Random Go Kart Thoughts

[compguy101101]

Just browsing through the site I have come up with a few interesting thoughts ideas and questions and figured I'd see if anyone has some answers. So...

Has anyone ever made a Go kart with an engine controlling each tire by independently? Like something small 6hp for each tire?

After upgrading intake and exhaust how to do you re-jet a motor? I was thinking about adding intake and exhaust to my tecumseh 6hp. And I don't know how to re-jet or what it is. Is adding those even worth it?

Where can I get nubby offroad tires that I can run slightly under inflated to cushion the ride since my cart doesn't have suspension?

Speaking of suspension is there bolt-ons that can add suspension possibly just to the front tires?

That's all I been thinking about at least for what I can remember

 

[compguy101101]

Oh and one more thing. What is the difference in cc's and hp. I'm trying to figure out if the motor I have is decent. It's a Tecumseh 6hp but the site says it is 195cc. A couple posts have said take 1hp x 25cc but obviously that doesn't add up to what my engine is. Here is a link to my kart.

http://kenbargokarts.com/karts_D856.htm

 

[Wim]

Hp and cc arent comparable.

For example your 195cc is ~6hp, but a 125cc (motorcycle engine) can be 10+ hp. 125cc edger motor probably more like ~3hp.

Displacement alone isnt much help in gauging power output.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

there really isn't a set hp for cc's. for example, you can have a honda 125cc dirt bike making 15hp or so, and a 200cc tecumseh making 6hp. it is all based on how it is built, and what performance parts it has.

you can make suspension, but you would have to use quad front end or something, and you would have to weld.

you can make independent engines for each wheel, but that would be a very hard machine to design and come up with steering since you cant steer a wheel with a chain on it.

find out the size of your rim, then search google for balloon tires.

you can buy whole rims and tires complete, but from the pic i saw those wheels look pretty up there on balloon-y-ness.

you re-jet the carburetor by either drilling out the main jet, or go the easy way and buy a set of new drilled jets. since a high flow exhaust and high flow filter would be added, it needs to use more fuel. the main jet in your carburetor might be too lean to run right meaning too little gas with your performance parts and it will bog out and die when you press the gas.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

Hp and cc arent comparable.

For example your 195cc is ~6hp, but a 125cc (motorcycle engine) can be 10+ hp. 125cc edger motor probably more like ~3hp.

Displacement alone isnt much help in gauging power output.

beat me to it!

 

[compguy101101]

Is it hard to drill out the jets? I would assume I need to know the correct size to drill it out rather than just picking a bit and drilling? I guess I won't know if I need to jet it until after adding better exhaust and intake.

Here are the tires I am considering. Or at least trying to find.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/product/images/large/G_24052G_CL_1.jpg

What's on there now looks like the "C" but I'd like to put either "B" or "D" on there.

 

[Russ2251]

GoKarts of the past were available in 2wd.
Live axles took over eventually.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah, there were go karts with one engine for each rear wheel.

for the front the only way i see an engine on there is if you make it reeeeal wide and use CV axles from a car.

 

[anderkart]

After you upgrade your air cleaner and exhaust, I'd suggest starting out with a new spark plug. Then take the kart out to ride someplace where you can run it wide open//full speed for at least 10 seconds, and then let off the gas, immediately hit your kill switch and coast to a stop. Now remove that new spark plug and see how it looks compared to the pics below:

If your spark plug is reading normal just re-check it once or twice after riding around some more. You might not have to re-jet.

If you find your plug is reading lean you'll need to find and remove its main jet, take the jet to a good hardware store that sells very small drill bits called number bits. Find the size bit that just barely fits through your jets orifice and then buy the next 2 or 3 larger sizes.

You wont need (or want) to use an electric drill or drill press on this soft brass. I just clamp the drill bit in a pair of vice grips and spin the jet itself to slightly enlarge its fuel passage.
Then clean it off and put the carb back together, take it for a ride and repeat as necessary until you get that plug insulator reading a nice tan color. If you go too large/rich you'll need to buy a new main jet or solder the old jets passage closed and start over again.

This link has some info about carbs similar to yours and the main jets location: http://www.kichline.com/chuck/fixit/mowers/tcarb/tcarb.html

 

[compguy101101]

Thanks for the info anderkart great link. I was wondering what the inside of that bowl looked like. Will help alot if I go and take it apart.

I was thinking about porting the intake and exhaust. Is it worth it or waste of time?

 

[element10554]

After you upgrade your air cleaner and exhaust, I'd suggest starting out with a new spark plug. Then take the kart out to ride someplace where you can run it wide open//full speed for at least 10 seconds, and then let off the gas, immediately hit your kill switch and coast to a stop. Now remove that new spark plug and see how it looks compared to the pics below:

If your spark plug is reading normal just re-check it once or twice after riding around some more. You might not have to re-jet.

If you find your plug is reading lean you'll need to find and remove its main jet, take the jet to a good hardware store that sells very small drill bits called number bits. Find the size bit that just barely fits through your jets orifice and then buy the next 2 or 3 larger sizes.

You wont need (or want) to use an electric drill or drill press on this soft brass. I just clamp the drill bit in a pair of vice grips and spin the jet itself to slightly enlarge its fuel passage.
Then clean it off and put the carb back together, take it for a ride and repeat as necessary until you get that plug insulator reading a nice tan color. If you go too large/rich you'll need to buy a new main jet or solder the old jets passage closed and start over again.

This link has some info about carbs similar to yours and the main jets location: http://www.kichline.com/chuck/fixit/mowers/tcarb/tcarb.html

Am I reading this right? you can solder a jet closed and re drill the hole? I have an engine that has a discontinued carb and the only thing wrong with it is the kid before me took out the jet and drilled it out so he screwed me over.

 

[anderkart]

Well I've never done it myself so I cant say if the solder might deteriorate or wear away a bit after years of use but I dont see any reason it wouldnt work for quite awhile. I know its pretty easy to solder clean brass and just thought I'd include that bit after I'd heard other racers saying it worked just fine for them.

 

[Lynx_Genisys]

How to realy read spark plugs:

http://www.dansmc.com/spark_plugs/spark_plugs_catalog.html

as for running tires with low ari pressure, id find something you can put beadlocks on.. those thigns are amazing!!!

I ran low pressure in my warrior, and there were days i couldnt get more than 15 ins of riding without peeling a bead.. with or without a tube..

I even went so far as to considering those Inner bead locks as well cuz i was getting severly ticked about it.. meh..

Point is, i would be more worried about what rims to rn than the tires themselves..

jsut search online somehting like 10x8x20 nubby, or holshot etc (using your desired tire size...)

may have to go to like a bigger rim or somethign and re-gear the machine or something..

or maybe figure out a way to add beadlocks to your rims. lol

 

[bighead]

Check this link out. How to drill your jets.



http://www.affordablegokarts.com/Drilling Main Jets.php

Note: this is for a bigger carb. You will need even smaller bits. The HF drill bit set stops at #60. You will need drill bits in the 60's. If you used the #60 that would drill your jet out to 101.5

If I remember right my HF 6.5 plug liked a #62 drill bit. It has a pipe and Uni air filter.

 

[saebajacaptain]

Thanks for the info anderkart great link. I was wondering what the inside of that bowl looked like. Will help alot if I go and take it apart.

I was thinking about porting the intake and exhaust. Is it worth it or waste of time?

Port and polish your exhaust if you like, but if you do the intake areas where the air/fuel mixture is, only port, dont smooth it out, never polish a passageway that holds air/fuel mixture.

 

[compguy101101]

Thanks for the great links. After looking through that comprehensive guide to spark plugs I'd almost want to say that it is running lean. But 23 and 14 look very alike and I'm just guessing so, maybe i'll play with the fuel inlet to see if I can't richen it up.

 

[Lynx_Genisys]

on 23, you can see the lack of colour etc on the insulation part of it, vs the 14 pic..