hey all i have been karting for a lil over 2 years now just one lil question what should you do when the kart is handleing perfect but is not fast, i have just got the webber syndrome where nothing wants to go my way any help would be appresiated, the kart feels fine but is not fast it also feels as though its not racey or pointy in anyway i have a 30/32 ax9 running clubbie heavy
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I reckon go to the go kart track with some extra seat spacers, bottom seat bolts, some mudgaurd washers with an 8mm holes and a cheap yoga mat.
Do some laps until you achieve consistent times ( after tyres are warm all laps within about 1-2 1/10ths of a second).
Cut a bit of yoga mat and race tape it to the inside back of your seat so you are sitting forward about 10mm from your previous position and go out again. If you are faster do the same with an extra bit of mat.
if you are slower move your seat back one notch, first measuring your original seat height off the floor pan so you can match that height in the new position, re-test.
I am not particularly experienced but have same as you and found a couple of 1/10ths doing this.
You could also contact DPE re a recomended seat position for someone your build, I did and found them very helpful.
Seat position is important as are the other kart setup functions
I always worry when someone says the kart feels good (or fine)
A lounge recliner feels great but you wont get any speed out of it
Kart setup is about being on the edge but controlable
Driving style is critical
You need to be able to describe (once the tyres are warmed up)
what the kart is doing on initial turn in
Mid corner
and exit from corner
If it wont turn in initially or the front pushes out mid corner you need more steer
If the rear breakes away mid corner you probably have too much
If possible see if someone at the track can give you a few pointers (where do you race?)
Matt,
if I am right your from SE Qld and i think I have raced against you.
Could be many items needing attention not just 1 thing in particular.
Contact Dale from Pacific Kartsport and have a chat to him, he is an Arrow dealer at yatala and is full of experience and knowledge.
A kart that "feels good" but is slow, is generally "over gripped".
That's a horrible term because it implies you can have too much grip, and you can't, but what I mean is... your kart is loading up both rear tyres too early in the cornering process and is bogging the engine down on the exit.
To cure that, you first have to figure out WHY the back of the kart is stuck to the track. It's usually either:
a) You never lifted a wheel, or;
b) You lifted a wheel sky high, and dumped it back down hard.
The cure for these two problems are totally opposite, so you'd do well to figure out what the kart is doing (perhaps ask other people to watch you if you're unsure).
As the other guys have said, seat position is everything in karting, and if you make mutliple changes to the kart without any appreciable change in the handling, you should definitely look at moving the seat.
le on September 21, 2009 at 22:23
totaly agree with you all and rob yes we have raced... my biggest problem with seat position is i am over 6 feet tall i have stood beside deadly dave and we are almost identical just i have a bit bigger gut i have tryed the arrow position and it was good kart drove awsome but was still lacking where should i go being a tall bugger and dont say basketball
Sure its not just your driving?
Just a thought Matt . . . what seat is in your kart??
You may need "more angle" such as a Tillet T11 which is apparently a better seat for taller guys. Worth looking into if all else fails - but be warned - they not cheap!
I've found that my kart is quickest when it's right on the edge (some call it loose)??
Just my thoughts anyway mate!
Phil
Well I would have to agree. I am a tallish guy, but in a go kart, im even taller (longer body). An I moved to the tillett T12 seat, it has a flat bottom and has more angle, to suit the tall drivers. Before we put it in the kart was decent, but never really consistantly fast. As soon as I put it in, majorly different situation, the kart worked so much better around me etc. Especially in clubman, it is essential that for a tall guy, the centre of gravity is kept as low as possible. Now I use the seat in whatever kart I drive, it was expensive, but the best seat I have ever bought.
le on September 23, 2009 at 16:57
how do you go about finding a base seatpos for the tillet... do you corner weight it to find the position or do you use a standard pos
Well we had the advantage of fitting ours with a tillet jig. But basically, u want it probs 5mm under the chassis rail. And then front to rear, I'd start where your original seat was, have a look at it, before u drill it. Have a sit in it, make sure your nice and leaned back, if it feels comfortable, i would go from there. Hopefully it should feel much different, and you will feel like you are in the kart, rather than on top of it.
le on September 23, 2009 at 17:39
sweet thank nick big help
Hey Matt
How's things in Rock Vegas.
Being 6'2" I found my seat positions in all classes were generally a little further back with a little more tilt (upright) than recommended. But seat position also has to do with driving style which is why they give a general "starting" position.
eg. - In Leopard kart was ok for pace but wasn't consistent, then I moved the seat 10mm and was 4 tenths quicker out of the trailer and super easy to drive.
Definitely something most people don't do enough of, but when you hit the sweet spot, it transforms the handling of the kart.