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How to build a go-cart

Building a go-cart is a lot of fun especially when you involve your kids in the process. There's nothing cooler to a kid than getting to try out the finished product that they had a hand in building. Here's a great way to build a simple non-motorized go-cart that will provide hours of fun, not only riding it, but creating it as well.

Materials needed:
- 3 (2' x 4' x 8') untreated boards for the frame


- 1 (1/4", 4" long) machine bolt with lock nut and 4 flat washers for steering pivot
- 1 (1/4", 6" long) carriage bolt with lock nut and 3 flat washers for brake handle
- A piece of old tire or thick rubber to go on the end of the brake handle
- 4 Wheels the same size somewhere around 7-10" in diameter (can get these from the hardware store or use old lawnmower, wagon, tricycle or barbecue grill wheels)
- 4 Lag screws and flat washers to hold the wheels on (the size will depend on the inside diameter of your wheels that you want to use, so find your wheels before you purchase these) You could also use 2 solid rods for the front and rear axles if you want and then just use flat washers and cotter pins to hold the wheels on.
- 2 (1/4", 4" long) carriage bolts, plus 2 flat washers and 2 nuts for back axle
- 4 (1/4", 2 1/2" long) carriage bolts plus 4 flat washers and 4 nuts to hold seat and back rest on.
- 2 (1/4", 3") lag screws for backrest
- Nylon rope (1/4") about 3-4 foot long for steering
- Plywood (3/8" thick) 30" x 20" You will have to buy this in whatever size they sell it as, but that is the minimum you will need for the seat and back rest.

Go-cart Construction:
To build this cart you will want to start by cutting a 2 x 4 the length of 52 inches long, then cut 2 more the length of 28" long. This will give you the main frame and the front and rear axles. Mark the center of two 28" long boards and then start by attaching (in a perpendicular fashion) one of the boards to the rear of the main frame board that is 52 inches long with two 1/4" by 4" long carriage bolts, flat washers and nuts. Make sure you center each board and you will want the axle on the bottom of the frame.

Next attach the front axle to the bottom of the main frame board (in a perpendicular manner) using the machined bolt that you purchased. You will want to drill the whole for this bolt a little larger so the front axle will pivot for steering. Use one flat washer on each end of the bolt and two flat washers in between the main frame and the front axle. Now you should have the main frame and both axles attached


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

How to build a go-cart

  • 1 of 4

    by Mike Webb

    Building a go-cart is a lot of fun especially when you involve your kids in the process. There's nothing cooler to a kid

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  • 2 of 4

    by David Cadman

    Lets face it, unless your a welding and mechanical guru, you have two hopes on making your own Kart, Bob Hope & No Hope.

    The

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  • 3 of 4

    by Curtis Carper

    There are two schools of thought when it comes to building a go-cart, I call them Old School and Modern Tech. As I grew up

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  • 4 of 4

    by Stanley Roberts

    In my younger years when we as little boys wanted a go cart we had to settle for a soap box derby car and hope we lived near

    read more

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