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Monday, August 16, 2010

Enabler 2: Fix the kart, fix the trailer, fix the fix

The kart was not ready to take out to the track right away. This was expected since I wouldn't trust anything that can move me 120mph, 1inch off the ground (and that 1inch is questionable), no seat belt, and bought from someone else before inspecting it and changing it to my liking.

The first task was to move the seat. I use the word 'task' because there is no slide to move the seat. There are a couple of bars that stick up and a solid mold of a seat that I need to drill holes into. So after guessing a couple of times and sitting in a seat that wasn't attached to anything solid, I could finally feel connected to my car. There is also something rather intimate about how close you need to sit to the wheel and drive with a gallon of 110 octane gasoline between your legs. I suspect this is a similar feeling to driving a street bike.

There is also a small issue with steering wheel. While I can now grip it nicely, it is actually upside-down. I tried to remove it and simply flip it over. But it was at that point that I actually understood the problem. The Tony Kart chassis isn't made to fit this type of wheel.

The wheel and wheel-hub I have are as follows:








The problem is similar to the following:



The previous owner had drilled a couple of holes to make it fit, unfortunately, the same can't be done 180degrees away from where it is now. Simply turning the wheel around wouldn't allow me to use the clutch either. So after fiddling with it I've concluded I need to barrow someone with machining abilities and make myself an adapter. There wouldn't be a problem if the computer wasn't there. However, the simple fact that the computer IS there, I suspect I'll be subject to a dying temptation to look at it while driving. But the difference between looking down at the top of my hands, and looking down at something below my hands at 100mph is comparable to looking for your phone on your dashboard and looking for your phone on the floor? Either way, you should be looking for your phone while driving. Which is actually why this doesn't bother me because I won't be looking for my phone... I mean at my gauges while driving 100mph. For now.

I cite a previous post:  



Next, I added some more water to the questionable radiator and about 10% coolant. The cap doesn't really seem to screw on too tightly so we'll see if it holds water. I pumped up the tires and called it a night.

At least I got the seat in the right place.

So with the top level changes and adjustments made to the kart I now arrive at where I was many weeks ago. I don't have a way to actually get the kart to the track.


That's right, I rented that trailer in the photos. And item #2 on my list of to do:


#1: Get Job
#2: Get Trailer
#3: Get Kart
#4: ....
#5: Profit!

So the trailer problem will have to be dealt with in time. A gentleman at work said I could barrow his trailer that he had used for karting, but it would need a small amount of work before I pulled a kart with it.


The trailer

So I picked up the trailer from my buddy at work. It is small but rather ingenious in how to carry 200lbs of crap and a 250lbs kart all on a trailer too small to fit the kart alone. But rather than go into details of cutting wood, drilling holes, fixing busted wiring, and painting a trailer I would simply say that it was money, sweat, and time well spent and now I have a trailer to carry all my crap.




The night before

So loading up the trailer was indeed a calming experience. The spare tires were each inflated nicely and fit away into their own corner of the trailer storage cubbyhole. The extra parts each stowed in a green color basket. The ratchets, a-casket each in their own wicker-basket. Orange Boxes of tools with all sorts of cool.....loading up everything for the first time should have been accompanied with the theme from the Nut-Cracker and someone reading Dr Suez.
Christmas Music: A Nut Cracker Christmas


The excitement was building slowly as the hours ticked on. The only difficult part really was getting the kart up onto the trailer, alone. This is normally a 2 person operation because the thing is just simply too large to lift by myself. But with time, and 4 chairs and lots of patience (and a close call) the kart was on the trailer and I strapped it down.



All squared away and ready for a day at the track. Work is going to be tough.

So I'll see you soon,

-S

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