| Second Hand If your budget allows, buying a new chassis and engine is probably the cheapest proposition in the long run, because you are not buying someone else's problems. However, depending on your budget, if you have the choice between purchasing a new chassis or a new engine. We recommend you purchase a new engine. A new engine will ensure you have all legal equipment from the beginning for your particular class and not an engine that has been modified during its life time. This will also reduce future problems you may have during your start-up period. A used chassis is just that! It is usually a chassis another karter has decided to dispose of, so they can upgrade to newer equipment. Occasionally you may pick up a bargain with your purchase of second hand equipment, because someone is either changing classes or leaving the sport. However, just remember, the equipment is still second hand, it was used for racing and as such has been subject to a considerable amount of hard work. Here are a few tips when looking at second hand equipment. Chassis Look at the overall general condition of the frame. Has it been freshly re-painted? if so, why?. Check the chassis welds for cracks. Really have a look at the general condition of the frame, including all components seat, axle, brakes, wheels, steering etc. Assess if it is in reasonable condition and are you willing to put either yourself or your child for that matter into this kart? If you buy a chassis which is faulty, you will be involved in extra expenses repairing it or replacing its components. At worst, you may have an accident in a faulty or old chassis. If the chassis you are looking at, is rather dirty, grease and dirt will indicate a lack of care on the owner's behalf. Beware of this, as a lack of maintenance may mean possible undetected faults. A good clean kart, (provided it has not been freshly re-painted) will indicate the owner has maintained the kart and it should be in good condition. Buying a second hand kart is not an easy process, so take your time and ask as many questions as you like. Answers to the simplest of questions may result in giving you, a good indication of the person selling the kart, the life the chassis has had, and may very well indicate that it's not as good as it's appearance. Frame - Look for cracks in the welds or evidence that the kart has been bent or re-straightened. To check for a bent frame, place the chassis on a flat surface and make sure all four wheels are flat on the ground. Be suspicious of older frames which have been re-painted. Why? It's easy to hide faults with a fresh coat of paint. This may mean, the new paint is hiding a fault. Steering - Check for worn parts, check the king pin bearings, check stub axles are not bent, worn or damaged. Check for bent tie rods and check the tie rod ends, are the ball joints worn, are they functioning well? Check the steering, steering that is tight may indicate a bent steering shaft, but also check that the steering wheel hub is not sloppy on the steering shaft. Seat - Seats are usually made of fiberglass. We usually recommend that you go to your local kart shop and get professionally fitted for a seat. Most often, the seat that comes with the kart will not suit you. It is better to have a properly fitted seat as opposed to one you will move about in. Fiberglass will crack and break after an amount of hard usage. This is common. It is common for the bottom of the seat to be fairly worn, especially one that has had a constant amount of racing over ripple strips. Rear Axle Assembly - Spin the axle, ensure that the axle is not bent. The axle should be able to spin reasonably freely and any noise in the bearings should be treated with suspicion. Check the rear sprocket, the teeth should not be bent over or show any signs of wear. Check the sprocket carrier and brake carrier for cracks. Check the brake disc for cracks or warpage. Brakes - Check for leaks of brake fluid from the master cylinder and caliper assembly. Check that the brake lines are in good condition. Push the brake pedal and feel the pressure need to apply the brakes. There should be no sponginess there. Check cable clamps and the brake cables for signs of fraying. Check the brake pads, how much wear is left? Tyres - Ensure that the tyres on the kart are legal for the class you are running. Check for wear. The dimples on the tyres indicate the amount of wear left on a tyre. Good luck. Don't dwell too much on the negatives, this should be a fun experience and is just the beginning. REMEMBER YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
This is intended as a guide only. Stable Karting is not responsible for any expenses, damages or costs arising from the information provided. | 
