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A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=34613
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Author:  Hobienutter [ Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

Here is a Hobie Heavy Duty Kart I modified to give it a wider stance and Roleez baloon tyres, interchangable with the originals if necessary, and the ability to be split in half in order to be able to stow it away completely inside the forward hatch.
The axle was cut off at the vertical tubes and 2 solid stainless steel axles were inserted and welded in place. These have threaded holes in the end to allow wheel retainers to be screwed on. There are adjustable inner wheel stops that lock into place with screws. The cross bars were cut in half and two stainless bored barrels welded on and the reassembled kart drilled and pinned.

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Should I ever have a puncture I can replace it with the two original tyres.....

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Or if I ever need to take it across hard rough terrain with a chance of damaging the Roleez tyres, I just put the originals on only....

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When loading and unloading from the car roof rack, it is held in place with a set of pins.

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The frame assembled with the wheel options. No tools are necessary except to adjust the inner wheel stops, but these would never need adjusting away from the vehicle and then very rarely.

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The frame split in half. The pins capture in place and have a float so I can't loose them when assembling or disassembling at the boat.

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Tyres and frame neatly installed in the forward hatch. Obviously I don't take all four tyres, just the ones I'm using.

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For anyone contemplating the Roleez tyres, they are simply the best. These 32cm jobs allow the crossing of dry loose sand which was impossible with the original kart tyres.

Cheers, and Happy Sailing.

Author:  KayakingBob [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

Another nice mod! 8)

Author:  mingle [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

That's a superb job...

My favourite feature is the ability to pull it down and be able to store it in the front hatch - genius!

Mike.

Author:  mickeymouse [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

Another brilliant mod!
Thanks for sharing :wink:
Did you buy the wheels direct or locally?

Author:  Hammer [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

reconlon wrote:
Another nice mod! 8)

Ditto!

Was it hard to weld together?

Author:  Hobienutter [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

Hi Guys, I bought the tyres direct from Roleez ( now Wheeleez I believe), which was a lot cheaper even after freight.
On the kart I did everything but the TIG welding, that was done by a friend. I had a go at TIG but realised I would have to have a LOT of practice so with so little to actually do, I asked my friend for help. Only took him 4 minutes! :)

Cheers, Peter

Author:  stringy [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

Very nice work Peter and great innovation! 8)
Do you think the wall thickness of the tube uprights is adequate? I have had both Trax1 and Trax2 uprights crack at the welds. If the HD cart has the same tube uprights and a hollow axle, I wonder just what it is that makes the Hobie HD cart HD? :?
What did you use for the inner wheel stops?
BTW - Adding Roadrunner's tennis ball (or rubber ball) mod to the cart collars improves scupper protection! :wink:

PS- It's a shame this has not been posted in the accessories/mods forum for easy future reference.

Author:  Hobienutter [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Modified Hobie Heavy Duty Kart

Quote:
Do you think the wall thickness of the tube uprights is adequate? I have had both Trax1 and Trax2 uprights crack at the welds. If the HD cart has the same tube uprights and a hollow axle, I wonder just what it is that makes the Hobie HD cart HD?
What did you use for the inner wheel stops?

I believe the vertical wall thickness is fine as they are in compression. The axle is always the one that would give trouble as it is shear. My cart has two tubes one inside the other and where I cut them off at the vertcal tube I machined the new solid axles with a spiggot that was hammered inside that, making it almost as if it was solid. I don't see how it could ever crack. I do tend to over engineer things as I came from an aircraft background originally.

The wheel stops and the large stops under the collars (which stop the collars from slipping down) I machined from a molybdenum filled polyethylene which has very good friction and wear properties.
Thanks for the tip on the balls. :D
I wonder if I'm allowed to copy the artcle into the accessories/mods forum. Admin??
Happy Sailing, Peter
:?: PS How do I add the person I'm quoting to the quote line?

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