Still Here (Just about!)

Si: Not 100% sure about the wheels. The £5 sack truck wheels from northern tool seem like the ovbious choice though im a little concerned the small 10 diameter might reduce my top speed too much.

(That is assuming that the wheel diameter affects the speed in a gravity kart in the same way it would a powered one)

Rob - Tried the skid steer idea last year on the grounds of minimal moving parts and maximum simplicity but it didnt work!. When one wheel stopped all 3 others did too.

Im thinking the lever on the tyre might be the better appoach ..the more I look into it the more I realise discs are complicated and expensive.

As for calling constrictor a rotten; how dare you! :P Ill remove it if you remove the rotten carrot from yours.

I actually have nothing to show right now as everyting is just in my head or scribbled on paper. Once ive made some progress ill share some photos.

What if you used two moped wheels on the rear, then you could use their drum brakes.

PS, how long is the course ?. A heavier cart might be slow on the take off but would be faster later in the course

Finding a cheap scrapped moped might be difficult and I guess it would be excessivly heavy.

Course is no more than 200m.

This approach seems simplest..
http://www.gravityengine.co.uk/redbull/viewer.php?id=153http://www.gravityengine.co.uk/redbu...wer.php?id=153

Tiller for steering ...std push bike brakes ...reclined seat.

Perhaps you could get clever and add a lean mechanism?

Someone made one like that last year - it was very unstable and buckled two of the 4 wheels.

Heres the video from the 2006 event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgLngG9rUychttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgLngG9rUyc

Another idea for brakes is just the flinstones method . Just cut a hole in the floor and put your feet in to stop or alternatively just something that would create friction .

it was very unstable and buckled two of the 4 wheels.

Sling yourself LOW ,reclined with bum just off the floor....cut the frame and cant the rear wheels in a little at the top ....make a foot rudder bar to steer.
Edit :- A long hand tiller and foot operated brakes might be better ... a lot of probs seem to come with oversteer.

Come on your an engineer!

Or just get a racing wheelchair.

(Message edited by woody on March 31, 2007)

(Message edited by woody on March 31, 2007)

LOL ....A similar design at approx 4 mins in to the video didnt do very well!

His rear wheel buckled under the side strain before he crashed.

(Message edited by woody on March 31, 2007)

:lol: - The kart at 4mins into the video is my kart being driven by me!