Basic Tools Needed to Repair Your Own Go-Kart

The downside of owning your own Go kart (as opposed to using the go karts that are on offer at go karting venues) is the need to do your own repairs if the situation arises. Many go karters will prefer to have an expert fix their go kart in case they inadvertently make things a whole lot worse, but this doesn't suit every go karter's budget or preferences.

If you want to repair your own Go kart, there are some basic tools that you will need. Go kart repairs can range from relatively minor repairs (such as sealing a small hole in the tyre that could potentially turn into a much larger hole somewhere down the line) to repairs that seem much more complicated, such as repairing a puncture. Most minor repairs are related to the tyres and can be done fairly easily.

Puncture Repairs

If the puncture is fairly minor, an inner tube puncture repair patch can stop the damage from getting worse. If the puncture is major, it may require the tyre to be replaced, but most minor punctures can be easily repaired with the right equipment.

If your go kart's tyres don't have inner tubes, there are several options for repairing punctures. If the problem has been caused by a nail pricking the tyre, a nail hole repair patch should contain the damage. For repairing punctures on most go karts, tubeless tyre repair cord is a favourite of tyre repair specialists, as it allows punctures to be fixed without removing the tyre.

To use the repair cord, you will usually need to have a split-eye needle tool. To fix off-road go karts that have tubeless tyres, try an 'Off Road' pocket tyre repair kits, although this may only be available if you order them from America.

Puncture Prevention

Naturally, you will want to avoid having a puncture occur in the first place (if at all possible), although punctures are obviously not always avoidable. To avoid nail-related punctures, nail guards are available to protect your tyres from possible damage. Otherwise, tyre sealant can be a good preventative measure, as it can seal any holes in your tyres and stop them from developing any further. It can also help to avoid the possibility of flat tyres developing. This is best done with a pressure pump to enable you to pump it into the tyre.

Chassis & Engine Repairs

The problem here is that you may not have the right knowledge or skills to be able to repair your go kart's chassis or engine adequately, even if you built your own go kart from scratch. These types of repairs are often much more complex than puncture repairs, so it's best to leave them to a professional mechanic who know what he is doing as far as go karts are concerned - unless this applies to you. In some cases, the only option may be replacing the relevant parts, but that may be best advised by someone who is 'in the know'.