Go Kart Steering Real Heavy

[HighLUX]

Got this marketplace special go kart and finally got it running for the kids to hoon round on.

First test drive the steering is insanely heavy even for an adult so whats making it so hard. Built it up with a leccy start lifan for dad input free kid hoons but I can see them rotating on the steering wheel instead of turning the kart

The camber?

Linkages or pivot off the steering shaft being too short?

Back axle is wider than the front?

[Valiant]

Has it got any castor angle?

Is anything stiff/binding?

Looks like no Ackerman angle? That won't make heavy to steer though

[cletus]

if theses nothing stiff, or binding you could try drilling another hole closer to the steering shaft to increase leverage

if it has a lot of caster built in, with that much scrub radius it will make it hard to turn

as when you turn to steer, it jacks up the inside of the kart

this is deliberate on a race kart to lift the inside rear tyre off the ground to make it go round corners betterer

[HighLUX]

Steering is light as when its on axle stands off the ground only when theres weight of a rider its shit. Does lift a wheel when turning but its way heavier than a normal kart iv usually done hoons on so I need to figure out whats going on before letting the kids loose on it

 

[sheepers]

castor + massive scrub radius? 

[RUNAMUCK]

This is what it sounds like to me.

 

Also,

Pics pleez.

[Thphantum]

Got a rideon front axle here if you want

[HighLUX]

1 hour ago, Thphantum said:

Got a rideon front axle here if you want

Whats it look like? Might be able to cobble something together from it and whats on the kart

[HighLUX]

Lots of castor?

[sr2]

On 08/03/2026 at 14:12, HighLUX said:

Lots of castor?

Yes , had me fooled momentarily as well - the tie rod is to the front of the axel.