart has fuel in it, is it safe to try to start it? I know that with my street bikes if the gas sit for awhile it can start screwing up the carbs etc. Are two strokes the same? I would think so, so do I get some new gas, pre mix it and empty the old tank and try to run it before making the commitment to her?
Sorry to be such a pain, I'm just wanting to cover all my bases so I dont get stuck with something being a money pit.

Do you think the CR125 motors are the least mantainance and cost of all 2 stroke karts including TAG? When I goto some motor websites and they talk about doing top ends every 4-5 hours, that just seems too much. I remember growing up with YZ80's etc and it seemed like forever before the bike needed anything, have motors changed that much?

Well, sorry about being long winded,
Thanks in advance again,
George in Tucson, AZ

Brian G. Wilson · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject:

I would say that the stock CR 125 is probably the least maintenance (both in time and money) and most bullet proof of any 2 stroke out there. The modified CR's require more time and money to maintain, but I would say they are still one of the lower maintenance motors. The motors have not changed that much, but your intended use has. In a motorcycle, the engine spends alot of time in the low to mid rpm range with very short burst and time at full throttle. In a karting application, the engine spends most of it's time at high rpm's at full throttle. Also, just like a motorcycle, your time between rebuilds will depend upon how competitive you want to be. It's not uncommon for someone who consistently and competitively runs in the top three positions to change pistons more frequently, some even do it after an hour. Do they need to, probably not, but they feel it is better to be safe than sorry. If your using the kart for open practice days, you may wait much, much longer between pistons. For open practice days, I would also jet it on the rich side, which will also increase time between rebuilds.

If the kart has been sitting with fuel in it, a carb rebuild probably wouldn't hurt. Again, that depends on you and how much you want to do. Personally, if it was me and it started, I would leave it alone unless it seemed to be causing an issue and go have fun.
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Walt Gifford · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:21 am Post subject:

Don't work the widow too much, bad carma.

John Matthews · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

George Karahalios · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject:

OMG,
You don't really think I would do that, do you?
It feels a little weird dealing with her on this since its her late husbands kart. I just want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head on this kart in general. Swedetech called me today and told me the original owner had them do the bottom end back in 2003 and then he ordered a cylinder for it and a straight intake for it. The original owner sold it to the current owner and he never raced it, he just had fun at the track with it. I would assume it was well taken care of, but thats the million dollar question.
I put in another email to her yesterday and she has not got back to me yet. (I hope she is not sick of all my questions)
Well, I'll let ya know if I get a hold of her and get a chance to look at it and buy it!!
BTW, does anyone know if it would fit in a 2003 ford expedition with the seats all folded flat?
Thanks again to all, this really is a great forum!! I hope some day in the future I'll be able to give back as much info as you all have to all us noob's!!
George in Tucson

Brian G. Wilson · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

I don't know the dimensions of the expedition, but it will fit in the back of a full size pick up. You may have to take all the wheels and side pods off to fit it in.
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George Karahalios · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

I got a response from her today. She thinks maybe the kart has not been run in a year or so. If that is the case I'm sure that it would need a carb rebuild and fresh fluids all around before attempting to start and run it.

Wish me luck!!
George

Curtis Ruth · Joined: 24 Jul 2001 Posts: 656

I would say come up to Phoenix to check out some racing and look at the local market to see about getting some support to make your karting experience a little easier to get into and enjoy.

the next race at PKRA is on January 11th. The Southwest karters race at Firebird that weekend as well on the long track.
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