EXHAUST VALVE OIL TO LUBRICATE THE CHAIN AND OTHER LOW-COST TRICKS

Max Bernardi

13 May 2018

The ideas that to solve problems which may occur during a day in karting or spend a lot to make sure one has the best materials and the latest technology, is a misconception. Often when solving or preventing problems from occurring, one must be very inventive and diligent, this is what gets the job done. Remember to lubricate the chain? All one needs is a piece of fuel line that directs the excess oil from the exhaust valve. Preventing a cap from loosening and thus jeopardizing the race? With a piece of adhesive tape, one can rest assured…getting around the paddock, many “kart saving” tricks, which cost less than a cup of coffee, can be realized. Here are some…

EXHAUST VALVE OIL TO LUBRICATE THE CHAIN

One single-speed karts most delicate issue is the chain, which one often one forgets to lubricate, an essential operation to avoid the vehicle’s failure. There is, though, a very clever way to prevent forgetting while solving the issue: take advantage of the exhaust valve oil outflow to lubricate the chain. The operation is very simple to implement: just make a hole in the chain guard and insert a pipe which acts as a connector with the exhaust valve and that drains the excess oil to the chain, allowing to lubricate it while on the track. When the engine’s temperature has exceeded 40 degrees, we can increase the RPM, which will allow us to appreciate the carburation at higher speeds.

Indicative price

A hole and a piece of pipe. About... 0 euro

View under the tent of the Praga Karts’ team during the first round of the FIA European Championship OK and OKJ in Sarno, Italy.

RUBBER ON THE STEERING SHAFT

To the most careful Kart drivers, it cannot be avoided that with use, the steering tie-rods display signs of wear. This happens when the steering is completely turned, right or left, and the tie-rods end up hitting the steering shaft. The issue, more aesthetic than of a mechanical impact, can be easily avoided by applying some rubber on the contact point. For example, one can fasten a piece of the fuel pipe to the steering shaft with a cable tie (which goes through the pipe itself and creates a kind of “ring”): this will prevent the tie-rods from getting into direct contact with the steering shaft, thus keeping them intact.

Indicative price

The “issue” is not the cost (a few cents) but to find two loose ties and not a pack of a hundred

Seen on Birel ART karts engaged in the first round of the FIA European Championship OK and OKJ 2018