Michael Richard's Journal

Well the Kart build table is almost ready. Sanded the top, and now throw a coat of paint on it. Scored a Wagner power steamer at Goodwill today for $7.00 so wood bending is in the works. Will try it on a few plywood pieces before diggin in. I've almost gotten started getting started. LOL

Finally came to the conclusion that the Jappic has to be done right, so I'm tabling it for now and starting on an Austin 7 Special. I've acquired most of the parts for the front axle/suspension, but am waiting on the DOM tubing for the axle end pivots. I've ground out the ends of the 1 5/8 straight axle to accomodate them at 5 degrees KPI. I went conservative on this as the general consensus is that while it does make a difference, not so much on the light front ends on these Karts. Axle without ends is 30.5 inches with the kingpin mounts it should be 31 7/8. I'll build the caster in with the radius arm brackets that will give me some adjustment on this. I went kinda backwards from the norm in that the spindles are made of 3 inch 1/4 steel "C" brackets that will have a reinforcing plate welded to them, and then the 3/4" stub axle will be drilled through, installed from the back and welded in there. I'm hoping that this will take any weakness from welding and place it on the non- load bearing back of the spindle bracket. We'll see.

Got the spindle mounts welded first pass with E6011 rod, and will fill weld two more passes with 6013. I increased the KPI from the 5 degree I was going to use to 7 degrees. She's made out of some heavy stuff, but was almost free and should hold up to the hard South Georgia clay that is concrete when dry,, and sliperier than owl crap when wet. Freshly burned out drill press is going to slow me down for now. Temperature in the barn was around 115 with the fans going. Down here you just drown in your own sweat. Doesn't even evaporate.

Finished welding the spindle mounts to the axle, and got the bushings installed. Fitted the spindle backing plates to the spindle mounts but haven't drilled them yet. Made the spindle, stub axle weld bushings and will finish fit them to 9 degrees before welding . That way I can use the weld bushing as a guide for the stub axle hole so I hopefully end up with 2 degrees positive camber. Added a photo of a home made bushing installer in case anyone needs to know how to make one. You don't need fancy tools, just some imagination. Trudging along it was nicer today only 95 with 45% humidity. Almost a cold snap LOL.

I cut the roughs for the transverse spring mounts and got them drilled for radius rods. The plates have an opening that allows the spring to go through them, hopefully making the entire assembly more compact. I'm hoping also that this design will help should the spring break, maybe holding everything somewhat together until the Kart could be stopped. Couldn't do any welding today because of the wet barn floor. I kinda don't like standing in water when I'm SMAW welding. Anyways I mocked it up kinda for an idea of how it will look.

Got the leaf spring mounts sorted and will finish them up tomorrow. Threw the whole thing together to get an idea of how she swung and am pleased.