Got a new electric Go Kart ''winter'' project idea rolling around in my head.

[I74]

I have been thinking about an 1800 - 2000w, 48v brushless Go Kart project for this winter.
It would be powered by 2 - 48v, 13s - 4p packs run in parallel.
Each pack has 52 - 18650 - 3000ma cells.

Am looking everyday on the Facebook classifieds for this area, & also on Craigslist,, for preferably a ''cheap'' roller chassis single seat Kart.
A race Kart chassis would be preferable, but would also be happy with a rec. / Sport kart also.
Found some killer deals in other states ''so far'',, but they are to many miles away.
Best deal I found ,, was a single seat roller in Indiana, that looked like an old 70's Murray type ect., for 100 bucks.

Just have to be patient,, & I know one ''closer by'' will pop up eventually...

For kicks & doodles,, I did a layout drawing on the garage floor Sat. night while having a couple of brews,, just to see how much material it would take to make a frame out of 2 by 2 - 1/4 wall aluminum.

I figured up around 35ft. @ 8 - 11 dollars a ft.
Came to the conclusion ''real quick'',, that it would be ''really silly'' going that route.

I will post here again when something transpires.

I

 

[I74]

Hit the Jackpot on a vintage ''complete'' racing Kart ''chassis'' for $250 bucks !!

Looks like it's a later 80's Margay ''expert'',, from what I can tell so far .
The Guy wasn't for sure exactly what it is,, but we will all figure it out soon enough.

My Buddy ''Fred'' & I,, are planning a road trip this next week to pick it up.
The Guy has a bunch of other older racing Karts,, & it is looking like he is going to offer one to Fred also.

Really cool thing also with going electric on these, is,, there are 2 wires on the controllers to hook up to a switch,, allowing reverse function.

I will post pics ''probably mid next week'' when mine, ''or both'',, are sitting in my shop.

I

 

[I74]

Added,,

We are going to end up doing 1''- 1 1/4 aluminum axels ect. on our Karts to shed weight.
Hubs, & whatever else is economical on these,, also will be aluminum.
I can get 40' inch long, 1'' in.- 1 1/4 Key slotted axels,, for under 50 bucks ea.

 

[I74]

Did a chicken scratch ''ratio/ speed'' chart this morning.

We have to go with 6'' rims on the Karts,, so we can run 14.3 - 14.5 tires on the rears,, & 13 - 13.5 ones on the fronts,, for clearance ect. on the subdivision streets around here.

Best ratio I came up with ''so far'',, is 6.8 - 1.
Think for optimum efficiency, this ratio would be best, for generally just cruising around,, like we do on the Mini's.
Top speeds are only going to be around 33 - 34mph, but,, that ought to still be fun.

Tires for the rears I came up with are,, Carlisle: 15 / 6.5 / 6 - ''Turf saver 2's''.
I can get these tires for around 16 bucks ea.
Actual O.D. with these mounted on 6'' rims, would be est. around 14.5.

The fronts are going to be 13 - 13.5 in tall ones, probably with more of street treads.
Rim widths on fronts will also probably be 5.5''.
View attachment e - kart.jpg

 

[I74]

In my latest research this morning,, I found a better motor/ combo set up.
The combo I stumbled across,, the motor is a ''BM1109'', not a ''MY1020'' like the one I put in Fred's Mini.

The ''BM1109'', is actually a 48v ''2000w'' motor that's rated @ 38a, & has an advertised rpm of 5,200 - 5,500 !
The 48v ''MY1020'', is rated @ 1800w & 4,500 - 5,200 rpm's & 33amps.

Combo with ''large'' 12 fet controller, pedal,, & motor,,, is only 138 bucks out of Cali, w/ free ship.

Added,,

The 4,500 rpm rating on the motor sticker is probably average for the 100%, setting.
Remember from Fred's build,, the controllers have wires to an optional switch for 3 speeds.
Default is 100% ''with out'' the switch, & the same as ''2nd'' speed with the switch.
You get your 5,200 - 5,500 rpm's with having the switch hooked up & having it set on the 3rd speed.
The 3rd speed setting put's the motor @ around 115%.

When I tested Fred's ''MY1020'' motor rpm's with a laser tach,, I got ''over'' 5,200 rpm's ''with no load'',, in the 3rd speed position.

 

[I74]

Latest research I have done on my chassis,, has me leaning towards that it looks more like an 80''s vintage - Coyote ''Bullet''.
Still not positive though ...
Hopefully we will be taking a trip Thurs. to pick it up,, & one more .

 

[I74]

Fred & I are all set to take a road trip early Sun. morning to pick up my chassis, & one more .

Here is a pic I found of a really nice restored later 80''s Coyote ''Bullet'' sprint.
Looks like a real stout design , & I love the narrow waist frame of it ect.
Almost 100% positive now, that this is the type of chassis I' am getting.

Mine doesn't look near that good '' yet'',, but it will.

Plan on painting my frame Electric blue metallic.
Think mine has ''a lot'' of chrome under the old / crappy ''re - paint'' job some one ''once'' did.
Hopefully I can get those chrome parts exposed & spiffed up again.
I

 

[I74]

Look'ee what my Buddy & I each picked up today !!
Mine,, 80''s Coyote Bullet sprint,,
His,, early 80's Margay ''Expert'' sprint.

It was a ''long @$$'' drive,,, but well worth it, for 250 bucks ea !!

 

[Mariah]

I see a pair of "Lithium Land Cruisers" in your future!

 

[I74]

Thanks Mariah,, I like that !!

 

[I74]

Been busy today …….

 

[I74]

Was ripp'n & strip'n on my ''Wile-E'' yesterday,, & found the ID letters & number stamps on the inside & outside of the caliper frame mount bracket.
The outside letters & numbers are : K I C 9 0.
The ''I C'' is the same as my initials !!

I then called Coyote racing in NY, & was real lucky in talking with ''Jim'',, one of the two head Guys.
He told me that my chassis is a 1990 ''Bullet'' .
I told him about the ''I C'',, & it kind of floored him, as it did with me also.
Also told him about my resto & electric conversion plans on it,, & he thought that was really cool, & would like some pics. when it's finished .

It was definitely in the stars with me scoring this chassis, & I was only off a year or so on my guess of the year, make,, & model.

I

 

[I74]

''Merry Christmas everyone'' !!

 

[I74]

Got my frame pretty much stripped & smoothed out,, don't think it even weighs 30 lbs, now.
Also got ''Fred's'' drive wheels & hubs up to snuff.. Classic Douglas orange label rims.
''A lot of work'',, as these were pretty much demolition derby Karts.
I don't think they really knew what they had,, but I will bring them back better than ever.
It's well worth every minute I put into them.
These are ''rare'' racing frames,, & to buy a ''re - issue'' Coyote ''free roller'' - bare frame,, is 1000 bucks.
They are remaking these ''classic'' Coyote chassis, calling them - ''free roller's'',, as there is - ''a lot'' of requests for them.
It's basically my chassis.
My bearing housing ''drive'' cassettes are made out of titanium,, & they still make the exact same ones for their new stuff.
Pretty cool.
I

 

[I74]

Been busy refurbishing parts on my Buddy ''Fred's'' Margay.
Made the alum. master cyl. lid by hand.

 

[I74]

Thanks for all the ''likes'' dsull .

 

[I74]

Got my frame completely stripped & just about ready for primer.

Fred took his bare Margay frame home the other day & just contacted me that he weighed it.

His bare frame weighs only 25lbs. !

Mine ''am guessing'' ,, is going to be 1 - 2 lbs. more.

Rough ''shoot @ the hip'' calculation on his finished AUW now,, am figuring ,,, @ around 95 lbs. !

Mine should easy be under 100, when I get new ''lightweight'' tubular chrome - ''re pop'' - front & rear bumpers from Coyote racing.

The ones that came with mine,, are ''boat anchor'' solid steel ''sprint'' bumpers.

Front weighs 9.3 lbs,, & the rear weighs 4 1/4 .

We also made a big order on parts & stuff the other day,, & should see it around the beginning of next week.

Lastly,,

I found some higher capacity 13s4p packs on e bay,, & they have 3500ma cells in them,, which translates to 14ah per pack.
That will be a total capacity of 28 ah with both packs wired in parallel.
Should get some decent run time out of those.

I

 

[I74]

For ''kicks & doodles'',, I did a rough ''slight - brief'' assy. on my ''Wile-E'' this eve., with existing parts,,, to get a bit of a general idea of what it will look like when it's finished.

Remember,,
It is, & ''Fred's'',, are going to have - ''a lot'' - taller & different tires on them when they are finished,, ''for the street's''.


I

 

[dsull]

For ''kicks & doodles'',, I did a rough ''slight - brief'' assy. on my ''Wile-E'' this eve., with existing parts,,, to get a bit of a general idea of what it will look like when it's finished.

Remember,,
It is, & ''Fred's'',, are going to have - ''a lot'' - taller & different tires on them when they are finished,, ''for the street's''.


I


View attachment 273572

Looking good.can't wait to see this bad boy done

 

[I74]

Thanks Brother !