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Go Kart Parts: Frames, Wheels, Tires And Engines

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Published: March 12, 2007

Although go karts can be bought fully made and ready to be ridden, it's often more fun to build one. Creating a go kart is a part of the entire experience. Imagine a father and son toiling away together in the garage, adding go kart parts to the frame. Although it's certainly easier to buy a go kart pre-made, nothing beats the experience of making it from scratch.

There are a lot of different go kart parts that need to be considered when building one from scratch. In essence, constructing a go kart is a lot like constructing a car. There are go kart frames, wheels, tires, and engines to think about. There are also smaller go kart parts like axles, brakes, seats, and steering wheels that need to be considered.

Go kart frames are the starting point for constructing a riding machine. All other go kart parts are affixed to the frame, making it the most important part. Go kart frames should be the first item purchased, as not a lot of construction can be done without it. Frames can be acquired for as low as $170 from various go kart parts outlets. Make sure the frame is sturdy and can hold the amount of weight that the average rider. Frames are usually made of heavy duty steel in order to keep its shape.

The next major area of go kart parts are the wheels and tires. Fortunately for go kart enthusiasts on a budget, go kart wheels and go kart tires can be purchased fairly inexpensively. For example, go kart tires can go from $14 to $30 each. Go kart wheels on which the tire is affixed can be purchased for as low as $30 each. Wheels are usually made of either aluminum or steel. Although they usually are priced the same, there are some differences between each metal. Aluminum is light weight, while steel is much more heavy-duty.

One of the most important go kart parts is the engine. Go kart engines can be purchased as a whole, or as individual parts such as ignition, filtration, and muffler. It's a lot easier and more reliable to buy completed go kart engines. Full engines can be purchased at $200 and up. Engines should be purchased from a reliable local dealer to ensure that the product is safe and usable.

Besides buying each of the go kart parts separately, there are some stores and websites that offer kits and go kart parts packages. For example, a steering parts package can go for $80. The go kart parts package includes all necessary parts so that nothing will be missed. This is a great way to build certain areas of the go kart, like brake and throttle control.

To purchase essential go kart parts such as go kart tires, wheels, a frame and an engine, expect to pay at least $550 total. This doesn't include go kart parts like steering wheels, seats, brakes, or axles, although it does feature the main go kart parts. The prices mentioned are for the items that tend to cost the most when building a go kart from scratch.

The best part of building your very own go kart is the satisfaction once it's complete. Putting together all the go kart parts and taking the time to do it right can add a lot of fun for the whole family and is a great summer project.


Sources:
GoKartSupply.com. 1997-2007.  Go Kart Supply, Inc. 8 Mar, 2007
<http://www.gokartsupply.com/>.
GoKartParts.com. 2007. Manufacturer's Supply, Inc. 8 Mar. 2007
<http://www.mfgsupply.com/GoMini.html>.
Go Kart Galaxy. 2004. 8 Mar. 2007
<http://www.gokartgalaxy.com/>.
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