Steering

[Mike Bean]

One thing when building a bar stool is to not skimp on the parts your safety relies on. One of the easiest things to try to make are the steering tie rods.

I would recommend getting some racing tie rods. They are not very expenisive and the last thing you want is to break a tie rod and 30 MPH around a corner.

[monkey-1]

Its hard to know exactly what length your going to need your tie rods, so here is what I do. I order the 11 inch tubular tie rods with ends and cut them to length. I went to Home depot and bought the drill bit and tap so I can replace the threads that I cut off. I only do the end that has the standard threads. I have cut off enough of on some of my projects that I can make my own tie rods for the next project. All I will have to get is the standard rod ends and the jam nuts. I wont be able to adjust them as they will all be the same thread direction, but if I make them the right lenght, the wont need to be adjusted anyway.

[WarPaint]

Ok here is something I have done with the steering on my BSR. I wanted to use bearings. The steering shaft going into a 1 inch square tube didn't feel right and made a lot of racket. so i cut it off and redid it . I cut the neck off a bike and welded it to my BSR (see pic) got the right size bar to fit through it ( my was a .875 bar) and cut it to fit. Put a set screw in it to hold and done. It it tight and the bearings makes it turn like butter. A little more work but it pays off.

[WarPaint]

One more pic

[thelutz182]

hi war paint on your bsr could you give us more piks on the bike handlebar bearing carrier and stuff

cheers

[more speed]

is that a neck form a peddal power bike? if you could give some details on the build up??? need to make something for my bsr steering and i got a old bike here ready for the torch.

[tech9]

Its hard to know exactly what length your going to need your tie rods, so here is what I do. I order the 11 inch tubular tie rods with ends and cut them to length. I went to Home depot and bought the drill bit and tap so I can replace the threads that I cut off. I only do the end that has the standard threads. I have cut off enough of on some of my projects that I can make my own tie rods for the next project. All I will have to get is the standard rod ends and the jam nuts. I wont be able to adjust them as they will all be the same thread direction, but if I make them the right lenght, the wont need to be adjusted anyway.this suggestion may be way too late but it may help someone new.If you have to shorten your tierods ,you should cut the side that has the right hand thread so it will be easier to drill and tap and you will still be able to adjust because you will also have the left hand thread on the other side of the rod. :thumb:

[getinzone]

My tierods came with both sides as right hand threads. Goofy if you ask me, you have to take the bolts out to shorten or lengthen the rod.

[KiwiMike]

I agree with the Big Cheese. You have come this far, go and spend some money on racing go kart tie rods with decent hiem joints.
Good ones will run you about $16 a side, made from high quality aircraft aluminum.
Well worth the money.
Set the toe out to 1/16" - 1/8" or to zero with the driver sitting in place. This will stop it from darting all over the place at speed. We set the shifter karts to these measurements and they will reach speeds of 130 mph.
Just remember, the coefficient of friction of skin on asphalt is the same as warm butter on a cheese grater and a bandaid won't cover it.