Q:
I am very interested in building either the Tarantula or
the Scorpion go-cart and I was wondering what the estimated
cost of the materials would be?
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A: This
is question we get quite a bit so I will spend some time
answering this one...
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| The parts we provide in the plans are only
suggestions! We do not make any money off the parts.
I simply give the information on one good source out of
hundreds on the internet. So in saying that, since this is
a "Do It Yourself" project it hard for us to say how much it
will cost you as a builder to finish one of our plans.
You might be a good fabricator and want to build some of
your own weldments which will take the price of the kart
down, or maybe you want to use all racing style lightened
aluminum parts which will drive the price up.
We also sell to countries other than the US, so if we
give an exact price on what it would cost to build one of
our karts in US dollars it might not be even close for
somebody in say the UK.
None of our plans should cost more than $100.00 in metal
to build the actual frame if you have a good source for the
metal. From that point it is really up to the builder
to find or build the kart just how they want it with the
kind of hardware they want on it.
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Q:
Is it possible for you to disclose the tools required for
the build to ensure I have or can get what is needed prior
to purchasing your plans?
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A:
Yes. This is a metal working project so its pretty
straight forward. You will need a way to get the metal
to your shop, measuring devices, a way to measure angles,
metal cutting tools (hack saw, band saw, chop saw...), some
form of welder, hammer, screwdrivers, ratchets, etc...
Just the normal workshop tools are needed. If you have
all but a welder or don't even know how to weld, have a
local welding shop put just the frame together for you and
you can go from there putting on all the goodies you want...
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Q: Do
you sell the frames already built?
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A: No we
do not sell completed frames. We have found that we
can actually provide them to you for a great price but no
body wants to pay the shipping rates.
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Q: I
was just wondering what engine size (HP, displacement) you
recommended for an average sized male driver (160 lbs) on
the recluse and tarantula. And about how fast they’ll go
with those engines.
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A:
We use the Tecumseh 6.0 & 6.5 Power Sport products. I
am 180 lbs and it will get to about 25 on the Recluse with a
54 tooth rear sprocket and to about 35 on the Tarantula with
a 72 tooth rear sprocket. The Tarantula really does
need a Torque Converter if you can afford it due to the size
of the rear tires. Like many of the other answers,
this is all subject to change depending on how you build
your kart. Different tires, sprockets, motors, drivers
all effect how fast the kart will go. There are
several ratio calculators out there on the net that can
assist you in deciding what size sprockets and tires to use
to achieve the desired speeds or torque.
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Q: Is
the Recluse DVD video suggested or is the manual sufficient?
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A:
The DVD is an amazing resource for beginners. It is
over 2 hours of instruction and I build each part with you
on the screen. I go through the plans step by step.
There is even an overhead camera in the studio to show how
the cuts, measuring, marking, and assembly are done.
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Q:
Are the parts hard to find?
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A:
No our karts are built with common parts provided by any
go-kart supplier. There are hundreds of them on the
net.
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Q: How
much experience do you need at something like this?
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A:
Our karts are designed for builders at all levels. If
this is your first metal building project just make sure to
take it slow and no matter what put safety first!
Learn how to use any new tools you might buy before starting
your project and be comfortable with any dangerous cutting
or welding tools before you start.
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Q:
How many hours does it take to get done?
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A:
Many of these questions are hard to answer because there are
so many variables. If you are a great metal worker you
could do a frame in a day or weekend. But if its your
first one it might take a few weekends to complete. I
can build a Recluse frame in about 6 hours. But I
designed it and I have made a few... So it really
depends on your skill level and which kart you are building.
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