Tips and “what to do” to take to the track in a new kart - TKART Magazine

INTRO

There are those who have wanted one for years and saved every penny to be able to buy it. Others, perhaps, receive it as a gift for the best Christmas surprise. Many get there after countless used vehicles; for others it may be the first kart they touch ... However you get there, getting your hands on a new shiny kart is a dream come true for any enthusiast; a moment of happiness that is difficult to forget. However, once admired, photographed, and the plastic parts caressed like a newborn puppy, the call of the track begins to be felt, the natural habitat of any kart in the world. What should you do at this point? Do you still need to get something? Do you have to make adjustments or can you get on the track with the kart exactly as it left the dealer? Here are all the answers you need to know to start-up your new kart and start doing fast laps.

1 ADJUSTMENTS

New kart fresh from the dealer? Tinker with it as least as possible! Should any doubts arise, the best thing to do is ask the dealer: every vehicle has basic settings that are guaranteed by the manufacturer as the most suitable for "standard" use: don't change anything, at least for the first outings. Where it is necessary to make some changes, do the simplest ones: Example: when looking for the right driving position, adjsut the pedal board or the steering wheel hub, but don’t touch the seat itself or you’ll modify the overall set-up balance and consequently also performance output.

2 TYRES

A kart that has just left a dealer has everything, with just a little fuel missing (2-stroke engines work with a mixture, a mix of petrol and oil whose percentages vary slightly depending on class and engine size: ask the dealer for the correct values for your engine). However, tyres are not always included (or, if they are included, you can still try to change them for a different model). For beginners, the best choice is to opt for hard compound tyres: they last longer and make the kart less tiring to drive.

3 ACCESSORIES

In terms of apparel, it’s better to spend a little more and get specific karting items, also because, for amateur use, except for accidents and sliding on the asphalt, good overalls last a long time. The same goes for the helmet.
Last, but not least, arm yourself with all the necessary kart-care products and tools: rubber gloves, replacement nuts and bolts, a full set of Allen keys (2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm), a set of fixed or composite wrenches (at least 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, and 19 mm), a couple tubular wrenches, mixed screwdrivers, pliers, pressure gauge, isolating tape, WD40 and all the necessary items to make the fuel blend.

HAVE YOU BOUGHT A NEW KART. SO WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?