Building monster go kart from scratch

[B man]

have u even thought about getting a sled or bike engine? i mean its just much less work. saves money on your build.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

have u even thought about getting a sled or bike engine? i mean its just much less work. saves money on your build.

This has been "mentioned" to the point of exhaustion. Can we just accept the fact that the OP is bent on using his PWC engine? Seriously. It's either going to work, or not. But he's going to try, and for that, I applaud him! It's an uphill battle, certainly not the cheapest or easiest. But the guy's rising to the challenge, and maybe it's just MY opinion, but I think it's time some folks here just drop the whole "go buy another engine", and start offering useful ideas. If he pulls it off, terrific! If not, well, it wasn't for lack of trying. Better this than come up with a whacko idea, stay with it only until it gets tough, and become a quitter. No?

 

[hotrodchevy83]

well the kart is coming along guys gonna start putting the roll cage around it

 

[fowler]

pics

 

[hotrodchevy83]

well it has really been cheaper actualy to use this engine lol i bought 8 jetskis last year for 200 bucks and four running motors and ebay some parts totaling to 100 bucks and scrap the hulls saved everything out of them and got about 200 on the hulls for scrap metal the scrap yard has a shredder and they take them so

 

[hotrodchevy83]

thats why i am using the motor

 

[B man]

wait you should make it shoot water out the back.

 

[hotrodchevy83]

no my boat does that

 

[hotrodchevy83]

anyone know how much spring tension i should use on the belts?

 

[Rustydog2010]

If you are relying on the belt slippage as your so called 'clutch'. You can only figure the tension by trying it, it will be a dangerous process..

Jeremy.

 

[hotrodchevy83]

Why dangerous?

 

[bighead]

I brought this subject up at work today with the company mechanic hot rod freak. He said the something about the crank bearings not be able to handle loads or something like that. Bearing are small for the engine just has to run a prop. On a kart he thinks the bearing would fail pretty fast from the load.

Just thought I would mention that here.

 

[fowler]

thats interesting
i guess it makes sense

if u have 4 of these engines u should at least sell one for a bike engine

also u dont need springs. look atthe tensioner clucth on the PTO engine
no springs but a solid linkage as it is firmer

i should proberly point out that PTO engine wasnt made my me or dad with junk parts it was made by an engineering company (stewards engineering)

 

[CriticalMass]

It would be engine specific I think but I read up on the crank bearings being weak. A guy tore his apart and found out the crank bearings were similar to other crank bearings that handle loads. He said it was a non issue for him.

 

[hotrodchevy83]

thats why i have the factory rubber coupling and it being gear reducted with pulleys and sprockets

 

[hotrodchevy83]

hey fowler who said i was using junk parts lol

 

[hotrodchevy83]

yea critical mass same bearings they use for snowmobiles and airplanes and jet skis

 

[redsox985]

Off topic here, but would you mind compiling your responses into one post? It just makes it easier to read. To help organize you can use multi-quote or just hit enter twice to show a new thought. Multi-quote is the little quote marks next to the quote button. Just click the ones you want, then click quote on the final person you wish to quote. It just looks neater than 3 posts each a minute after the other.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Off topic here, but would you mind compiling your responses into one post? It just makes it easier to read. To help organize you can use multi-quote or just hit enter twice to show a new thought. Multi-quote is the little quote marks next to the quote button. Just click the ones you want, then click quote on the final person you wish to quote. It just looks neater than 3 posts each a minute after the other.

I second the motion. Would keep things neater and easier to follow.

Now, back on topic. Regarding the tensioner- I have already stated that I don't think the belts will live long. But having said that, I think you do want to use springs. Ultimately, I am assuming you intend to have a clutch pedal. When you release the pedal, you want the belts to tension and take up drive. For this, you will need spring tension, and probably a fair bit. I have heard of guys using springs from a trampoline or hideaway sofa for this. You may also want to create some sort of mechanism wherein you can push the pedal and mechanically "lock" the tensioner system in the "loose" position. Doing so will allow you to idle/warm up the engine without having to stand on the pedal the whole time.

 

[fowler]

hey fowler who said i was using junk parts lol

theoreically u are

but what i said is that engine wasnt made outta junk. i said i so u would respect the design more

also i too think u need springs but still have a solid linkage
just use a spring attached to the tensioner to keep it in place

if u look at the pto engine there is no spring because the geometry is right, we just pull the lever down (with no effot) and leave it

for your purpose u will need a spring on the tensioner arm to engage it