This is a free public service announcement from Paid Off Racing, a Factory Karts satellite team. Pictures will follow.
Best: Clevis Pin, tight fit in both holes - continuous smooth contact with both pedal and rod, minimizes stress concentration and wear, can be lubricated without impairing function.
Good: Shoulder Bolt, tight fit in both holes - only disadvantage is that there must be lateral play in the assembly to allow the nut to be tightened without clamping the brake rod shut.
OK: Aircraft Control Cable, Nicopress spliced through pedal and master-cylinder lever - not adjustable after installation, must be lubricated, will eventually wear through soft steel and aluminum components
Bad: Bolt with clearance, tightened against the rod and clamping it shut - the brake rod will bend when you step on the pedal, leading to fatigue failure in only a few thousand brake applications.
Criminal: Ziptie. I would not have thought anyone would do this until I saw it on a kart at Adams yesterday. Steel is 100 times stronger than plastic, takes up the full area of the hole, and doesn’t degrade in sunlight. It wasn’t a pitlane hackjob, either; the owner told me that a commercial team had sold his used kart to him in that condition.
