Hot Wheels go-kart

Hot Wheels go-kart was a small, but brightly colored go-kart sold by Sams Club in the early 2000s. The logo says "HotWheels" and the model was "R1nx" or "RInx". It had a small gas powered OHV HowHit engine. The left rear wheel is connected to the driveshaft through a clutch. The right rear wheels is connected to an unassisted disk brake. Controls are attached to the steering wheel. Gas is a green lever on the left, break is the red lever on the right.
This is a "toy" gokart, yet it sports real tubeless tires that inflate to 30 psi. The frame is made out of 3/4" steel tubing. The outside shell is fiberglass, which distinguishes it from a standard gokart.
Picture
HotWheels Gas Powered GoKart
Manufacturer and support
Hotwheels (Matel's) customer support explains that the gokart was made by Liberty Group, which went out of business. The leftover parts were handed over to Tomberlin Group (877-855-0196). They on the other hand claim to sell only the "reducing gears".
Usage
Before starting the gokart (pulling on the cord), make sure that :
# The red toggle switch on the steering wheel is in the on position
# The red triangular push button on the engine is depressed until it clicks
# No one is pulling on the green gas lever
Pull the start cord several times if needed. It does not travel very far, do not rip it out.
If dies immediately, adjust the idle screw (small Philips head under the air filter cover) to keep it idling after it starts. There is no real idle channel, this screw blocks the make butterfly from closing all the way when you let go of the gas lever.
Troubleshooting
The start cord will wear out with time. Replace it with a same or less thickness cord. This can be done by unscrewing the four 8mm bolts around the starting/recoil mechanism enclosure.
Next, wind up (unwind the cord) all the way. You should now see the where the old cord was knotted to keep it in the hole. Put the new cord in the same way, and let the white wheel wind it.
Don't unscrew the Philips head screw that holds the white wheel and the spring. It is very hard to get back in.
Your kart may exhibit the following problem: after the start, it idles fine. Then, if you give it gas, it revs up, but then dies within 10 seconds after the gas lever is released. Solution: Try to push the brake right after releasing the gas.
Modifications
As you can see on the pictures in the following two links, it is possible to replace the engine. The owner however had to modify motor mounts to get it to fit.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu