Go-Cart Patterned After Antique Car

Go-Cart Patterned After Antique Car FARM HOME Cars 21-5-24 You've never seen a go-cart like the one built by John Krueger of Blanchard, Okla., who patterned it after a 1901 "Runabout" car. "My grandchildren really get a kick out of driving it. It goes up to 10 mph," says Krueger. The rig is made from a steel frame covered with plywood and has boat trailer fenders and a curled front end made from stain-less steel sheet metal. It mounts on 8-in. wheelbarrow wheels that are attached to axles made from 5/8-in. dia. steel rod. The seat, which is wide enough for two and has a backrest, is plywood padded with foam and covered by upholstery vinyl. Power is sup-plied by a 3 1/2 hp Kohler engine that chain-drives one of the rear wheels via a friction clutch. A double reduction chain sprocket on one of the rear wheels reduces the rig's speed and increases its power. Steering is done with a "tiller rod" steering lever just like the one used on the original car. "To steer it you simply push the tiller rod left or right," says Krueger. "It's connected to part of a universal joint that's linked to a tie rod on the front axle. A steel rod runs from the front axle back to the rear axle and has an adjustable spring on one end that softens the ride. "The go-cart has two pedals - one for the brakes and one for the clutch. To make the brake I cut a fan belt in half and anchored one end to the frame. The other end runs around a pulley mounted on the rear axle and attaches to the brake linkage, so that when the driver applies the brake pedal it tightens the belt against the pulley to stop the rig. Letting up on the clutch pedal also eliminates power to the rear drive wheel. "Raising a hinged wooden lid against the rear seat provides access to the engine and fuel tank, and there's a storage compartment under the seat." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Krueger, Rt. 1, Box 539, Blanchard, Okla. 73010 (ph 405 392-4796).

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