More Cowbell? ... no, more Go Kart...

Onto the front end. Wanted to make a kind of wishbone type set up. Although there's no actual suspension, there are upper and lower frame rails, so it makes sense to utillise the both of them. So, after a bit of trig to calculate the angles, the various parts were cut out.

Then I needed something to hold the bearing that will hold the upright. This is just some rectangular bar with a hole drilled down the middle. I probably should have set this up in the lathe, but my crappy pillar drill's done a job for me.

This is what I ended up with.

 Welding it all together gives this:

I made the upright out of the same rectangular bar. This time it was set up in the lathe, and the hole drilled and tapped to M10 in the centre at both ends. You can see now how the whole arrangement is. The two Rose type bearings hold the upright. The steering arm and axle is already welded to it at this point. You'll note that the top wishbone is set behind the bottom. This gives the upright some castor angle. The idea is that this helps the steering self-centre.

The one thing I'm not 100% happy about is that  I'm not sure that it's OK to triangulate that lower wishbone in to the middle of a tube like this, but it seems sturdy enough.

Below the axle clamped in the vice, ready to have an M20 fine thread cut into it. The axle (like the rear) is 30mm, then turned down to 25mm where the wheel runs, and then to 20mm to take the thread for the wheel retaining nut. I did all that on the lathe. I definitely need to take more pics! I haven't dressed the welds yet...

Making the thread. I was concerned at this - I thought this process would be tough going (especially as the axle steel is hardened), but the die cut the thread no problems at all.

Finished! You can also see how the upright's made too. Very simple.

And on the kart.

Both sides done and on. I haven't got the retaining nuts on the wheels. Mostly because I'd ordered coarse thread nuts, and I need M20 x 1.5mm pitch. Doh.

A few other things are clear - the seat arrangement has changed. Instead of the plastic go-kart seat, I've made a steel frame for a seat that has foam and faux leather covering. It's red! I'll get more pics (I know...). From the picture above, you can also see that the steering's coming on too - the column runs in two bearings - these were heinously expensive for their use, but never mind. Next time perhaps I'll just run bearingless.