Three go karts

I got a call recently to remove three go karts from a woman's back yard. I got there and quoted her a price to haul them away which she was glad to pay. I was happy because I quickly realized they could easily be sold for parts or repair. Two of them are frames mostly and are missing some things, i figure they oughta be worth a hundred apiece at least. The third is a complete kart which I haven't yet been able to fire up but it wants to start. Several hundred dollars for that one alone. New ones look like they're selling in the vicinity of $1700.00. These are nice metal framed karts with what looks like lawn mower motors for power.

I had them on the truck before she told me someone dumped them on her property. Now I'm freaking out. I really want to sell these, but what if they're stolen? Do I call the cops and turn them in to wait to find out? Cut them up for scrap and move on? These have way more than scrap value. Any advice?

do they have serial numbers? brand and model number? You've been paid for hauling them off, and the honest thing to do would be to check, since you do have a valid suspicion. I'm sure you would be completely in the clear. That would open up the door to sell them outright, with no worries or concience to deal with, and even if they did come up as stolen, and (possibly) were returned to their previous owner, you'd still have that warm fuzzy feeling, as you ate from the value menu, instead of a steak and shake. In a worst case scenario you might still come out ahead (possibly) by making a new aquaintance who believes in your honesty, and has several warehouses they want cleaned out ; ) I think I'd go for it myself

I agree with Bear. If they have serial numbers, call the police and ask if they been reported stolen. If not, then good to go.

First make sure they are not stolen

Then sell them, the prices you said are spot on. For the one that is nearly running try taking off the air filter and spraying some carb cleaner into it, then try to start.

depends if their 2 stroke or 4 stroke, I had a racing cart that ran a 2 stroke McCulloch. Later ones ran the 4 stroke Briggs. Here this might help; Rear Engine American Racers - Vintage Karts: Rupp, Margay, SAE, Bug, GoKart, Dart, Hoffco, McCulloch, West Bend, Power Products, Homelite....

Thanks, Mechanic. Those are exactly the kinds of karts I am talking about.

Could be vintage, mine used to have a Mac motor running alcohol, but some of the guys did run the Briggs. Smell the gas tank to see if it smells like varnish, could be your problem if they've sat around.

Could also be just backyard carts, not worth nearly as much.

If it's a 2 stroke Mac motor it needs mixed gas/oil like a boat motor.

Now that I think about it, mine had no serial no. tag on it either. The old style with the motor on the back we called an A-bone, if they had a motor beside you we called them sidewinders.

On ours running alcohol we could hit 90 mph in the straightaways.

My bad i was assuming newer from the description, dont know why. Always learning:D

Knew a guy that put a Kawasaki motor on one, not sure what league that was in, but he was road testing it in 1st gear, only had the frame and lower plate, no roll bar or air foils yet, hit second gear about the time he hit a bump, it went air born, flipped into a ditch, they thought he was dead for sure. He was a lonnnnng time in recovery, not sure if he ever got over it really, that was 20/25 years ago

If they're not marked with serial numbers or nothing, I'd be real cautious about whoever tried to claim it, at least some kind of proof it's the same machine. I know bike motors always had a number on em, maybe different with mowers