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How to Build a Wooden Go Kart

Riding a go kart is an exhilarating experience for most children. Although gas-powered go karts are extremely fun, they can be dangerous, not to mention expensive. Wooden go karts are often seen in neighborhoods, as they are inexpensive and require only a hill for power. Making wooden go karts is an undertaking that most kids try at some point in time. With a few materials, you can make a simple wooden go kart for your kids.

Things You'll Need

2-inch by 6-inch piece of wood, 8 feet long (1)
2-inch wide by 20-inch long by 1-inch thick piece of wood (2)
1 1/2-inch by 4 1/2-inch long threaded bolt, with 2 nuts and 4 washers (1)
Eye hooks (2)
1/4-inch by 1-inch hex head screws with washers (18)
3/8-inch by 3-inch hex head screw with washer (2)
1/4-inch by 3-inch bolts with 2 washers and 1 nut each (4)
Table saw
Drill
Safety glasses
Nut driver
Open-ended wrenches
Sand paper
Duct tape
Towel, foam or seat cushion
4-inch cast wheels (nonswivel type)
Piece of rope, 6 feet long

Instructions

- 1
  Put on the safety glasses. Cut the 2-inch by 6-inch by 8-foot piece of wood in half. (You will have two 48-inch pieces.) Cut one of the 48-inch pieces in half to make two pieces that are 24 inches long.
- 2
  Place each of the 24-inch pieces across the ends of the 48-inch piece so that they make a double cross. Decide which end will be the front or steering end. Drill a hole large enough to fit the 1 1/2-inch by 4-inch threaded bolt. Drill four smaller holes through the other end to fit the 1/4-inch by 1-inch hex head screws.
- 3
  Place a washer on the 1 1/2-inch by 4-inch threaded bolt. Push it through from the bottom of the go kart. Add two more washers between the steering piece of wood and the main/seat piece of wood. Place the fourth washer on the end of the bolt, then tighten two nuts on with a nut driver.
- 4
  Insert the 1/4-inch by 3-inch bolts into the four holes you drilled at the other end. Push the bolts through from the top side down. Tighten the washers and nuts to the other side with the nut driver.
- 5
  Turn the go kart frame upside down. Place each of the 4-inch wheels on the ends of each crosspiece. Screw each wheel down with four of the 1/4-inch by 1-inch hex head screws and their washers.
- 6
  Place the go kart right side up. Wrap an old towel, foam rubber or a boat cushion around the main board where you will sit (right in front of the rear crosspiece). Tape the wrapping material in place with duct tape.
- 7
  Stand the two pieces of 2-inch by 20-inch by 1-inch wide wood upright against the main (lengthwise) piece of the wood frame. (These will be the brakes.) Drill a hole through each brake piece and into the main frame. Place a 3/8-inch by 3-inch hex head screw with washer into each hole. Tighten the screw down with your drill or a screwdriver. Screw two of the 1/4-inch by 1-inch screws into the main frame about 1 inch in front of the brakes. (These will allow you to lean the brakes forward without touching the ground prematurely.)
- 8
  Drill holes on top of the ends of the front (steering) crosspiece. Screw an eye hook into each hole. Tie one end of the rope to one eye hook. Sit on the go kart and thread the free end of rope through the other eye hook. Decide how much rope you need, and cut to that length. Tie the rope end to the eye hook.
- 9
  Sand any rough edges from the crosspieces and main frame.

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