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+--- Thread: Go-Kart ID and Date? (/showthread.php?tid=2468)
Go-Kart ID and Date? - doug tenney - 12-29-2018
Hi. We went to look at a 6X12 enclosed trailer for transporting the karts, and stumbled on this cool dead-axle kart in the barn. The cast steering wheel has the Go-Kart logo, and I promised the gentleman that I'd ask around about the year and model.
He and his brothers had a blast with it, and he's not sure if the next generation is done with it, so it's not necessarily for sale.
I have a few more pics. We realize that stuff has been welded onto it, and the motor is not original.
BTW, the trailer quest continues...
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - thomas kelley - 12-30-2018
gk400 with a ton of added tubes
tk
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - doug tenney - 12-30-2018
Do you know the time frame for the GK400? Those scrub brakes on the sprocket make me think very early 1960's.
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - thomas kelley - 12-30-2018
(12-30-2018, 12:26 PM)doug tenney Wrote: Do you know the time frame for the GK400? Those scrub brakes on the sprocket make me think very early 1960's.
58/59
its the first production kart for go kart
tk
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - David Luciani - 01-01-2019
tom is exactly right except it is later gen go kart 400
the first gk's had straight axle.
then a dropped front axle with a w steering wheel outta round rod .
then the iconic cast aluminum wheel that often was replaced in later years.
the gk800 early 3/4" seat tube had the same steering wheel with live axle.
that's a hard to find kart doug.
it has a bunch of farmer brown ad ons that need to go.
but it looks complete as far as original parts are concerned.
if it is for sale snag it.
d
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - ted johnson - 01-01-2019
As far as I remember, the straight axle GK was not called a 400. The late 400's had internal expanding brakes, but I can't remember just when they came along. The smash-on-sprocket brake didn't work on the GK any better than it did on the first gen Bug, though it was actuated in a better manner. Chain oil on primitive non-space chains and scrub-on-sprocket brakes was a combination for disaster. Good leather shoe soles were a must. TJ
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - David Luciani - 01-01-2019
ted, i was expecting a correction on that straight axle.
i don't think any of the 400's i found have expanding brakes but now i gotta look i guess.
can't remember everything.
and yep those sprocket brakes are sorta brakes that might slow ya down.
have the same kind of sprocket brakes on my 59 rupp dead axle.
i typically used the front tires and shoe leather brakes in emergencies!
d
RE: Go-Kart ID and Date? - doug tenney - 01-06-2019
Thanks, guys! I relayed your information to the gentleman, and he was quite surprised that it was that old. He's a vintage guy himself, but his addiction is Brockway trucks... sort of the other end of the gear-head spectrum... not so easy to store a few of those up against the wall in your basement!
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