How to Build a Go-Cart

Go-carts used to be made of 2-by-4s and run by gravity or pushed by a friend or parent. Today's go-carts are made of lightweight metals and composite materials and powered by high-tech engines. Are you ready for this?

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Helmets
• Dreamcast Flag To Flag CART Racing
• Driving Gloves

1. Decide what type of go-cart you want to build. Will you be track racing, or is this a toy for your kid?

2. Hook up with a reputable go-cart manufacturer like Kidd Karts.

3. Focus on safety, features, construction and extras that you may want to aid in performance or comfort.

4. Get started with the help of Briggs Racing. Read up on its Web site's Tech Tips and Tech Talk pages, which will help you build, maintain and upgrade your go-cart.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your research ahead of time so you are prepared for the costs and time associated with go-carts.
• Go-carting is a dangerous sport that can result in injury and even death.

on 2/13/2007 The easiest way to do it is to use the rear axle of a riding lawn mower, but the axles have a limit on how fast they can go because they are not made to be put on a go cart. You can also buy a gear box that changes a vertical shaft to a horizontal, so then you put a fan belt to the gear box and ether a fan belt to the axle or a chain to the axle.

on 1/25/2006 Instead of spending 20 dollars on a new chain, just buy a kit to fix your old one($10 at the most). Sure, you'll eventually have to buy a new one, but why not get all your use out of the old one.

on 11/22/2005 You can use a flashlight for the Go-cart light.

on 11/22/2005 If you are just making a cart for your child with an 8 hp engine and you need brakes, you can take some from a bicycle. They work like a charm but you will need to replace the brake pads often.