That’s it, although I got the variant with the steering lock:
not sure anything longer exists, you can try by manufacturing a bracket but I’d be concerned about keeping the area stiff and also making sure the column doesn’t interfere in the bottom with the bearing support (too much angle will make it rub against the bearing seat)
Due to the lower steering shaft support bearing, you can only get so much shift in angle of the steering shaft before it starts to bind. The plastic OTK upper steering support has 4 holes to position the steering shaft. Given my extremely long legs, I went with hole that pushed the steering wheel farthest away from me. You can couple this with a longer steering shaft and add spacers between the steering shaft hub and steering wheel to give you a few more MM of space.
Good point I’ll have to see if it binds at the bearing. Maybe I’ll try and make something. I have the 4 hole version right now but I’d love to get another 10-15mm up.
I am 5’4" and about 190 with my gear on. I wanting to know if I should raise my seat some.
What are you struggling with on the handling front and where is your seat set now?
Interested to hear some thoughts from some of the experts in here.
What would some symptoms of a seat being set too far back/too much weight over the rear wheels in a single speed kart be?
If you have too much rear weight bias you’ll probably feel understeer that can’t be tuned out.
Yeah that as well as the kart not feeling “free” coming off the corner. KA100 I mount the seat slightly more forward versus X30/Rotax. Just to get some additional weight off the rear axle.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve got a seat setup by a local dealer, who sets the seat the same for all their drivers(i think roughly 115mm - 120mm to axle). Apparently that setup works pretty good as they do very well at all levels. The caveat is that all their drivers are around 5’6 and probably weigh 60kg, and I’m just over 6’ at 76-78kg. I’m also bang on weight for light with no ballast. My problem is that I tend to lack rear grip(slide) from mid corner to exit, especially on fast directional changes compared other drivers. The kart is pretty good overall and getting decent results. But the kart feels like it lacks balance to make the next step.
I should also note, it doesn’t feel like oversteer and doesn’t feel like understeer either. The front just doesn’t feel as direct as I would like. And the rear end slide to me feels like there is just too much weight over the rear axle, which is overloading the tyre and carrying that rear end wash out to corner exit.
What engine package and chassis? Video really helps if you have any.
@tommynakajima, video is helpful. Quite often chassis behaviors are the result of driver input as much or more than chassis tuning. Allowing some of the experienced folks here, like Clayton, to see some video helps sort through that.
A bit confusing because you say the front doesn’t feel direct enough but also you have sliding from apex to exit but also that you don’t feel oversteer or understeer. That sounds like both under and oversteer to me. Lots of contradictions in that diagnosis.
One common thing if the seat is too far back is that the front will feel lighter due to less weight. It might still react normally, but it won’t feel heavy. However, if you are taller than the other drivers, you should have the seat further back than them, not the other way around. A taller driver with more weight up high can use that extra body weight and leverage to flex the kart better, induce rotation and unload the inside rear wheel, and doesn’t need as much nose weight to get the kart to turn in.
As Chuck said, video would help sort out some of the conflicting feelings you are having.
Also what kart is this?
In true internet fashion, I will contradict what TJ says
If you are a bigger guy in a low hp class, you might actually need the seat a little more forward than what you would deem comfortable. This is because you are getting too much weight transfer for your size and need to lessen the transfer to the outside rear. Give us some more details on your kart/class/track/etc and these guys will help.
I don’t disagree with that! If you are running 50" track width in 206, your needs will be different than running something 5" wider with more power.
But generally, factory guides will tell you a taller driver needs to have the seat further back.
Completely agree that what I’ve said contradicts itself. But when you feel an imbalance its hard to determine if its a front or rear issue. Kart is KR running both X30 and KA100, symptom is the same regardless of engine. Race in Aus. Setup is pretty much standard, bar a few adjustments to suit conditions. Like I said, the kart is pretty good and front running most of the time, just looking for the last elusive 0.2 - 0.3. No video at the moment and track time could be an issue with a weather event currently happening in our part of the world. Maybe it is just a driver issue(mid corner understeer with an overcorrection on exit).
I find on the BestKart (similar to a KR), that a stiffer axle will stabilize the rear in fast corners. Or a slightly longer rear hub. I also find raising rear ride height helps in the same way but if you’re taller I would probably stay away from that. It could be that you’re transferring too much already being taller.