Chassis Model yr & Basic Setup Starting Point

[Cobra98SVT]

Hi i'm new here. I just bought a 99 birel kart with a KT 100 motor, i am trying to find the model and make sure the yr is what the guy said it is. The only numbers i found on the kart were on a welded plate in the front that said A-CIK31-1CA/J and TA-CIK32CA. Can anybody help me with that and i'm also looking for a starting point for a basic setup i run a three disc steel nytro wet clutch with a 11 tooth sprocket on the front and a 89 sprocket on the back with 11x5.50-6 for front tires and 11.5x8.00-6 for back tires all at 12psi can anyone helo or atleast point in in the right direction.


Larry

[Marc Miller]

Hi Cobra-

Visit www.GoBirel.com and you will see on the HOW TO section a link that shows you model year specifications. It is very informative.

Once you have the model information - use the search function on this forum for set-up advice. If you can't find what you are looking for, be sure you supply as much background info on you, the track, tires, kart etc as possible. The more you provide your baseline set-up, the better answers we can provide.

Welcome tot he forum!

[Cobra98SVT]

Thanks for replying so quick. I looked everywhere for the numbers and letters and the only place i found them was on the nose of the kart on a welded plate. Those are the numbers the i sent in the previous message.I looked on the hangers at gobirel website and still couldn't figure it out. I my preious message i put what sprockets i had on it, what size tires front and rear its a KT 100 motor. The track is the new jersey motorsports park the track has alot of tight turns and not very many straightaways. I run the kart just they way i bought it. i will try to get you more info on it cause i just would like to get the back end from sliding out, what should it do.

[Cobra98SVT]

Also I'm 5'9 about 185lbs in full race gear. Also more on the track it does have one blind down hill turn and one uphill s bend thats very sharp and it also have so uphill shacanes so other then the front strech that is flat and the turn one that is a flat turn everything else is a downhill or uphill climbs so there are not many straightways unless iehy run the full track. i have a steel nytro three disc wet clutch and the stall is set around 9,800 rpms to about 10,000 rpms and thats when the powere really comes on. i have dunlop 11.5x8.00-6 tires in the back and up front i have 11x5.50-6 dunlop tires. After a few laps the front really seems to stick but that backend is always sliding out unless i take ther turns slower, but then i lose to much speed it think so i don't roll throught center of the turn like i want to. So other then that the kart is kart is kept the way i bought it and not sure what the caster or camber is set or and i don't remember how many spacers are on the front for each side. I aslo never played with the torsion bar in the back i left it the way it came when i bought it. I have my first club race this weekend and i'm just trying to get a good starting setup to work on.


Larry

[Cobra98SVT]

Also I'm 5'9 about 185lbs in full race gear. Also more on the track it does have one blind down hill turn and one uphill s bend thats very sharp and it also have so uphill shacanes so other then the front strech that is flat and the turn one that is a flat turn everything else is a downhill or uphill climbs so there are not many straightways unless iehy run the full track. i have a steel nytro three disc wet clutch and the stall is set around 9,800 rpms to about 10,000 rpms and thats when the powere really comes on. i have dunlop 11.5x8.00-6 tires in the back and up front i have 11x5.50-6 dunlop tires. After a few laps the front really seems to stick but that backend is always sliding out unless i take ther turns slower, but then i lose to much speed it think so i don't roll throught center of the turn like i want to. So other then that the kart is kart is kept the way i bought it and not sure what the caster or camber is set or and i don't remember how many spacers are on the front for each side. I aslo never played with the torsion bar in the back i left it the way it came when i bought it. I have my first club race this weekend and i'm just trying to get a good starting setup to work on.


Larry

[Garry Lobaugh]

We see many of the same questions.

Let me suggest you go to our www.gobirel.com site Please look under "how do I" and that will walk you through the method of determining your chassis model

IN all due respect, may I ask " How many laps have you turned in the kart?" We have a pile of information on this site in the archives and for us to try to recap all of the information on the huge information request is a bit taxing. Please consider doing a search. We have a treasure of really good technical information with past questions.

By the way, where are you racing. I don't know of many tracks that use the tire you are speaking about.Have you thought about a good training program? Your energy is ripe for instruction which I think would be the very best investment you could make.

Thanks for your post, you pose a very exhaustive challenge. We will find the answers,but you have to help your self. Advance planning is critical in racing. Lets take baby steps to get up to speed.

[Cobra98SVT]

I have been running the kart every sunday for about a month and a half. About six to seven hrs on sunday which i know is not alot of seat time but i'm willing to put in the time

[Garry Lobaugh]

It sounds like you are committed and that is great news. Hopefully you find the site and your kart info. Go the the bearing hanger where the brake caliper is attached. Thenumbers are the serial number, the letters followed by numbers is the kart model.

For example: AR 4
TO 32
AT 30
Something along those lines.

I don't know what the local track tire requirements are but I would suggest 4.5 fronts and either 6.0 or 7.1 rears. We can give you the proper width once we find out the model number. Good luck and have fun. You have Mike Doty in your area as our local Birel dealer.

[Jeff Myers]

sounds like the rear end is really loose... try narrowing the rear width (move the wheels in) to keep the rear end from sliding out and tightening up the kart... go in small increments, 1/4" at a time to see the difference in handling...

[Cobra98SVT]

First off i wanna say thanks to everyone who has helped me in trying to figure how to setup up my kart. Well i had my first club race this past sunday and it was a good one. I went back to to the tires that were on the kart were on the kart when i bought it. They were five inch vega tires not sure on the front ones but i know the back tires were 7.10. Man did that do a world of difference for me as far as handling went. The kart not only handled better but it entered the corner better and she would come off the corner like a rocket. The rear end didn't slide at all but for one tight s bend other then that it was great. I had a crappy qualifying do to the chain coming off on my second or third lap of qualifying. I started fifth but had trouble getting my kart to run once i did get it going by the time they dropped the green flag i was more then a half a track back. I did work my way up to second by lap five of a twelve lap race. Do to a slower kart holding up a faster kart all three of us went into turn one the second kart locked up the brakes and so did i not to hit him and spun out. Since i posted the fast time for my class for the main event i rolled off first and never looked back and i beat second place by almost a second. So just the tire change alone was a big help. So I wanna say thanks to all.


Larry

[Cobra98SVT]

I also forgot to mention i found thoses numbers they were were u said they should be. The numbers are 721220 TO 32. Does that mean it is a 99 AR 4 chassis. Also how could i get in touch with mike doty and or were is he located.

[Marc Miller]

Cobra-

go to www.mikedotyracing.com for mike's contact info. Also, be sure he doesn't try to sell you a Merlin *grin*. Birel's only - you will not get better customer support with any other brand. I can promise that.