FalconFN Posted September 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Never too soon to teach her. Our younger daughter had a school project to make disabled gardener's seat/storage cart, which the teacher suggested should be made in wood. We realised that this would be too heavy to be practical, so I taught her how to weld aluminium angle and sheet using Lumiweld and a Mapp-gas torch. After she had practiced on loads of off-cuts, she set to and built a very nice piece which her disabled grandfather was very happy to use in his garden. The pride of a (I think that she was) 14 year old girl in making something practical from scratch was immense. Let her have a go on some bits and pieces and then give her the less critical bit to weld. You are undoubtedly right but I'm no welder and I'll end up teaching her bad habits and give her bad information. I have a cheap arc welder so ali welding sounds very exotic to me! I'll get some angle iron and let her loose on that first then. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 You are undoubtedly right but I'm no welder and I'll end up teaching her bad habits and give her bad information. I have a cheap arc welder so ali welding sounds very exotic to me! I'll get some angle iron and let her loose on that first then. Cheers. Aluminium welding with Lumiweld rods and a propane (or better still MAPP) gas torch is as easy as soldering and an absolute boon if you don't have an electric welder. If you are worried about teaching her bad habits, there are loads of Utube videos to show her the right way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 I was just thinking about your cart project the other day. Progress looks and sounds great so far and if it is cost neutral then a definite bonus. As for the welding, it may end up looking like steel pigeon poop, but if it holds it holds and that's all that matters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Never too soon to teach her. Our younger daughter had a school project to make disabled gardener's seat/storage cart, which the teacher suggested should be made in wood. We realised that this would be too heavy to be practical, so I taught her how to weld aluminium angle and sheet using Lumiweld and a Mapp-gas torch. After she had practiced on loads of off-cuts, she set to and built a very nice piece which her disabled grandfather was very happy to use in his garden. The pride of a (I think that she was) 14 year old girl in making something practical from scratch was immense. Let her have a go on some bits and pieces and then give her the less critical bit to weld. You are undoubtedly right but I'm no welder and I'll end up teaching her bad habits and give her bad information. I have a cheap arc welder so ali welding sounds very exotic to me! I'll get some angle iron and let her loose on that first then. Cheers. I used the lumiweld method as advised by Amateur and it turned out well. It is not really welding, more like soldering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Another kart update: We are nearly finished, but we have a problem. The centrifugal clutch is slipping way too much, it's getting hot and not moving the kart - although giving a push start helps it trundle at walking speed. Does anyone have any idea how to increase the clutch friction enough to stop the slipping? It comes from a Suffolk Super Punch mower so it should be ok on lower revs, and it seems in ok condition, but I've not had a good look inside, and the gear ratio is ok at 5.25:1 The alternative is welding it all up and doing a push start, but that's not ideal. Any ideas?? Quick pic of welding the sprocket onto an old clutch plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Not sure it will help, but it might be a starting point;- http://www.tractorbox.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6174&PN=2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheene7 Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Another kart update: We are nearly finished, but we have a problem. The centrifugal clutch is slipping way too much, it's getting hot and not moving the kart - although giving a push start helps it trundle at walking speed. Does anyone have any idea how to increase the clutch friction enough to stop the slipping? It comes from a Suffolk Super Punch mower so it should be ok on lower revs, and it seems in ok condition, but I've not had a good look inside, and the gear ratio is ok at 5.25:1 The alternative is welding it all up and doing a push start, but that's not ideal. Any ideas?? I remember my father trying to fit a centrifugal clutch off a lawnmower to my kart many years ago, the first time I tried it , the kart crept forward a foot or so and then the clutch burnt out . He never could get it to work right so it went back to direct drive . We might of been unlucky, and the clutch may have been pretty much goosed before it was fitted He also didn't have the luxury of the internet 40 years ago to try and find a solution , fingers crossed for you that somebody can help you sort it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 We used to make loads of karts at school. From lawn mower powered ones to 210cc gearbox driven ones. The lawn mower ones worked fine with centrifugal clutch. Don't think they were modified at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Not sure it will help, but it might be a starting point;- http://www.tractorbox.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6174&PN=2 Brilliant Gordon! you may well be the savior of this project. The clutch comes from a different mower so it is possible the driveshaft rotated the opposite way. I will look tomorrow and swap the shoe direction if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Quite the coincidence that this turns up for sale, on here, today.... http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/323062-kids-petrol-go-kart/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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