Buying a Prokart - What to look out for?
Discussion
Me and a mate are going to be taking our first steps into the karting world 
by buying a second hand prokart. Plan is to run it at Three Sisters on test days and in the monthly owner driver events.
The problem is we have no idea what we are looking for. Can anyone offer some sage advice to help us on our way? For instance is there any particular chassis to look out for/avoid? Is there a way to easily spot a knackered engine? What other parts should we pay special attention to?
Thanks in advance. Any response no matter how obvious you think it may be is appreciated. Our knowledge level is pretty much zero right now!
by buying a second hand prokart. Plan is to run it at Three Sisters on test days and in the monthly owner driver events. The problem is we have no idea what we are looking for. Can anyone offer some sage advice to help us on our way? For instance is there any particular chassis to look out for/avoid? Is there a way to easily spot a knackered engine? What other parts should we pay special attention to?
Thanks in advance. Any response no matter how obvious you think it may be is appreciated. Our knowledge level is pretty much zero right now!
The guys at the front re-fresh the Honda GX-160 motors surprisingly regularly, often more than once a season and at a not insignificant cost (and remember there are two!) I think glazed bores is the usual problem.
When I was involved in ProKart there was a lot of talk about how many bearings on the rear axle, with four being preferable to the three found on older machines.
Tyres were about £130/set back then, much to my surprise, and at any given time you probably want four sets including a very fresh set of slicks and a very fresh set of wets.
Endurance fuel tank between the driver's legs was a good hop-up, my cart was used for heats and endurance so the standard little tanks on top of the engines would've been limiting.
Check the tie rods, stub axles, uprights etc for damage as they usually take the brunt.
Check that the kart has good clutches, they are crucial. I think Magnum 22T was the clutch of choice when I was racing in 2006.
People check geometry with lazer equipment so presumably the owner should be able to prove the straightness of the chassis.
That's about all I can think of for now, hope it helps!
When I was involved in ProKart there was a lot of talk about how many bearings on the rear axle, with four being preferable to the three found on older machines.
Tyres were about £130/set back then, much to my surprise, and at any given time you probably want four sets including a very fresh set of slicks and a very fresh set of wets.
Endurance fuel tank between the driver's legs was a good hop-up, my cart was used for heats and endurance so the standard little tanks on top of the engines would've been limiting.
Check the tie rods, stub axles, uprights etc for damage as they usually take the brunt.
Check that the kart has good clutches, they are crucial. I think Magnum 22T was the clutch of choice when I was racing in 2006.
People check geometry with lazer equipment so presumably the owner should be able to prove the straightness of the chassis.
That's about all I can think of for now, hope it helps!
RodentRacing said:
Me and a mate are going to be taking our first steps into the karting world by buying a second hand prokart. Plan is to run it at Three Sisters on test days and in the monthly owner driver events.
The problem is we have no idea what we are looking for. Can anyone offer some sage advice to help us on our way? For instance is there any particular chassis to look out for/avoid? Is there a way to easily spot a knackered engine? What other parts should we pay special attention to?
Thanks in advance. Any response no matter how obvious you think it may be is appreciated. Our knowledge level is pretty much zero right now!
Funnily enough I'm the person that runs the karting events at the Three Sisters, if you want to drop me a pm I can give you a bell and help you out. by buying a second hand prokart. Plan is to run it at Three Sisters on test days and in the monthly owner driver events. The problem is we have no idea what we are looking for. Can anyone offer some sage advice to help us on our way? For instance is there any particular chassis to look out for/avoid? Is there a way to easily spot a knackered engine? What other parts should we pay special attention to?
Thanks in advance. Any response no matter how obvious you think it may be is appreciated. Our knowledge level is pretty much zero right now!
Any advise you need,you will get it here:
http://www.karting.co.uk/Notice/Forum.asp?FID=3
You can even register on the forum and ask the same questions,lots and lots of free advice from guys with experiences. More likely is to be invited on the next meeting and someone can show you what going from the "inside"
http://www.karting.co.uk/Notice/Forum.asp?FID=3
You can even register on the forum and ask the same questions,lots and lots of free advice from guys with experiences. More likely is to be invited on the next meeting and someone can show you what going from the "inside"
Best advice I can give is much the same as would apply to any race car or classic car - spend as much as you can afford at the outset and get a nicely spec'd and well-sorted kart that someone else has spent all the money on.
I ignored my own advice a few years ago and bought a bargain basement ZipKart from the local paper. By the time I'd sorted the chassis, refreshed the engines and done all the other jobs I was seriously out of pocket.
Unless you want to set the world on light £750 on ebay or one of the karting sites should do the job. It's all the peripheral stuff that knocks the price up so look for bargains on Ebay - particularly things like racesuits and tyres - we used to source a set of part worn Maxxis for £20 or so.
I ignored my own advice a few years ago and bought a bargain basement ZipKart from the local paper. By the time I'd sorted the chassis, refreshed the engines and done all the other jobs I was seriously out of pocket.
Unless you want to set the world on light £750 on ebay or one of the karting sites should do the job. It's all the peripheral stuff that knocks the price up so look for bargains on Ebay - particularly things like racesuits and tyres - we used to source a set of part worn Maxxis for £20 or so.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff