Go Kart Keys to Success

Key 1

Check the engine oil

Check the level before the first start and before every ride. Rest the dipstick on the threads without screwing it in, then add oil only until the dipstick shows the correct level.

• Always use 10W-30; GoKartMasters recommends synthetic.
• All current karts require one quart or less. The dipstick is the best gauge.
• Change the break-in oil at five hours, then service around every 20 hours or once a year, whichever comes first.

Key 2

Use clean, fresh gasoline

Use premium gasoline and choose ethanol-free fuel whenever it is available. Regular gasoline will run, but premium ethanol-free fuel is the better choice for small engines.

• Add a quality fuel stabilizer to every tank.
• Treat gasoline more than two months old as stale.
• Keep dirt away from the fuel-tank opening.
• Do not pour the final splash from the bottom of a fuel can into the kart. Water and debris settle there.

Turning the fuel valves off after riding is a helpful habit, but it does not remove the gasoline already inside the lines and carburetor.

Key 3

Protect the engine from dirt

Inspect the air filter often and before every ride in dusty conditions. Replace it when it is dirty, damaged or oil-soaked.

Dirt inside an engine is catastrophic. A neglected filter or loose intake connection can shorten engine life far faster than most owners expect. Check the filter, intake boot and clamps regularly.

Key 4

Keep the battery maintained

A go-kart charging system helps while the engine is running, but it is not designed to recover or maintain a deeply discharged battery.

• Install a pigtail and connect a quality 12-volt maintainer whenever the machine is parked.
• GoKartMasters recommends a NOCO-style automatic trickle charger or maintainer.
• Check that the terminals remain clean, tight and correctly connected.

Key 5

Inspect before every ride

Before starting, inspect the brakes, throttle, steering, wheels, tires, chain, fuel system, hardware, restraints and safety controls. After starting, verify that the throttle returns to idle and perform a quick brake check at very low speed.

Key 6

Adjust and lubricate the chain

A properly adjusted chain should have approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch of movement. It should have very little slack, but it should never be pulled completely tight.

• During the first few hours, check it about once per hour until it stops stretching.
• Lubricate it with chain-and-cable lubricant.
• Recheck it after muddy rides or washing.

Popping, loss of power or a chain that repeatedly comes off can indicate incorrect tension or alignment.

Key 7

Complete the five-hour service

The first five hours are a bedding-in period for the engine, chain, hardware, brakes and controls. Normal family riding is appropriate; simply pay attention to the machine.

At five hours, replace the break-in oil and inspect the complete kart. Tighten hardware after the first hour or two, keep the chain adjusted and address anything that has changed.

Key 8

Use the right safety gear

Every driver and passenger should wear a properly fitted DOT-compliant full-face motorcycle helmet and closed-toe shoes. Goggles are recommended. Bicycle, football and novelty helmets are not appropriate riding helmets.

Key 9

Wash carefully, then dry and lubricate

Mud acts like liquid sandpaper around chains, sprockets, brakes and seals, but excessive washing can create its own problems. Remove mud promptly, keep high-pressure water away from bearings, seals, the engine, air intake, muffler and belt vents, and lubricate the chain after washing.

Key 10

Prepare it before storage

Fuel left sitting in a small-engine fuel system is one of the most common causes of future starting and running problems.

• If a carbureted machine will sit for several weeks, drain the fuel and run the engine until it dies so the remaining gasoline is removed from the carburetor.
• Connect the battery maintainer.
• Clean and dry the kart before putting it away.
• Store it where rodents, moisture and weather cannot damage wiring, upholstery or the intake system.

EFI machines use a different pressurized fuel system. Follow the storage procedure for the exact model rather than treating it like a carburetor.