MOST ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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QUESTION:
In stock Briggs classes is chamfering the intake lifter bore in the crankcase legal?

ANSWER:
Yes it is legal to chamfer the lifter bore in the crankcase. It must meet the present rule on chamfering to be legal.

 

QUESTION:
I
have this very small crack on my carb. it is almost half way around it. I was wondering if I could heliarc it or JBWeld it? I am not trying to cheat or anything, I was just wondering:-)

ANSWER:
I am sorry to say the answer is no you cannot weld or patch it. The only welding that can be done on the motor is on the block below the cooling fins to repair a blown motor or to repair a cracked lifter bore. I know the carb is not part of the block but in the rules thats the only welding or patching that can be done.

 

QUESTION:
Have you ever heard of Toulene added to Methanol for added horsepower?? I am new in kart racing and run a B & S motor in a stock class. I hear a lot of discussions in the pits about all sorts of additives and this one really caught my attention. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for a little boost to put me up front. I am currently running in an average of 2nd or 3rd place most of the time. I run in Stock Heavy class on clay oval.

ANSWER:
I had someone ask the same question except it was adding it to the oil. Read the rule in the tech manual and that should answer your question. It states no additives or oil allowed.

 

QUESTION:
Is it legal to use a Intake valve spring on the Exhaust side?

ANSWER:
No you have to use two Exhaust springs or a Intake on the Intake side and Exhaust on the Exhaust side.

 

QUESTION:
Can you weld up the Lifter bore to repair for a cracked lifter bore?

ANSWER:
Yes you can weld it up.

 

QUESTION:
Can I use a .020 undersized rod in a stock engine?

ANSWER:
No you can only use the stock rod.

 

QUESTION:
How do you measure a throttle shaft?

ANSWER:
The best way to measure the shaft is set your Micrometers at .086 and if the throttle shaft passes through it any kind of way (all the way through) it is illegal. Then set then at .040 and if the leading edge will pass through no matter how far it goes through then it is also illegal. If you measure it with calipers measure the back edge and roll it back and forth (don't use just the end of the calipers use the middle of them) if at any place measures smaller than .086 it is illegal (by rolling the shaft from side to side it will usually measure smaller on one side then the other the smaller has to be .086), then set them at .040 and check the front edge (leading edge) it should not pass through the calipers at all no matter how far it goes through. Also remember the surface may be machined but component must still retain the stock configuration.

 

QUESTION:
Can I do anything to the butterfly screw like shorten it or file it?

ANSWER:
You cannot do anything to the butterfly screw at all it must be stock and it will be compared to a known stock screw if there is any question as to it being modified and for 2000 racing season it has to measure a minimum .322".

 

QUESTION:
The techman at the track that was teching my engine said my Exhaust spring was illegal. It came from Briggs that way what gives?

ANSWER:
Just because it was a stock Briggs spring does not mean it was legal, there are a lot of Briggs spring from the factory that are not legal (too long or wrong wire size). Just cause it came out of a Briggs box you still need to check the wire size and if is too long or not. In other words all parts need to be checked to see if they meet specs. Just cause they came from Briggs does not make them legal.

 

QUESTION:
What can I do to the valves in the Briggs engine?

ANSWER:
Under the WKA rules you can lap the valves in and take metal off the bottom of the valve stem to adjust the valve lash but other than that they have to be stock. No other alterations are allowed.

 

QUESTION:
What is the maximum height of the kart?

ANSWER:
The maximum kart height is 26"(inches) nothing on the kart can be higher than that (steering wheel, steering fairing, etc.).

 

QUESTION:
The 2000 Tech Manual says the butterfly has to measure a minimum .059 at the mating surface can it be machined to make that measurement?

ANSWER:
No the butterfly has to be stock as from the factory you cannot modify it at all, you can do nothing to it.

 

QUESTION:
Will the 219 chain be legal 2000?

ANSWER:
The 219 chain is illegal in the speedway dirt & pavement 4 cycle classes only. Speedway dirt 2 cycle classes CAN RUN the 219 chain. All other divisions (gold cup, man cup, enduro, etc.), the chain is legal for 2000..

 

QUESTION:
I have a adjuster on the front spindle that I can adjust while I am on the track is this legal?

ANSWER:
No at the present time you are not allowed to use this in qualifying or in a race. if you have one on your kart it must be locked down so you cannot move it. The only adjustments you are allowed to make on the track is to the carburetor.

 

QUESTION:
I have a flywheel screen that I can adjust to lower or raise the temperature of my engine on the track is this legal to use?

ANSWER:
The same thing applies here as it does to the spindle adjusters you cannot adjust it while on the track for qualifying or in a race. It must be locked down so you cannot move it.

 

QUESTION:
I run the super stock class can I use a aftermarket top on my Tillotson carb?

ANSWER:
As long as the aftermarket top is stock appearing, there are some white, blue and black tops that look like the the stock caps. The metal tops are not stock appearing so you cannot run this kind of top.

 

QUESTION:
Can I paint the muffler to keep it from rusting on my stock motor?

ANSWER:
No sorry you cannot paint ,coat,or wrap the muffler in any of the 4-cycle classes. You can paint or wrap the exhaust pipe but must leave the muffler as is from the RLV. You can look this up for yourself on page TM72 rule 719.10 in the 2000 tech manual.

 

QUESTION:
I had my block decked since it is legal to replace the valve seats in it I had them removed. I got the block back from the machine shop and when I put the seats in they set above the deck surface. What I would like to know is this legal and if not can I make the seats thinner so they set below the deck?

ANSWER:
No its not legal for the valve seats to be above the deck and you cannot do anything to the seats to make them set below the block also you cannot lower the seat pockets in the block so that they fit. Look for a check in the future for this like the one IKF has. Also if when you deck the block you hit the tops of the valve seats that also makes the block illegal.

 

QUESTION:
On my kart I had to cut a hole in the back of the seat so it would clear the brake caliper is this legal?

ANSWER:
You cannot cut a hole in the seat for that purpose and leave it open you need to refiberglass the hole or replace the seat. The reason being something could be kicked up on the track and hit you in the back. Also if you cut the seat so it fits the frame you need to fix that also because of the same reason. Every time you cut a hole it weakens the seat and that would make it dangerous. Remember safety is a big issue in karting and it is your responsibility to see you kart is safe for you as well as the guys on the track with you.

 

QUESTION:
I run the Raptor II rods in my motors some of the dippers on these rods hit the bottom of the blocks and break off. I have had a lot of problem with this. What I want to know is it legal for me to trim off the bottom of the dipper so this won't happen?

ANSWER:
Yes you the dipper can be broken on the Raptor rod but cannot be machined in any way ie. no filing or sanding it must be broken.

 

QUESTION:
I build my own motors and have a question about venting the crankcase on a stock Briggs engine. I see on a lot of limited engines that they have drilled and tapped the sidecover and vent off of that too. What I would like to know is this legal to do on a stock Briggs?

ANSWER:
No its not legal to do this on a stock Briggs, the only place that you can vent the crankcase is from the stock valve breather. Also this breather must be stock as from the factory you cannot modify it or replace it with a aftermarket one. If there is any question that the breather has been tamper with the tech man can ask you to take it apart to see if it is still stock (and that includes the foam inside it) also when you remove the engine from the kart to take it into the tech room make sure you don't remove the rubber grommet and leave it on the line going to the catch can.

 

QUESTION:
Do I have to run a catch can on my kart?

ANSWER:
The answer to that question is very simple yes you have to run a catch can to catch the oil that is blown out of the engine. The catch can has to be connected to the valve breather and crankcase vents in the case of a controlled stock, limited modified, or open engine (for stockers see question and answer above on the way it has to be vented). Also the catch can drain has to be closed unless you are draining the catch can into a container to empty it. Remember it is against the rules to dump oil or fuel on the ground, it must be placed into a container to be disposed of later. Also the catch can cannot be attached to the rear bumper in any way.

 

QUESTION:
I am thinking of buying a carbon fiber seat for my kart is this legal?

ANSWER:
Yes there is no rule against using a carbon fiber seat in WKA.

 

QUESTION:
Is it legal to run a lighten cam in a Tecumseh Star motor (10 hp)?

ANSWER:
Yes you can run a lighten cam in a Star engine the rule says you can run a machined cam gear in Star.

 

QUESTION:
When using full bodies on a kart is it legal to let the bottom edge extend over to the kart frame to make it act like a full floorpan?

ANSWER:
No it is not legal to do this the bottom edge can be rolled in only 1 inch toward the fame rails. You cannot use them to make a full floor pan and the floor pan has to be inside the fame rails.

 

QUESTION:
I run Controlled Stock can I fix the lifter bore like a limited modified?

ANSWER:
No you can't they have to be chamfered just like a Stock engine.

 

QUESTION:
On a stock Briggs does the rubber seal have to be in the carb under the throttle shaft, a lot of the carbs are coming with foam and felt washers in place of them?

ANSWER:
The answer is yes the rubber seal has to be in the carb under the throttle shaft. They were left out of some of the carbs by accident and replaced with the foam and felt washers. You need to put a rubber seal in the carb if it does not have one.

 

QUESTION:
Last race I was DQed because the bolts that hold the header pipe had loosened up and my header was loose when I came across the scales was that a good call on the techman part?

ANSWER:
Yes the techman was right to DQ you, this year (1999) safety wiring of the header bolts is manditory in 4-cycle classes.

 

QUESTION:
On a stock Briggs carb is it legal to dent the plug in the back of the carb more that it would come stock?

ANSWER:
It is illegal to dent it in anymore than it would come stock from the factory. It gives you better air flow to do it and thats why it is illegal.

 

QUESTION:
I am looking for a copy of the stock engine rule where can I find them?

Answer:
You can go to most any of your local kart shops and they should have a copy of the 1999 WKA Tech Manual, if not contact the WKA office at 1-704-455-1606 and they should be able to help you.

 

QUESTION:
After milling or sanding the block deck can you radius the top edge of the valve pocket (eyebrow)?

ANSWER:
No you cannot do anything to that area it has to remain stock as from the factory. The edge has to be like it was when it came from the factory.

 

QUESTION:
I see in the Janurary 2000 tech updates that the Raptor 3 dipper can be broken is that so?

Answer:

That was a misprint if you will look in the Feburary 2000 updates you will see that it will be legal in 2001, but for this year the rule is just like it is printed in the tech manual.

 

QUESTION:
I run a curved header pipe can I turn it straight up or run it to the front on a limited modified?

ANSWER:
No you can't it must come out the rear and curve behind the seat. The exhaust has to exit the header / muffler to the rear of the kart. The header / muffler cannot extend past the rear bumper. If the tech officials think that any head / muffler posses a safety problem to you or another karter then they can ask you to fix it so its not one, before you go on the track to practice or to race.

 

QUESTION:
Do I have to run a air filter on the new animal engine?

ANSWER:
Sorry but the answer is yes you do have to run one.

 

QUESTION:
On the animal engine there is a on / off switch does this have to remain on the engine?

ANSWER:
Yes it does it does not have to work it just has to be there.

 

QUESTION:
Can i do anything to the head on the animal engine?

ANSWER:
No it has to be stock as from the factory no machining of any kind allowed.

 

QUESTION:
I run a Champ Kart I see that it has to be tagged it was made in 1999 how do I go about getting a tag on it?

ANSWER:
If you run the nationals we can tag it there with a E-Tag if it the roll cage meets the measurement.

 

 

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