Suspended rear chassis

[Terry Bentley]

Tom, those rubber isolators are very similar to some larger OEM shock rubbers used on a lot of later model vehicles. You have done what is the hard part to me. Thats spending the time to rough out a stockpile of parts. The easy part for me is to finish machine any parts, construct a jig, work out the compound angles, cut to finish size and start welding together. With some basic dimensions, and hand fiting the compound angles, then set up to cut all of the parts identical. I have an adjustable fixture to fabricate different spindles. It would not take much alteration to setup and make Cates spindles. With some straight forward closeup pics of frame and some specific dimensions, it would be easy enough for me to build a few. The original karts were not much more complex than backyard builds. Very simple fixture with C-clamps and Vise-grips. I have three layout tables made from 2" thick steel plate with Blanchard ground surface. I use them all the time to straighten curent model frames, welding, repairs and alterations.

Dominic, any amount of measuring of each frame section you were willing to offer would be a great start on compiling enough dimensions to put on paper Then turn into a workable drawing and see what it takes to get something tangible in the works. If you measure each frame section, then measurements of frame section from a fixed point on frame, you can work out most any inconsistancy for nearly exact dimensions.

[Tom Smith]

Terry, I made a simple dedicated Cates spindle fixture when I built my Cates Kart. The way I do spindle jigs, 1 jig makes both sides which guarantees they both have the same geometry. Cates spindles are fairly different compared to most of the old vintage spindles. They use a bunch of king pin inclination. The clevis is bored on the spindle axis and the hollow spindle spigots thru the clevis and is welded on the inside of the clevis also. Couple pictures here of what the later spindles look like. The early Cates spindles are no where near the quality of the spindles the suspended karts used, in fact very few items are identical between them, nothing behind the steering post is the same on the later version. To make things fun the early Cates disc brake caliper mount casting like you have require the early caliper castings also which are just about impossible to find.
You might like my early Cates, it has the dual Texas Mc-20s that Sandy Shepard originally ran on his Cates Kart.

late style Cates spindle .JPG

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Airheart Cates .JPG

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63 Cates spindle .JPG

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Cates spindle jig .JPG

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SAE spindle jig .JPG

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[Dominic Salvato]

Does anyone have one of these early Hands Sprocket hub they might want to part with? I have a set of 5" Rupp turbo type fronts to trade.

[Terry Bentley]

Does someone know what those fiberglass seats were originally used for? I thought they were borrowed from a smaller boat or some type of portable seating.

[david a luciani]

Dominic,
i may have one but that picture and my eyes don't get along.
could you post a better one?
dave

[Dominic Salvato]

Okay?

[Tom Smith]

David, here's one not on a kart which makes it easy to photograph. They have Hands Eng. cast into the hub.
Terry, The seat could be from a boat, I have a die cast version of the steering wheel Cates used and it came from a boat.

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[Dominic Salvato]

Thanks Tom. Seats are available http://www.precisionkarting.com/Used%20 ... 0index.htm

[john whisenhunt]

I'm a new member to your site and am enjoying the forums tremendously. I am hoping that someone can help me out. I recently purchased a "project" go kart from a friend of a friend and It is looking REALLY good . I was told it was a Margay but they have no idea what it is. So this is where I am hoping somone can help, I have attached a link to some photos and a few directly on this page of my vintage go kart that I need your assistance identifying. Any information/ specs would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

J
https://picasaweb.google.com/stafford.s ... directlink

[Rob Voska]

Welcome. From the one picture it looks like a Fox kart with the wrong wheels.