[Samir Shah]

Do these include harness, pipe, header, carb, ECU, etc?
Are they legal for US WKA racing?

Thanks, Samir.

[Samir Shah]

We’ve had an issue with the engine not revving consistently past 13k – Jr Max with EVO. I finally tried using 2 gaskets on the crank pickup. Amazingly, even on the stand, the engine sound changed, and it is now a lot better. We’ve only had 3 laps at the end of the track day with this change, so need to test it some more, but maybe worth trying.

http://gorotax.com/information-bulletin-dellorto-ignition-system-how-to-assure-faultless-function/

[Samir Shah]

Follow up: I got an AMMCO portable hone, and used the 220 grit. Under the supervision of my 4-cycle engine guy (John Kurtzman of Kurtzman Racing Engines), did a very careful hone, getting rid of some depressed spots, and measured about 20 times, resulting in a 54.20R piston size, up from a 54.15.

Reused the old gaskets (since I accidentally ordered MY09 gaskets), and checked the squish – over 1mm, so plenty safe – and very carefully broke it in over a practice day. The engine rocks! My son took pole, and led every lap, winning for the day  yesterday.

Now to learn how to do the bottom end.

Thanks again for the responses.

Samir.

 

[Samir Shah]

Thanks. Interesting. Any idea where I can find the WKA tech rule or amendment that allows for shaving?

[Samir Shah]

What is the difference between a SKUSA cylinder and a WKA cylinder? Thanks.

 

[Samir Shah]

So, where are the drivers going? WKA? ROK? Or is it that the kids are growing up and leaving once they become teens, and the entry level is not making it up?

Samir.

[Samir Shah]

I asked the same question last year: https://new.ekartingnews.com/forums/topic/first-kart/

 

 

[Samir Shah]

Thank you. Really appreciate the input. I’m actually happy that you guys think that it’s fair racing and not ‘dirty’. I’ve been very impressed by this group of racers, and want my son to be able to trust them when he is pushing.

Samir.

[Samir Shah]

I just uploaded the video, would like your thoughts on whether that was brake checking. Around 12:04.

Thanks, Samir

 

[Samir Shah]

The problem is that the flaggers have so much to watch for, they miss stuff like this. On the video from my son’s gopro which I only reviewed last night after discussing why he lost time on the car ride back, it’s pretty clear. But will any official even look at that? Video does not seem to feature in any rule book. Any is there any point complaining about it after a day?

Thanks.
Samir

[Samir Shah]

Tony, got the chains. As described. Thanks, Samir.

[Samir Shah]

Is a ‘0’ numbered AB size cylinder a good one, an OK one, or a bad one? Thanks, Samir.

[Samir Shah]

I use bike cable housing cutters. Tons of choices on Amazon, but if you’re not sure Jagwire always makes good stuff.

For housing, REI sells very good stuff in bulk at a reasonable price.

Samir.

[Samir Shah]

We’re going to be at Millville this weekend.

[Samir Shah]

That’s annoying. I just took off a very nice numbered cylinder from my spare 08-bottom Jr engine to put on a lettered cylinder to prepare for this year, doing an unnecessary rebuilt ($$) at the same time.  If we don’t need it, I’ll have just wasted money. And next year, we may want to be in Seniors. Guess I’ll just sell the fresh engine if it comes to that.

What letters are stamped in 2011-12? Any one have a list by production date?

Samir.

[Samir Shah]

Ambrose, the new Evo bracket works on my son’s ikart. I needed to change the seat strut to one bent in 2 places.

Samir.

[Samir Shah]

Hi Christian. I thought one of the reasons for change to the lettered cylinders (and evo engines) was improved production tolerances, thus levelling the playing field. I was wondering if they achieved that.

[Samir Shah]

How good are your eyes? If not very good, put on a pair of magnifiers. Then check the connectors of all your electrical stuff. I’ve found loose pins and blackened pins in a variety of places in my harness. Spray all the pins with deoxit, then tighten the pins with a flat head eyeglass screwdriver.  This cured both mine and another friends non-start condition.

Another possibility: broken reeds. Check those too.

Third possibility – bad stator. Swap with a known good one.

Samir.

[Samir Shah]

Thanks.

[Samir Shah]

Has anyone figured out what the letters mean? Has anyone tested the lettered cylinders and are they consistent and similar, so that we don’t have this race to spend the most money on engines?

Samir

[Samir Shah]

Update – price is now $200

[Samir Shah]

An update, with new prices:
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>Selling the stuff that no longer fits my son (he grew) or me (I stopped racing). Follow the links to ebay for descriptions and pictures. We can either transact on ebay, or directly.</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>– Arai Vector 2 Helmet, Black, M2010, Small, 55-56cm, extra visor and liner, no impacts or crashes, minor scratches. Purchased 5/2013. $250</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arai-Vector-2-M2010-Small-55-56cm-helmet-Extra-visor-and-liner-/121805754959?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>– Neck brace 360 Device – Junior  $100. Used for a few years, and shows it, however, works fine.</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/NECK-SUPPORT-COLLAR-BRACE-360-PLUS-DEVICE-GO-KART-RACING-JUNIOR-SMALL-/121805731181</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>– Neck brace 360 Device – Adult. Used for 1 year by me.  SOLD</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>– MIR Extreme Impact Rib protector. Large. Used once. $125. My son forgot his rib protector at a Gearup race, and this was the only one we could find at the track.  It’s way too big for him. Outstanding design. He did manage to get a stain on it, otherwise it would be like new.</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/Go-Kart-Racing-MIR-Extreme-Impart-Rib-Vest-Adult-Large-L-size-/111814524244</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>– K1 Rib protector – XXS/6. Used for a few years, in good condition, for Juniors. $50</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kart-Rib-Protector-K1-XXS-6-Junior-Rib-Protector-/111814519126</p>
<p style=”border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; background: #efefef;”>Everything is in Stamford, CT. Shipping is extra. Samir 203-273-0360.</p>

[Samir Shah]

As people say, stick to what your local track racing options are. Balance how you can get the most racing. If the best racing close to you is Rotax, you might want to run that however. I’ve not seeing any Junior or Senior Roks locally. There is a robust Yamaha Senior field at Etown, so consider that too (Yamaha Junior is almost dead however).

Costs:

– A used X30 can cost 2x or 3x what a used Leopard costs. If you’re not competing for the lead, the only reason to get an x30 is for the reduced theoretical rebuild frequency.

– With Rotax, you want the EVO kit on your engine, and that upgrade is no longer cheap. A Rotax (20-25 hours for top end) does not need as much rebuilding as a Leopard (6-10 hrs for cylinder, 15-20 hours for bottom end) or X30 (slightly less frequent than Leopard).  For some reason, Rotax engines are not equal, and good engines can cost a lot of money too. Rotax also are requiring a newer cylinder next year at a national level, so an older Rotax engine, which will be fine in the local clubs, might get cheaper as a result.

– That being said, this season, we’ve witnessed quite a few stuck X30s, a couple of blown Rotaxes, and I don’t recall seeing any stuck Leopards, although I’m sure there must have been some.

We started this year, and got a Leopard, to race at Englishtown. The Leopard is also great for the Gearup Series. However, depending on the class, you might be able to run Rotax at Gearup, and most clubs will allow Rotax in TAG.

However, once we discovered OVRP, we realized that running a Leopard there meant running in a small mixed (Seniors and Juniors) Leopard class – in order to race in a decent field at OVRP, you need a Rotax, since they wont put the Leopard in with the Rotax racers. So we got Rotax equipment as well.  There is no point racing at OVRP in a Leopard. So we now run both Rotax and Leopard in Juniors.

Re Leopard vs X30 – the local clubs make it possible to run Leopards in Juniors, since they allow a 28mm header on the Leopard vs 29mm on X30 – they are compatible and competitive, even though the engine characteristics are different. However, if the local club requires 25mm on the Leopard (per WKA rules), forget it – it will be 2 or more hp down on the X30 with 29mm header, and will never be competitive. Nationals will run WKA rules, eg Daytona Kartweek, so while it might allow a Leopard, it’ll be pointless. I’m shopping around for a cheap X30 as a result, just in case we want to run National events.

The Seniors at Etown do just fine with Leopards vs X30 – I suspect you will be able to compete fine with a Leopard.  Their theoretical hp are similar. The track will make a difference – a lot of twisties should favor the X30, or Rotax, a long straight might favor the Leopard.

Re 30mm vs 32mm – especially at Millville, but also OVRP – you need to drive over the kerbs to be fast, so I think you need a 30mm, unless you are heavy. A 32mm will toss you up when you try to drive over the kerbs. At Etown, you can’t drive over the kerbs – many have turtles. And it’s a low grip track, so a 32mm might be better there.

Re Englishtown – even though its a parting lot, spinning out is not costly. You don’t really hit anything. The barriers do move. At Milleville, however, I have bent axles and lost chains from going off the track. Milleville is a nice track. But, my son’s favorite track is Etown.

We only go to Milleville for Gearup, NJSS, or NE Rotax, so I don’t really know what the local club options there are. Check out the number of drivers in each class using Race Monitor results.

In summary, get the engine that will give you the most racing with a minimum of 7 racers consistently at every event.

 

[Samir Shah]

Amazing, I ordered the Japenese Arai helmet on Friday night, and it has arrived already!

Samir

[Samir Shah]

Gof, he tried a Gp2 and did not like the way it fit.
Samir

[Author]

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