My Manco Progress: Ditched the Fun Power...

[turbojimmy]

...it wasn't any fun.

After spending $147 on all new parts for the Fun Power, and hours fighting with the goofy governor/throttle linkage, I've given up on it. It ran great when it had a full tank of gas, but when it got down to about half it would sputter and stop running. I'm thinking maybe the pick-up tube on the new carb was short (though I ordered it specifically for my model and series engine). I'm too sick of the thing to take it apart for the millionth time.

I bolted the new 6.5 HP clone to the Phoenix Eagle II kart, siphoned the gas out of the Fun Power and put it on the shelf. I may put it on a minibike frame in the future, but I'm disgusted by it right now.

I still have some 'rigging' to do on the throttle linkage on the clone, but I took the kart out and worked the throttle by hand. Holy moly what a difference. It's a lot smoother and stronger.

I also took the seats off it and brought them to the upholstery shop for recovering in a diamond-plate like pattern. Bad news is that I can't put the seat back all the way with the clone's gas tank mounted where it is. I might relocate it.

 

[r97]

hammer + gas tank = smaller tank (and hope fully no leaks)
p.s post #400!

 

[CKC & Dad]

I have the same clearance issue with the clone on our carter or mance (whichever it is). I am considering taking off the tank and mounting a custom tank

 

[Hellonwheels]

I have the same clearance issue with the clone on our carter or mance (whichever it is). I am considering taking off the tank and mounting a custom tank

I might do that. There's a bracket where the headrest mounts that would be perfect for mounting a tank.

Seatbelts came in today too! And new tires. Once I'm strapped in I can go balls to the wall with it. Been hesitant to date because it will toss you out if you're not strapped in.

 

[turbojimmy]

Oops. Posted as my brother (Hellonwheels) by mistake. He must've logged in using my PC.

 

[slideways]

Do you ever run with a passenger? If not i'd ditch the tank and just get a racing kart floor mount tank and a fuel pump. Not too hard to hook up and a hell of a lot safer than gas hanging over your head.

 

[turbojimmy]

Do you ever run with a passenger? If not i'd ditch the tank and just get a racing kart floor mount tank and a fuel pump. Not too hard to hook up and a hell of a lot safer than gas hanging over your head.

The kart is for my kids anyway, and they do run 2 at a time. The seat goes far enough back for me to drive it when I want to. I think I'll just leave it alone.

 

[slideways]

I thought of it earlier but didnt say anything... why couldnt you just add one or two links to the chain and slide the motor back about 1"... that would be really simple and cure all the clearance issues.

 

[turbojimmy]

I thought of it earlier but didnt say anything... why couldnt you just add one or two links to the chain and slide the motor back about 1"... that would be really simple and cure all the clearance issues.

Hadn't thought of that. It would be easy, you're right. It has a jackshaft arrangement, but the principle is the same. I'll look into that....

Thanks!

 

[turbojimmy]

Had the seats redone and installed seat belts. Believe it or not, the belts help A LOT in keeping you in place while you're trying to drive a kart with no suspension.

Got new tires - need to put them on it.

It runs great with the clone, too!

 

[turbojimmy]

Put new front tires and roll bar padding on it. I didn't realize that the tires only take 4-7 PSI. I had them pumped up to like 20 PSI. With only 4 PSI in them it's a lot better ride, though bouncy now.

The roll bar padding is pipe insulation that I bought at Lowe's for $0.94 for each 6-foot section. 4 sections covered it. Looks good for $4.00, IMO.

 

[fowler]

Nice

 

[Blazkowiez]

The seat turned out great, I'd say things are working out for sure. You can also rotate that recoil assembly with the 3 bolts that hold it on. If you have trouble with the recoil hitting the throttle cable you can hold the throttle cable down a bit using a zip tie through the housing of the recoil.

 

[turbojimmy]

The seat turned out great, I'd say things are working out for sure. You can also rotate that recoil assembly with the 3 bolts that hold it on. If you have trouble with the recoil hitting the throttle cable you can hold the throttle cable down a bit using a zip tie through the housing of the recoil.

Thanks. It took buying and selling a bunch of stuff to finally come up with a complete, working kart. The upside is that the guy I sold the old kart w/ engine and 40-series converter to is the upholstery guy. He does boats, convertible tops, custom stuff. He cut me a deal on the seats. They're covered in boat material that should hold up well in the sun and rain.

I'll rotate that pull-start. Hadn't thought about it, but it is in a weird spot right now.

It has a lot more torque than the B&S, but top speed is off for some reason. The throttle is opening all the way, but my brother now blows past me on his minibike. We were dead even with the B&S. He has the same exact clone on the bike as I now have on the kart.

Either way, we look like idiots. We're WAY too old to be chasing each other around with the kart and minibike. But it always leaves us grinning. And my road rash is pretty much healed. I'll always have the scars to remind me to respect the little minibike though.

 

[redsox985]

You are probably slower cause the kart weighs more and you most likely have different gear ratios.

 

[Hellonwheels]

The mini bike pulls up the hill better with the same engine obviusly because it weighs less. Going down hill we're dead even.

It is a little disapointing though, how they both pull really hard at first until the governer limits the throttle. It seems like just a little bit more top end would be key but I'm aprehensive about messing with the governor.

 

[redsox985]

It can be adjusted to get about another 500rpm out of it before it limits it, although I am unaware as to how such an adjustment would be made.

 

[r97]

play with the throttle arm on your engine, you should notice there is a little screw with the spring on it that limits the throttle arm movement, take that out

 

[turbojimmy]

The mini bike pulls up the hill better with the same engine obviusly because it weighs less. Going down hill we're dead even.

It is a little disapointing though, how they both pull really hard at first until the governer limits the throttle. It seems like just a little bit more top end would be key but I'm aprehensive about messing with the governor.

I thought we were even with the Briggs even going up hill?

I've got the throttle stop screw the whole way out so I can't get any more out of it.

 

[r97]

if you want more rpms, remove gov