Axel Width

[Mike Bean]

This is how I determined my rear axle width. I wanted both the front and rear wheels to match as for the outside width.

I started with the front wheels and positioned them on the front spindles and checked the steering from left to right to be sure I was not rubbing on the frame. I then installed a spacer to hold that position for the front wheels and then just put a straight edge from front to back to be sure I was the same and cut the axle accordingly.

I also wanted to make sure I could fit the bar stool racer into the back of my truck between the wheels wells so I checked the measurement there when I was done setting up the bar stool.

That's about it. No rocket science there, just custom stuff. It all has to do with frame width, tire size, steering clearance.

[TJS]

I have seen carts where people have made the front axles a little wider that the rear for handling purposes. I think it was a half inch or so. Not that much but made a big diff. in handling.

T.J.

[Mike Bean]

I could see doing that if you were racing a kart. I really dont think I will be making any high speed turns with my Bar Stool.

I was thinking if I got into a tight spot and the front wheels could squeeze through, then I knew the back would also..

:shock:

[WarPaint]

Hey Mike.

Could you tell me more on the size of your tires and rims on the pic at the top of this page.

I'm really new at this and learning so much. But there is so much out there and I'm just trying to narrow it all down. also what sizespindels did you use on the frount?

Thank you

[WarPaint]

Hey just checking to see if my pic will work.

[Mike Bean]

Hey Warpaint, is that a pic of your sister or girlfriend with the shirt? :D

Here is what I got for wheel and rim specs for you.

The rims are made by Douglas and are a 1pc polished. The fronts are 6 X 6 and the backs are 6 X 9 inch.

The tires are made by Burris and are just one of the soft compounds they have. The front size is 11 X 5.5 - 6 and the backs are 12 X 8 - 6

Burris recommends that on the back you use a rim 1" larger than the tire and the front try to be as close as possible. Ex. 5 X 5 Tires 6" rim.

Honestly if you want, you really would not have to go the extra inch on the back because this is not a racing go-kart and I am sure you're not going to be hitting corners are the speeds the go-karts do. But the profile looks good and it does not cost anymore from that I remember to use the larger rim.

The spindle is the standard 5/8" with a length of 4 1/2".

Let me know if you need anything else.

Mike

[stool-sample]

Mike Im just curious why you went with the ss11. Those will be eaten pretty fast on a stool. Im putting 44 or 55 on ours.The tread does stand out nice on yours though. Glenn

[Mike Bean]

stool-sample,

I am not sure what you mean by "ss11", but form your email I think you are asking about my tires.

Honestly I really wanted the lookmore than the longevity. I cruise my BSR around at the drag strip and my neighborhood. My tires have been doing pretty good and since I am not racing the stool I was not really concerned.

You have to admit they look pretty cool on a BSR... :)

Mike

[stool-sample]

Mike with the Burris tires ss11-ss55 is tire compound. 11 being the very soft ones.I think maxis tires look sweet with the white letters as well. Hoosier has karting tires now that have lettering on them.Glenn

[Guy]

Well, I guess I'm looking at a BSR with a bit of offroad clearance without suspension... just ruff paved yard, no dirt. 10-1 gear on 18" wheels and a 2 stroke? use a jackshaft?

[PLOP182]

Well, I guess I'm looking at a BSR with a bit of offroad clearance without suspension... just ruff paved yard, no dirt. 10-1 gear on 18" wheels and a 2 stroke? use a jackshaft?

what you need is torque and not speed with the tires you are useing.
you might want to try one of the reducers that MAX-TORQUE makes, it is a 2:1 but they work very well.:thumb:

www.maxtorque.com/html/reducers.html (http://www.maxtorque.com/html/reducers.html)


i have put these on a few go-karts and minibikes.

[Canadiankid]

has anybody had trouble turning with a solid axle being to wide, or positioned wrong??

[Mike Bean]

has anybody had trouble turning with a solid axle being to wide, or positioned wrong??

What do you mean positioned wrong?

My axle is 28" wide and because it is a live axle I get some resistance when trying to turn. I can still turn pretty much on a dime a low speed.

What problems are you having?

Mike Bean

[Canadiankid]

A guy I know built a wagon, and had to put a diff in it so it would turn.....it just pushed the front tires straight at any speed....I figured that was do to weight distribution but thought I would ask if anybody had that problem with a BSR set up that wasn't quite right. Personally the only BSR problem I have is I work 700 miles away from my garage (home) and I have a bad case of can't get BSR out of my mind....Hi my name is canadiankid and I'm a barstool raceraholic...LOL...You guys are all very helpful to us novice builders.....Thanks

[Woodchuckscustoms.com]

I use a 1.25" Axle at 30" long. You need to try and put your weight up front to help turn. We built one B.S.R with this problem and we found that putting a shorter gear on the Axle Helped Alot. Have to remember the taller the gear the lower it is, but a tall gear is great for pulling:cheers:

[monkey-1]

A guy I know built a wagon, and had to put a diff in it so it would turn.....it just pushed the front tires straight at any speed....I figured that was do to weight distribution but thought I would ask if anybody had that problem with a BSR set up that wasn't quite right. Personally the only BSR problem I have is I work 700 miles away from my garage (home) and I have a bad case of can't get BSR out of my mind....Hi my name is canadiankid and I'm a barstool raceraholic...LOL...You guys are all very helpful to us novice builders.....Thanks

I have built a barstool racer and a wagon. The wagon is a little steer because of the weight dist. I compensated for this by putting 20 degrees of castor in the front end of the wagon and it steers like a champ now. I was running minimal castor on the BSR (~5-7 degrees).

[RUBICON]

As has been said ...Ackerman and caster will affect the sensitivity and ease of steering...but....without a differential you must use a lot of body english to make a BSR turn...slow...or at speed....you have to shift weight quickly to the outside front tire to "unload" the inside rear tire so it looses traction and scrubs off the difference in revolutions to allow it to turn...I almost got good at doing this...as well as riding on two side wheels...but turning in th ewidth of a driveway was not possible for me anyway...now I turn " on a dime " ...as for your theory of the wheelbase width affecting turing...you got the idea...the wider...the more effort needed to shift the weight to the outside front tire......If you hear from kart guys....remember their butt is 1" off the ground...low center of gravity..solid axle and all...but when they turn the weight does shift to the outside front tire ...from momentum not body english ...but they wont flip like a BSR with your butt 30" on the air....good luck...

[stepdecker]

i built a barstool racer and it handles poorly. what is a good setup for keeping left rear tire down when cornering? thanks