With practice underway again at Scottish kart tracks and a hopeful sign of racing kicking off for 2021 in the coming weeks we’ve compiled our hit list of key kart preparations to ensure your kit is performing at its best!
A kart chassis is a finely tuned piece of kit, if anything is out of place in this geometry it can seriously impact the handling of the kart. One method of checking the kart is to place it on the ground, lock the wheel one way and lift the rear wheel that is trying to lift – measure/gauge the height that the rear wheel lifts and repeat on the other side. If there is a significant difference then something isn’t right.
Start by checking the caster settings are set the same both sides and ensure the axle is sitting at the same height in the carriers. If you have alignment lasers this can help check for any twist in the front of the kart, if they’re not aligning straight start by slackening the torsion bar to see if the chassis releases. If not, move onto slackening the king pin bolt through the steering arm and with your lasers still attached spin the bolt with an allen key. If the laser moves you have a bent king pin bolt – replace and check again.
If you still can’t get the lasers to align close to perfect you may need to seek someone with a jig to take a look. There are DIY methods that you might find more information on by searching – these usually involve measuring the difference of the front of the chassis to the rear with a digital level.
At the rear of the kart check your axle is straight, typically a bent axle will cause a vibration. Spinning by hand or running the kart on the stand should show any obvious bend.
Karts are very exposed to the elements, particularly on a wet track. Check your axle and front wheels spin freely with minimal noise. Any resistance here means more work for your engine to propel you – all about the small gains!
Don’t stop there, check the front stubs, rose joints and steering bush. Play in this area can sometimes be felt through the wheel during cornering or in more extreme cases with a wandering kart on the straights.
This will vary from class to class but ensure simple things like your clutch is in good serviceable condition. Keeping up a routine of cleaning the airbox, any filters and washing down chains/sprockets will be sure to help keep you running smoothly. If you run in a 2 stroke class and have big gaps between use – cleaning out the carb of any fuel isn’t a bad idea to avoid any issues.
Karts are relatively simple machines and with a bit of preventative maintenance should run smoothly at the track with minimal maintenance required in the paddock.
There are some great video explanations on YouTube channels such as Power Republic for those looking for handy tips.
What are your top preparation tips? Share them with us on social media!
