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wear under the chassis, normal or not?
From what I understand some scuffing under a kart chassis is pretty normal from bottoming out or clipping kerbs, and it does not automatically mean the frame is junk. I think the idea is that light surface wear is mostly cosmetic, but deeper grinding into the tubes could change stiffness or even weaken a joint over time. Honestly not sure where the line is when you are looking at a used chassis though. Does wear in certain spots matter more for handling than others, and how much material loss is generally considered too far gone?
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Normal yes, bad... maybe, depends how deep. Post some pics. Scott Hamble repairs them here in Indianapolis. Also they make frame sliders toprotect them. I'de say pass 50% of the wall, it is going to start effecting.
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Light surface scuffing that only removes paint and negligible wall thickness is common and does not change tube stiffness or joint strength in any meaningful way. Deeper grinding into the wall is different, because bending and torsional stiffness depend on the remaining cross-section; once material is gone, the second moment of area drops and the tube flexes more under the same load.
The location that matters most is the waist or center bar. That member sets the diagonal stiffness of the frame, which governs side-to-side load transfer and the jacking response that unloads the inside rear wheel in a corner. Local thinning there alters both the intended torsional balance and the stress path through nearby joints. Wear on outer rails or less critical cross-members is usually less consequential for handling, though deep notches close to a weld can still act as stress raisers over repeated cycles. Once the scar is clearly into the metal rather than surface-only, treat the chassis as compromised for precise setup work.
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