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The SolidWorks assembly file can be downloaded from its original location here, along with some other CAD
drawings also. A backup local copy of the SolidWorks chassis is also available.
In case you don’t have a copy of SolidWorks to open and measure the components, the eDrawings viewer
can be used to open the chassis, measure each component, and create a section view through the chassis.
The chassis opened in eDrawings can be seen below:
Conclusion
Hopefully the detailed professional chassis design will give you ideas on how to design and create your own
chassis. An idea of the size of the chassis design can also be obtained using the eDrawing. Best of Luck!
If you have any queries or comments, please email them to the author at:
The following website (http://www.vintagekarts.com/karts.htm) has some excellent photos and articles on
old vintage go-karts. These karts were made using the basic necessities, and still achieved high speeds
with excellent cornering and handling. Several ideas can be taken from these vintage karts where there
were “no frills” to building gokarts. Ideas which can be combed from the gallery of photos include:
Twin Engines
Simple friction brakes
Types of Seats
Keeping Chassis Designs Simple
There are also some excellent in-depth articles about the history of karting,
right up to the current day! Some of the topics discussed include:
Hopefully this website will provide further insight and details as to how simple engine powered gokarts
were and can be made. If you would like your karting website reviewed and mentioned here, or if you have
any comments on this or any other article, please contact the author by email at
The CIA (Commission Internationale de Karting) is the specialised Karting commission of the FIA,
the governing body of world Motor Sport. The CIA oversees Karting safety in conjunction with the
FIA and with a Research Group exclusively dedicated to Karting.
The CIA publish Technical Regulations for Karting, which includes detailed Drawings and
specifications. In their most recent publication (2007), detailed drawings showing measurements and
designs for Kart chassis are included.
The drawing above shows actual sizes (metric also!!) of Karts and provide an excellent guide to building a
Kart complete to regulation!! Many people, including myself develop free kart plans, and overlook the
wealth of information and diagrams offered by Karting Authorities such as the CIA.
Some more Drawings from the above Technical Regulations can be seen below:
Quantifying the FoS for a Go-Kart is not an easy task! It certainly cannot be applied to the entire Go-Kart,
but parts of it, e.g. the chassis, transmission, brakes, etc. The same FoS cannot be applied to the chassis in
every Go-Kart. The purpose and category of Go-Kart must be firstly determined. I.E. is it a racing kart and
in what category of racing kart? Once the category and type of Go-Kart is determined, then a FoS can be
obtained.
NatSKA (The National Association for School and Youth Group Karting) governs the
sport and activity of karting in schools throughout the United Kingdom. The association
holds race meetings run under strict regulations of its governing body (Motor Sports
Association), and periodically publishes a Handbook and Regulations. The most recent
Handbook and Regulations (2007) outlines the various “classes” of karts, and range
from Class 1 (50cc Single Ratio Open) to Class 16 (Honda C70, C90 and C90 Cub Gearbox). Specific
specifications (including safety) are outlined for areas of the kart. The following is an edited exerpt from the
NatSKA Kart Regulations on chassis design:
The chassis in general shall be of safe, sound and adequately strong construction and shall not include any
components of a temporary nature. Specifically, the wheel base is to be a minimum of 101cm and
maximum of 127cm. The maximum length of the kart, including bodywork shall not exceed 210cm. No kart
is to weigh more than 100kg without the driver.
I highly recommend that the NatSKA handbook and regulations are read and followed, especially if other
people are driving and racing your Go-Kart. At the very least, excellent safety guidelines are outlined.
If you are designing your own Kart on a CAD system etc. some software
will allow you to carry out “Stress Analysis” of components. Some
examples of CAD software packages are: Solidworks and Cosmos, Pro-
Engineer and Pro-Mechanica. These software packages will allow you to
carry out simulation of kart components, allowing you to place particular
loads throughout, and calculate a FoS automatically! If you are heavily
involved in design and analysis of karts, this CAD software will speed
things up, and provide a wealth of information.
In doing some research on Factor of Safety for Go-Karts, I came across an “Amusements Devices Act”
which makes specific references to Go-Karts and the required Factor of Safety! Although the act (legally
binding), has been superseded by a later document, the numbers and references are interesting to see.
Part IV of the above act, pertains specifically to Kart Design! An excerpt of its legal requirements are:
The speed of an adult kart shall be limited or governed so as not to exceed 45 kilometres per hour.
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 20, s. 40 (2).
The seat, back rest and leg area of every kart shall be so designed as to retain the driver inside the
kart in the event of a collision at the front, rear or side of the kart. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 20, s. 41.
Rotating, moving or hot engine parts of a kart that may constitute a hazard to an occupant of the kart
shall be shielded to prevent burns to the occupant or the entanglement of the occupant’s hair, hands
or clothing. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 20, s. 42.
The wheels of a kart shall be so enclosed or guarded that the wheel of one kart cannot interlock with
Various universities are taking part in “Formula Student” lots of readily available information about building
advanced racing Cars is available. Two excellent reports on designing formula racing cars can be found here
and here. The latter document has a section on “Factor of Safety Development”.
The materials used, and the forces involved make the calculations for FOS quite difficult. CAD software
makes things much easier, allowing you to select the materials from a drop-down menu, and allowing you
to apply forces wherever you require. CAD software will also allow you to change material thicknesses to
achieve an optimum FOS, and weight balance.
Using your common sense, and reinforcing areas which would potentially fail in a collision will go a long
way in having a robust Go-Kart.
If you have any queries or questions, drop me an email or leave a comment below.
go
About
This blog compliments the main www.kartbuilding.net free kart plans website, and contains regularly
updated tips, information and diagrams relating to kart design, kart plans and all aspects of kart building.
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