Hi everyone,
A while ago some friends and I got together and built a kart together as a hobby project (just for private roads, not for racing use). That works now too, we have already tested it.
The whole thing is powered by a 13hp motor with an oil bath clutch, the curb weight should be around 90-100kg.
Our problem now is the following: The kart is quite long and we have a fairly large track width (1.10m) with a continuous rigid axle. If we drive for a while and especially if we go around tighter corners, there is quite a large load on the clutch, as a result the oil in it has become quite hot + of course quite a lot of wear on the friction discs.
The ideal solution would be a differential, of course, but differentials are hard to get and are usually expensive. In addition, you would then have to put a brake on both parts of the axle, which is impossible for us.
We also considered if we should simply cut the axle and convert to one-wheel-drive. But then we probably also have the problem with the brakes, which then pulls the kart in one direction (maybe I'm talking nonsense here, if anyone knows better - please let us know).
Idea number 3 would be to put a clutch in the middle of the axle so you can "switch" between one and two wheel drive. Now, mechanical/electromagnetic clutches are also quite expensive, which is why we are considering using a slip clutch so that the rear axle automatically separates the left and right wheel under heavy loads.
Can something like this work?
If anyone has experience with something like this, or ideas in general, any input is welcome! Maybe we just came up with nonsense and there is a completely different solution.
Also, maybe someone knows where to get an appropriate differential or has someone experience with something like that and the brake issue?
A while ago some friends and I got together and built a kart together as a hobby project (just for private roads, not for racing use). That works now too, we have already tested it.
The whole thing is powered by a 13hp motor with an oil bath clutch, the curb weight should be around 90-100kg.
Our problem now is the following: The kart is quite long and we have a fairly large track width (1.10m) with a continuous rigid axle. If we drive for a while and especially if we go around tighter corners, there is quite a large load on the clutch, as a result the oil in it has become quite hot + of course quite a lot of wear on the friction discs.
The ideal solution would be a differential, of course, but differentials are hard to get and are usually expensive. In addition, you would then have to put a brake on both parts of the axle, which is impossible for us.
We also considered if we should simply cut the axle and convert to one-wheel-drive. But then we probably also have the problem with the brakes, which then pulls the kart in one direction (maybe I'm talking nonsense here, if anyone knows better - please let us know).
Idea number 3 would be to put a clutch in the middle of the axle so you can "switch" between one and two wheel drive. Now, mechanical/electromagnetic clutches are also quite expensive, which is why we are considering using a slip clutch so that the rear axle automatically separates the left and right wheel under heavy loads.
Can something like this work?
If anyone has experience with something like this, or ideas in general, any input is welcome! Maybe we just came up with nonsense and there is a completely different solution.
Also, maybe someone knows where to get an appropriate differential or has someone experience with something like that and the brake issue?
Last edited:
), such as:
