The Vulture Cyclekart - Taking a "body-off" tour, showing you all its quirks and features!

[@dandeangeli9860]

Your determination to build a Cyclekart out of found materials is a true inspiration to newbies like myself

[@andrewroudny]

There were people to inspire me when I was a newbie, so I'm here to return the favor!

[@SKEptic-mg2dd]

Great video of an excellent cyclekart. I really like the idea of "made from junk." It looks like a collection of solved problems, the sliding link to avoid bump steer being one example. The Vulture looks like fun from top to bottom. 80 KPH must be a blast. Good job!

[@stratocaster1greg]

It looks like an Erector Set toy. So cool!

[@northlandrider5396]

Impressive use of available resources! Well done.

[@davem1633]

Thanks for the tour of your cyclekart build. A really unique setup 👍

[@andrewroudny]

Thanks for watching.

[@tongalizia3175]

You brought great memories,,, when I built a go cart out of junk parts,,,,60 years later,,, retired engineer…

[@andrewroudny]

Never too late to build another one. You can make it out of junk again just for fun.

[@majtanma]

Nice project! I see this cyclekart for the first time. Here we have Gravity Karts, Go-Karts, Minicars for children... but never saw that like this one for competition. Greetings from Slovakia 🇸🇰

[@andrewroudny]

Dobrý den! Já jsem původem Čech.

[@mauribonada2425]

Cyclecar inspiration! This is what I am looking for! Well done bro.

[@andrewroudny]

Good luck with your build! Email me for my new Cyclekart Builder's Information Package. [e-mail]

[@dandeangeli9860]

Also, by using found materials, you discover interesting design solutions that you may not have encountered otherwise

[@andrewroudny]

True. It's part of why the Cyclekart budget restriction is important. It forces you to be resourceful and creative with the design and the materials.

[@czwij]

I didn't have a lot of money.....obviously, build a race car then... hats off, this is great stuff. Excellent walkthrough,

[@DrDiff952]

There should be a cyclekart class at Pikes Peak!

[@horstd.engart9362]

What a good idea ! Hope it comes to reality some day .

[@andrewroudny]

That would be cool.

[@ChrisTurner-jd4hr]

What a great project! And much more interesting than any modern F1 car (I'm serious)

[@andrewroudny]

It's funny you say that. There are people who watch our races who never thought they could be interested in motorsport.

[@LocknessRides]

I love the fact you built it from in your words junk) lol great job!

[@olsonspeed]

Ingenious use of recycled "junk". Looks like a lot of fun and possibly the best low buck motor racing serries.

[@nigelcarren]

Nice metal-bothering Sir. First class in fact. 🏆 I absolutely love this... especially its scavenged approach! I finished something similar in 97 (KSK 362) and drove it across the Sahara to prove a point! It's body was made from a chip-shop pie cabinet, and other junk. I mean this in the best possible way, but your car reminded me of it... I could cry thinking about it because I sold it to buy this house!! You have a great eye for proportion, you should try making armour! Respect and best wishes from an Englishman in a French forest. 🇬🇧⚒️🇺🇲

[@andrewroudny]

That's a fabulous complement. Thank you very much.

[@MrEdna182]

Yeah we want to hear about that meter install tricks. Thanks Andrew.

[@andrewroudny]

Cheers Sandy. The meter has a few different settings to accommodate different kinds of engines (ie multiple cylinders and 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke). You would think that in my application, the 1-cyinder 2-stroke would be the right setting (since that's what I have), but you'd be wrong! The designers of the meter assumed that a 1-cyl engine has one spark per cycle, but it doesn't. It has 2 sparks per cycle, since there is no distributor. Rather, it has a magneto on the flywheel. So it produces a spark on both the combustion and exhaust cycle. You have to set the meter like a 2-cyl 4-stroke to get the correct number. Works great once it's in that setting.

[@williamsaloka9043]

Give the frame a paintjob, it'll look great!

[@andrewroudny]

I've thought about that. But I do get a lot of surprised people saying "Is that a ladder?!" when they see it as it is. That's pretty entertaining, as you can imagine.

[@Iowa599]

Sketchy as f-k, so sweet as f-k… I'd update my will before driving it, but I would if I could.

[@andrewroudny]

Come to this year's Elmhirst Grand Prix and you may get your chance.

[@Greg-io1ip]

Good learning experience and repurposing materials. The redundancy of gears and axles in the drivetrain with some not so square mating parts looks 'iffy' in terms of robust durability. But your next cart should benefit tremendously. Frame and suspension plans including the drivetrain details are everything. Body last. Having a body to build into is fine but you'll need to procure and fab parts less randomly. But what impresses me is how it is done without welds. Welding skills in cyclecarting gives a big advantage obviously. Mine are limited to sweating in copper pipes and electronics soldering. So I'd be using similar ideas of repurposed materials expoxied and bolted together. With aluminum, it's probably stronger than welding in this rype of project. I'd have preferred front engine and long tailpipe set-up myself, but you wouldn't have that beautiful body look to it. Am collecting parts for a true 100mph cyclecar currently, but not enough space in my shop/life yet. Soon. Hopefully 2 year build.

[@andrewroudny]

Your build sounds interesting. Will it be road legal?

[@Doc_Fischer]

Doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun . Nice car . Where do they find bodies ?

[@andrewroudny]

Don't find them. You make them.

[@cokevspepsi516]

ok thats cool but id rethink the steering linkage especially the hard ware

[@andrewroudny]

It broke once, and didn't kill me, so I'm good with it as it is now: improved.

[@locomotivebreath9364]

Looks like a lot of fun But what do you mean "Glued the rails together creating the I-beam"?

[@andrewroudny]

Thanks. I took an old extension ladder apart. The side rails of a ladder are "C" extrusions. I took two of those, put them back to back and glued them (with fiberglass bondo). That made 2 "eye" (I) beams. Those are my side frame rails.

[@daveharms5153]

You must've spent a lot of time (and drill bits) drilling the lightening holes!

[@andrewroudny]

Yeah, the front axle was a 2 or 3 day project in the winter! Quite a piece of Swiss cheese.

[@danbarone7643]

Your rear suspension is ingenious. I’m curious if you ever weighed the vulture ?

[@andrewroudny]

Thanks! I haven't weighed it recently. I'm determined to get a big enough hanging scale in the spring and weigh it in the garage, while I'm hoisting it on to the repair bench.

[@goslonomo]

You can use a bathroom scale under each wheel in turn and add them together, as long as you elevate the three wheels you are not weighing by the same amount as the thickness of the scale.@@andrewroudny

[@edsultan8699]

Incredible imagination and ingenuity on your build! I need a sliding/extending shaft exactly like what you used but I don't know what to search for. Do you recall the exact name or term for that part?

[@andrewroudny]

You're not the first to ask that question. I can't find them anywhere.

[@edsultan8699]

It's called a Slip Shaft. Not many makers and they are fairly expensive. You lucked out!

[@stephanuhu963]

​@edsultan8699 Technically it's a spline-jointed shaft.

[@BadPennyDogBoy]

A great job. A perfect demonstration of the spirit of cyclekarts! Is the chassis (ladder) alloy or steel?

[@andrewroudny]

Thanks! The chassis is fibreglass. It is the C channels of an old ladder, glued back to back to create 2 "I" beams.

[@OddJobFix]

@@andrewroudnyFantastic idea! I mean super creative and not too heavy either. I think you're going to see others made like that soon if not already.

[@MrEdna182]

That is way cool _ Sandy

[@ManfredBaur-f5g]

Cool.

[@nathangoshawk]

Although I admire the ingenuity and the building to a budget, I wonder if the kart handles and performs any better than a similar engined one with a beam front axle and no rear suspension.

[@andrewroudny]

I have driven both kinds, and I will say the rear suspension makes a significant difference to the handling. CKs without the rear suspension feel a bit like toys. Whereas the Vulture feels like a small sports car. Whether that's worth the fuss and the extra weight is debatable. But there is a big difference in driving feel. As for performance, I think the most important factor by far is the centre of gravity. The Vulture has its entire engine and the drivers legs and behind below the axle line. I can't stress enough how important that is. I have taken her around corners much too quickly and never so much as hinted at going up on 2 wheels. Finally, it's worth noting that the Vulture does have a front beam axle. The difference is the frame is underslung and the springs are longitudinal quarter elliptical, rather than the half elipses on most CKs. Again, makes for low C of G.

[@nathangoshawk]

@@andrewroudny Thanks for the response. I guess with CK's, where enjoyment is a major factor, one that feels good to drive is better. The importance of a low C of G is not surprising considering the narrow track of both axles. I've seen a couple of video's where cars have cornered way up on two wheels. I just have to add how nice it was to see so many CK's based on cars I know and have occasionally seen. The real surprise was the wooden chassis 'Bloody Mary' built by John Bolster and his brother while still at school (I think). It should be allowed two engines for authenticity!

[@johnfetzer9637]

where do race , all around the country ?? do you race at Road America, in Wisconsin ?

[@andrewroudny]

Anywhere there isn't police. ;-)

[@bonnevillegarage]

Thank you.

[@ve3cwq47]

Was that the Cycle Salvage on Flora in downtown Ottawa?

[@andrewroudny]

Nope. Peterborough.

[@griffithbuilds5284]

Cool concept and outside the box construction. What wheels are you using? I was thinking of using wheels from a cbr125/250 ish bike but not sure.

[@andrewroudny]

They're replacement wheels for a Honda Cub or C90. 17" light motorcycle wheels. I've seen guys use Harley wheels too, for a beefier look.

[@308dad8]

How did you stay interested for 8 years? Talk about delayed gratification. Also, try a place that sells tractor parts for a spare driveshaft. Similar functioning shafts are used for brush mowers and other PTO powered implements and tractor supply and similar places as well as implement manufacturers keep them in stock. Mine is square tubing and square bar stock with a U joint at each end for my brush mower.

[@andrewroudny]

Have you heard the saying that goes "for any building project, there is cheap, fast and good. Pick any two of those." I wanted it to be good, and needed it to be cheap, so I knew it would take a long time. Besides, I had so much to learn at every stage that there were always new things to keep me occupied.

[@cannonfodder6299]

Im guessing this guy grew up spending a lot of time playing with an Erector Set.

[@andrewroudny]

Lego and Construx. Remember Construx? The plastic erector set. Hahaha

[@boringman6491]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@James-gl1fy]

Did you form the body? If so, how?

[@andrewroudny]

Yup. I made half assed buck from plywood, and then glued together rigid insulation boards and carved the positive form out of those. If I was for real, I would have made a negative form first and then the body panels using that. But I just draped the fiberglass over the positive, soaked it with resin and peeled it off the form. It looks good from far, but up close it has flaws. Still kinda cool tho.

[@James-gl1fy]

Looks great. What you did was what this is all about! Great job!

[@davidcrumpler5714]

So the frame rails are fiberglass?

[@andrewroudny]

Yep. They're an old fiberglass extension ladder.

[@davidcrumpler5714]

That would never have occurred to me.I didn’t catch it until you said you glued them together. Great work!!

[@consciouscoma85]

just gos to show you. you can do things with out a welder. were there is a will there is a way..

[@andrewroudny]

Without a welder OR a budget!

[@lesheath6216]

Where can I get this bodywork?

[@andrewroudny]

My garage would be about the only place it exists. I made it from scratch.

[@domenicozagari2443]

How much dose it wight ?

[@andrewroudny]

We are going to have a weigh station at this year's Elmhirst Cyclekart Grand Prix. Check out the 2023 event here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKfQfnWve9uZpZI

[@davidwilfong5820]

Like most women good body the chassis not so much

[@andrewroudny]

And like most women, good from far.. etc

[@davidwilfong5820]

After the build the guy couldn't get any thing from the top shelves

[@andrewroudny]

You wouldn't want to do any climbing on the ladder I used for the Vulture. It was literally on a pile of garbage at a construction site.

[@daszieher]

Please dont wave your camera around like a wand. It pays off to plan pans, zooms and other transitions to better convey your content, what you want to share. 😊

[@AA-69]

I've seen this sort of thing in Britain, But we don't call them cycle karts , we call them ABORTIONS !..😘

[@andrewroudny]

Easy there, fella. We have fun. I think that's what the goal is. You guys have fun in Britain? Or are you just a bunch of pretentious knobs?

[@davidclegg3554]

A rather fierce and wholly unnecessary response. I would like to see what you have built. It is all to easy to criticise.