Caster is as you would know, is always directly related to the ground. If front or rear ride height is changed then caster changes with it.
There are many chassis alignment systems which measure caster on the market and Sniper makes a good set from my experience in using it however I don't use it to check caster anymore . On a 250 for instance, we don't really change ride heights like sprint karters do so a much simpler way can be achieved.
Anderson karts come with a set up sheet with recommended settings as a base point. This sheet states from memory that from the centre of the top upright bolt to the front face of the bearing flange should be 1090mm. This was no good for us though as we use Bridgestone tyres which drops the front ride height dramatically compared to Dunlops. What I did was modify the uprights and brake discs so that the front ride height was as Mr Anderson intended and drew up all of the key geometry features in cad in both tyre versions and over lay-ed them, This then gave me a direct comparison measurement for the actual intended caster angle that was recommended. I also went 4 degrees either way in increments of .25 of a degree and wrote down these measurements for quick reference at the track in the future.
Other people use digital levels and disc plates but a digital level is only as good as the ground that the kart is sitting on so things can end up being very messy very quickly with the starting point before adjustment being lost forever.
I personally would recommend measuring as Russel Anderson says as for this measurement from upright bolt to bearing flange can only change if the kart has hit the wall or if someone has adjusted the setting.
Cheers for that mate. I'll have to contact Russell Anderson and see what the go is for my chassis (1997). I did end up measuring mine to the rear axle and setting it at 12deg. We had it out all day at a local track today but none of the corners are anything faster than 80km/h so it was a bit hard to guage if it was right or not, but it did feel ok.
12 deg on a 2007 I can tell you is close at most circuits and I suspect if the KPI angle on the uprights was 6 deg back in 97 then it will be almost certainly be close to optimum.
Obviously Chassis flex resistance has a great deal to do with desired caster angle but I still suspect that between 12 and 13 deg will be on the money for your rig.
Comments3
Re: Measuring Caster
Caster is as you would know, is always directly related to the ground. If front or rear ride height is changed then caster changes with it.
There are many chassis alignment systems which measure caster on the market and Sniper makes a good set from my experience in using it however I don't use it to check caster anymore . On a 250 for instance, we don't really change ride heights like sprint karters do so a much simpler way can be achieved.
Anderson karts come with a set up sheet with recommended settings as a base point. This sheet states from memory that from the centre of the top upright bolt to the front face of the bearing flange should be 1090mm.
This was no good for us though as we use Bridgestone tyres which drops the front ride height dramatically compared to Dunlops. What I did was modify the uprights and brake discs so that the front ride height was as Mr Anderson intended and drew up all of the key geometry features in cad in both tyre versions and over lay-ed them, This then gave me a direct comparison measurement for the actual intended caster angle that was recommended. I also went 4 degrees either way in increments of .25 of a degree and wrote down these measurements for quick reference at the track in the future.
Other people use digital levels and disc plates but a digital level is only as good as the ground that the kart is sitting on so things can end up being very messy very quickly with the starting point before adjustment being lost forever.
I personally would recommend measuring as Russel Anderson says as for this measurement from upright bolt to bearing flange can only change if the kart has hit the wall or if someone has adjusted the setting.
Regards SAFE
Re: Measuring Caster
Re: Measuring Caster
12 deg on a 2007 I can tell you is close at most circuits and I suspect if the KPI angle on the uprights was 6 deg back in 97 then it will be almost certainly be close to optimum.
Obviously Chassis flex resistance has a great deal to do with desired caster angle but I still suspect that between 12 and 13 deg will be on the money for your rig.
Regards Safe