[Kartbuilding] steering problem

[Stephen Burke]

Hi Dan,

Indeed - the differential solution is very difficult to implement.
It would be easy to change one of the rear wheels so it will spin "freely" 
on the rear axle. Perhaps have it so the hub of one of the rear wheels is 
not welded to the rear axle. Put a split pin and washer to hold on one of 
the rear wheels while still allowing it to spin freely. E.g. 
http://www.kartbuilding.net/Wooden_Go-Kart_Plans/index.html (scroll down 
to Drg 6.)

If you do want to try and improve (albeit it slightly) the current 
steering setup, you need to place more weight over the front wheels. 
Perhaps if you can take some of the weight from the rear of the vehicle 
and move it towards the front it would be ideal.
As for adjusting the camber and castor angles, it will only help a little. 
If you can add a 5 degree camber angle as on:
http://www.kartbuilding.net/Freeplans/faxle.htm
it might help a little. The castor angle is typically only to allow the 
vehicle move in a straight line if the steering wheel is let go.

Adjusting it so one of the rear wheels can spin freely *will* solve your 
problem.
The camber angle *might* help somewhat to alleviate the steering problem.

Best of Luck,
-steve

On Tue, 6 Nov 2007, Dan Stanley wrote:
> HI Stephen,
>
>   Yes the rear axel is a solid axel. I can not easily make it differential, I do have a few ideas but wondered if I added caster and camber I could make it drivable. Right now the front spindles are 90 degree spindles and mounted without any caster or camber. Do you think adding both would help and do you have a recomended starting point? Thanks
>