What size motor for my kart? I'm a little lost.

[matt50]

I am building a wooden go kart, now rear drive, not like the front drive front engine topic says. Not gonna happen. I figure this beast of a kart may weigh over 100 pounds, it is made out of stud type wood and beams, all of which are strong and heavy. I need something with plenty of low end torque. I think I could do it with a 5 horse, but it would be lugging, and I would have to keep my foot planted to the floor. I'm thinking something between 8 and 13 horsepower {vertical shaft tractor engine} would give me enough power to get up to speed with some reserve power on the top end. I need to be able to get out of sticky situations. I know, I know, gears make all the difference, but I'm just going to use a couple of pulleys and a belt. I want raw power. What do you guys think. What engine {even a specific make} would you reccomend? If you need to know more to give me an answer, please let me know.

[2or3wheels]

a horizontal engine would be easyies, but if you want gears then go with vertical and use the tranny out of that.

[matt50]

yeah but what size just approx. I think I could get up to like a 14 hp twin in my weight limit. thats vertical shaft of course, and I may not use and gears, just pulleys, but this is early. I just want to get a powerplant squared away.

[2or3wheels]

pullys could work but how would you get the vertical power to go horizontal?

[matt50]

I won't reposition it. I will put a small pulley on the engine shaft {making the pulley lined up horizontally} and a bigger pulley on the drive axle {making the pulley lined up vertically. I will cross the pulley to make it work.

[2or3wheels]

ok twisted belt, then i think go big.

[matt50]

like an 8 or a 10 horse stock motor? I'm planning on maybe putting some straight pipes on after its done, would increase the hp a bit.

[biddie_gibbs]

not to get off topic or anything but is this what your frame will or does liook like:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Go-Cart-Frame-Home-made_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6755QQihZ013QQitem Z230179472971QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
and i would personally make a junkyard run and see if i can pick up maybe a 15- 22hp vertical engine.

[2or3wheels]

That this is great!!! I have the same steering set up just the box is 4 or 5 time bigger.

[matt50]

No, my frame will look nothing like that. It is cool though. I think a 15 to 22 horse would be too big and heavy for my kart. Shipping on those things is brutal too if you buy on ebay. I am still looking for a whole lawnmower I could gut for parts. Do you think something between 8 and 14 hp couldn't pull this thing along fine at 15 to 20 mph. 20 would be my aim for top speed. Higher speed would be "cool", but I won't need it for what I'm doing. Am I underestimating.