Hello All- I’m a brand new member on here. My buddy recently gave me (sold me really cheap) a Muskin Dune Cat go kart. I was stoked to get the thing running for my 9 year old son, and thought the thing looked like the coolest go kart I’d ever seen. I did a little Google research and came to realize (mostly from this site) that these carts are pretty rare and highly coveted. I’m not a go-kart or minibike enthusiast per-say, but I am pretty handy and this kind of project is right up my alley- plus I realized then that I had a responsibility to put this awesome little cart back into awesome condition – (rather than just the bare minimum to get the thing running and bounce around the dirt roads as was most often the case when my dad would bring home a go-kart when I was a kid)
That was 16 days ago and this project is coming along real quick- I wanted to put some pictures up to show Keith (the guy who sold it to me) and also so my dad could see them. My thought was that this forum would be best place to photo-document my restoration project as others here should appreciate it. For the purists here, as I assume there are, this Dune Cat arrived to me in other than stock condition. The “Jack axle” (is this right?) drive system had been removed, and replaced with a simple chain drive sprocket, mechanical caliper brake, and a 5 horse B&S, that I’m not sure had ever been hooked up.
Had I had a more “stock original” copy to begin with, I may have been more inclined to try and put this Dune Cat back to original- since my kart was already drastically altered, I decided to go in the opposite direction, while still keeping intact the simple elegance that makes the Dune Cat so cool.
When I was a kid, I had a wide variety of (amazing) near-death experiences on go karts, including taking one through a barbed-wire fence at full speed. I decided almost immediately that I was going to put a roll cage and seat belt into this cart before I sent my kid off in it. I think I was able to do that without detracting from the cool “Dune-Cat-ness” of the kart, but you’ll be the judges on that.
Anyway I’ll end this post with a few pictures I took of the Dune Cat on Day 1 (August 26, 2012). More to come on this project if I hear back any interest.
I believe that is the stock original green paint with white penstripes- I understand that it was only in Blue, and then later in green and red, can anyone tell me if this helps put a date of manufacture for this kart?
4 different tires, and maybe you can notice the extensive fiberglass damage in front.
FYI- the guy who sold it to me told me that the thing has sat outside without starting for over 10 years.
engine was not bolted down and did not have a clutch, I'm not sure if it had ever been running in this bike-
Cat sticker on back, I'm going to have my fiance replicate the original stickers for me-
That was 16 days ago and this project is coming along real quick- I wanted to put some pictures up to show Keith (the guy who sold it to me) and also so my dad could see them. My thought was that this forum would be best place to photo-document my restoration project as others here should appreciate it. For the purists here, as I assume there are, this Dune Cat arrived to me in other than stock condition. The “Jack axle” (is this right?) drive system had been removed, and replaced with a simple chain drive sprocket, mechanical caliper brake, and a 5 horse B&S, that I’m not sure had ever been hooked up.
Had I had a more “stock original” copy to begin with, I may have been more inclined to try and put this Dune Cat back to original- since my kart was already drastically altered, I decided to go in the opposite direction, while still keeping intact the simple elegance that makes the Dune Cat so cool.
When I was a kid, I had a wide variety of (amazing) near-death experiences on go karts, including taking one through a barbed-wire fence at full speed. I decided almost immediately that I was going to put a roll cage and seat belt into this cart before I sent my kid off in it. I think I was able to do that without detracting from the cool “Dune-Cat-ness” of the kart, but you’ll be the judges on that.
Anyway I’ll end this post with a few pictures I took of the Dune Cat on Day 1 (August 26, 2012). More to come on this project if I hear back any interest.
I believe that is the stock original green paint with white penstripes- I understand that it was only in Blue, and then later in green and red, can anyone tell me if this helps put a date of manufacture for this kart?
4 different tires, and maybe you can notice the extensive fiberglass damage in front.
FYI- the guy who sold it to me told me that the thing has sat outside without starting for over 10 years.
engine was not bolted down and did not have a clutch, I'm not sure if it had ever been running in this bike-
Cat sticker on back, I'm going to have my fiance replicate the original stickers for me-