1961 Rupp Dart A-Bone "Road Runner" Go Kart Rebuild Phase 1

This kart's been in our family since the mid 1960's. The original owner, a family friend raced it with a West Bend 820 on alcohol and we were told it ran over 70 mph.

As kids, our dad taught us how to overhaul a 2 hp cast iron Briggs and we put that was our first kart motor. Later we figured out how to remove the governor, that was good for about 35 mph. Around 1975 my brother and I put a Suzuki 400 (2 stroke) on it, including setting up the clutch and shifter so we had all 5 gears. What a ride, it would run over 100 mph (note the wheel weights on the tires in the first picture, we had to balance them because the thing would vibrate so bad it skated around on the road and you couldn't see or go straight). The Suzuki was an animal and a maintenance hog, for every 10 minutes you rode it you had to work on it at least 3 hours.

It's had a 4 hp Briggs on it for the last 20 years and I've been getting interested in Vintage Kart racing so I figured it was time to start restoring it AND get my sons involved. I put the 6.5 hp Honda clone motor on it with governor to get the kids use to the kart. Once their ready to go faster I'll pull the governor off and when their ready to go even faster, we'll put a West Bend 820 on it (there's a picture of the WB mocked up in the "before" teardown pictures), straight axel, properly finish the restoration and all go Vintage Kart Racing.

Hope you enjoy the video. BTW, if anyone can help me better establish the year and model of the kart I'd appreciate it. There are no diagonal braces on the front axel and the frame has mounts for twin engines. The pedals mount behind the front bumper, in holes drilled thru the side rails (not in front of the front axel as I've seen them in the Sept 1962 Karting magazine). The rear bumper in the pictures is not original, we made this one to fit the Suzuki engine. The original rear bumper was straight in the middle 10 inches and the ends were bent on about 20 degrees and it attached to the rear of the axel brackets. Thanks to dad for getting us started and you for watching the video! Hope you enjoy it.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Go
• Kart
• Rupp
• Dart
• Bone
• West
• Bend
• 820
• Suzuki
• Vintage
• Karting
• Racing
• Briggs
• Stratton
• US820
• Clone
• Engine
• stroke

[Hherry96]

I wanna make a go kart but i need your help: how do you get a lawn mower engine started and make the wheels not rotate because thats how it now is, when i start the engine, the blades immediately start rotating. Please reply :)

[snaproll94e]

@Hherry96 most of the time a centrifugal clutch is used to "disconnect" the engine when it's at slow speeds. I checked your channel out and you seam to be sincere about your questions. I'd like to answer them but there isn't enough space. Keep searching youtube and google. Its out there. Don't race anything with spinning blades, carefully take them OFF (pull the spark plug wire off while your removing the blades) and then race the machine. Let me know if you need more info.

[sharkkeepit55]

if you us a smaller steering wheel it wud be easier to turn but nice care

[snaproll94e]

@sharkkeepit55 actually, a small steering wheel gives you less leverage and would take a little more effort to turn. With that said, karts are pretty easy to steer so the wheel size is no big deal. Check out a video of us racing the kart a Barnesville and you'll see that most of the time you only steer 1 inch or less either side of straight, even in hairpin turns. We're restoring the kart to original condition so that's another reason we'll be keeping this steering wheel. Thanks for watching.

[rmcguru]

@sharkkeepit55 That turning must be great with a diff. Great kart and love the work. I am curious to see how it would run with if you modded the 6.5 clone.

[snaproll94e]

@rmcguru In my Dart Kart Restoration Phase 2 video the clone has the governor removed, a new carb, low restriction air filter, header and the straight axle installed. It's pretty peppy. My Phase 3 video and the Vintage Racing videos show it with a West Bend 2 stroke and how we are racing it now. Take a look and let me know what you think.

[iluvchoas]

@snaproll94e damn how much would u sell it

[snaproll94e]

@iluvchoas with the clone motor and no governor, a little over 45mph. With the (stock) 820 as you see it in the Phase 3 rebuild video, 50+ mph.

[iluvchoas]

nice go kart what is the top speed?

[snaproll94e]

@Z3kedog The engine in the 2nd and 3rd pictures is a 4 hp Briggs and Stratton that was probably made in the 1980's. It sounds like it's newer than the mystery engine your looking for. 4 inch band brakes are pretty common, Google them to find various suppliers. Azusa made them and people like Comet Karts and American Power Sports sell them. Good luck!