Set up help, steering arms

[avmaviator]

So the people at Italian Motors who put this package together didn't really care that much. I have been findings tons of little things here and there that are out of wack, one of them, which I need help to correct.

When the kart is on the ground, level, the steering wheel is angled about 3-4 degrees to the left. I initially thought it was tire pressure, but no. So today I went up and down the street (drove it for the first time, between the puddles, woohoo) and the wheel is still a bit to the left when I let go, and it also pulls to the left. After that I measured the steering arms/tie rods (don't know what they are specifically called), between the steering rod and the spindles, they are different lengths...:stickpoke: Idiots. So now my questions for you.
-How do I know which one is closer to being correct then the other
?
This has to do with the toe-in/out? Is there a general setting for that? I will check the chassis set up manual they have online for the Italkart.
-What do I use as a reference point (measuring points) when aligning the wheels with the chassis?

Sorry for the vague questions :whistle:

Thanks!

Arno

[Jeff Stamper]

You need to get alignment plates, Sniper's and someone to tell you how to use them. A good starting point is Toe out = 1/8 and Negative Camber (Tops of wheels lean in) about 2 mm. Its just a starting point. I would actually ask someone who has a Tony Kart or what ever you have Ital Kart what they use. Ask Andy, he will know. I have the stuff you need to get it aligned if you want to do it. Let me know. Oh, invest in a steering Lock for the kart. Its a Huge timesaver.

[JET Karting - Andy Finke]

Arno-

Just saw this thread. Sorry.

Next time you're out here, I can show you how to set swing and toe. I use toe plates and an exact-toe for setting toe.

The tie-rod should be 10mm longer on the right side of the kart, usually. The seat is not in the middle of the kart, so the steering is not quite either.


Andy

[avmaviator]

Andy and Jeff,

Thanks, I'll take both of you on your offers. I think I was in the ballpark with what I did. I locked the steering in the middle, then found zero toe in from the axle. Then I went 2 mil toe it (one mil on each side). I did not touch the camber, or even tried to measure it for that matter. (one thing at the time! lol)

In regards to my first post, I found one of the rear tires .5 inch larger diameter wise compared to the other! So when I got that taken care of, it was very close to normal.

[Rick]

Whatever you do, make sure it is attached and snug. Jim just found that one of his was only attached by 2 threads!!! Imagine a tie rod coming loose in the Monza! :bugeye:

[JAYKAY]

Yes, that is not a place that want to be hanging on by a thread as it were...

Jim

[avmaviator]

Whatever you do, make sure it is attached and snug. Jim just found that one of his was only attached by 2 threads!!! Imagine a tie rod coming loose in the Monza! :bugeye:

Thats funny you say that. When I was there, there was a real nice family (the Dions, I think that how you spell it), the son is in Supercan (13), and the daughter, who I think is probably 10 ish, maybe younger, was taking her first laps around the track. She was in a kt-100 something. This was at the end of the day, I let her go by herself because I didn't want to scare her. Anyways, her dad set up the kart with a lot of toe in so that it would be more stable for her, a ridiculous amount of toe in. It was pretty funny to see, but then, towards the end of her session I went on because I was running out of daylight. As I passed her, at about 5 mph her front right wheel was cocked 45 degrees toe in. "damn, he wasn't joking, thats a lot of toe in!" Later when I was talking to him he said the vibration, and the left handed thread, made the tie rod extend a lot! That poor thing was driving with her wheel totally cocked to the inside. She went back out after it was fixed. Very cute to see kids go around for their first time. Lets just say that the clutch was hurting! haha. Best quote of the day from her dad "I blinked, and she was still in the same spot"