[Kartbuilding] wooden go kart

[Stephen Burke]

Hi Gareth,

On the basic wooden kart ( www.kartbuilding.net/Wooden_Go-Kart_Plans ), 
the rear axle doesn't turn, its fixed. Its just the two wheels which spin 
on the axle. Having applied grease and oil to the inside of the wheels 
would ensure they'd spin freely and not sieze up.

On the engine powered wooden kart ( www.kartbuilding.net/woodenkart ) , 
the full axle does rotate inside the metal bushings/enclosures. The 
bushing/pipe would have a very tight fit in the Main Supporting Block of 
wood and as a result the pipe would not be allowed to rotate. The axle 
however, which would have plenty of grease and oil where it goes through 
the metal bushing/enclosure ensures that the axle will always be able to 
spin freely, even if there is a very heavy weight acting down on the axle.

As for using a Wooden Axle, you could use a wooden axle for the basic 
wooden kart with no engine, as the axle is fixed/stationary in this kart. 
The wheels would still have to spin on the ends of the wooden axle, so it 
could wear the wooden axle a bit. If there were bearings inside the middle 
of the wheel, that would be ideal.

Best of luck,
-steve


On Tue, 21 Jul 2009, Gareth wrote:

> I've looked at your design on line for a wooden go kart and have a couple of questions and wonder if you are able to answer them.
>
> Firstly, when someone sits on the go kart what is preventing them from putting pressure on the seat area to such an extend that the rear axle doesn't turn in its enclosed casing as the weight forces the whole go kart down onto the axle.
>
> Secondly could you use a wooden axle rather than metal axle?
>
> If you could let me know that would be great.
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> Gareth Davies