Help a newbie to go-kart/all things motor

[Michaelt549]

Hey my name is Michael I am 16 and I live in southern California I am new to go karts pretty much all things motorized I fix electronics iPods iPhones androids game systems and more I know my way around tools just not at all with go karts and have no one to help me my dad just recently passed away and he left me all his tools and boy did he have a lot

So just the other day I came across a go kart with roll cage/ mini dune buggy in working condition I have a son who's turning a year next month i know he won't be ready for a few years but it looked not bad for 280 so I picked it has a 5hp Briggs and Stratton fun power motor up it ran good for a while took it home played around then noticed it was turning off as I gassed it would only go if I gassed slowly if I just pressed it down it would shut off so I called and he said the carburetor needs to be cleaned but idont know how to do that but I seen a sale for a predetor 212cc I believe 6.5hp motor so I thought I could maybe get that one and swap it out but have no clue how to please help need a lot of guidance

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum!!

Cleaning carbs is not too hard, and we can walk you through it if you like. If you have a look at THIS link, you can find your carb and a step by step cleaning instruction.

As to swapping the 2 engines out, there might be a bit of fabrication work if the footprints dont match up. Someone will help me out here. You are also going to have to check if your output shafts are the same diameter, because you would want to use the same clutch

Throw up some pics of the kart and motor so we can give you more advice

 

[OzFab]

IIRC, B&S & Honda/clone have the same footprint & definitely the same shaft diameter but, I would have a go at cleaning the carb first; take lots of pics when you do it so you know how it goes back together

Wait, you're 16 & you have a 1 year old?

Sorry to hear about you dad, that must be difficult for you...

Oh, & welcome to the forum

 

[Michaelt549]

i looked at the link u told me to go to and im not sure which one is mine. and also how do i check if my output shafts are the same diameter? one of these engines is what i was looking into buying.http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=212cc+motor

please get back to mee soon thank you

 

[Michaelt549]

ok thanks and yes im a 16 year old father. and thanks it has been hard for me but im hanging in there!!!

 

[mckutzy]

Use a micrometer or a caliper, a tape will do in a hurry.

Post some pics of your motor. That will make sure we can identify it.

 

[Michaelt549]

This is my motor i forgot to mention why i wanted to just replace the moto is because when i went to pull start the motor the rope ripped so i opend it and put it back together then when i went to pull it it just came apart aparently either i or the previous owner stripped the screws that heald the pull start to the motor so i think im screwed

 

[Poboy kartman]

This is my motor i forgot to mention why i wanted to just replace the moto is because when i went to pull start the motor the rope ripped so i opend it and put it back together then when i went to pull it it just came apart aparently either i or the previous owner stripped the screws that heald the pull start to the motor so i think im screwed

EZ fix- especially if you have 1/2 as many tools as you claim. I'm assuming you mean the 5/16" (or whatever) bolts that hold the shroud to the block. If so, -these bolts don't need to have a lot of clamping force as the sress force is 90° to the bolt. (In other words, they basically just need to keep from falling out- not like head bolts whose main clamping force is inline).

So- you can drill and re-tap to the next size larger in metric- ( possibly SAE-depends on the meat in the block). Or you can go with a slightly larger self-tapping screw.

Or you can get some metal fix epoxy from Home Depot (read the packages for the stuff you can drill and tap.and fill the holes and use the same size tap or self-tappers as original.....

 

[Michaelt549]

as u can see theres no screws that hold the pull start rope that u pull to start the engine when i put the screws in they never tighten its like a never ending turn so basically ur saying i have to make new screw holes? with like a drill bit? can i just add larger screws will that grip to tighten?

 

[Poboy kartman]

as u can see theres no screws that hold the pull start rope that u pull to start the engine when i put the screws in they never tighten its like a never ending turn so basically ur saying i have to make new screw holes? with like a drill bit? can i just add larger screws will that grip to tighten?

To quote a line from "Cool Hand Luke"..."What we have here is a failure to communicate. ..." ......all I can tell from your your pictures is your rope doesn't retract. Yes-even automotive head bolt holes which must be torqued to over 100 foot pounds can be relatively inexpensively repaired by the DIY with minimal tools. But what is stripped is unclear- post a picture of the bolts in question- istead of a friggin' rerun....

 

[mckutzy]

I reckon the nuts welded in the case for the retractor bolts are stripped( thats what I understood).
If so, JB weld some new nuts to the underside and remount the retractor, or retap new bolt holes.

 

[rocketkart]

first remove the engine shroud, the bolts on top are marked blue and on the bottom there should be one on each side. after you get the off find some nut's and bolt that fit well in the holes marked red. to get the slack out off the pull rope, depending how much you have to spare, take the rope and pull it out some till you feel it wanting to retract thin place some vice grips on the rop were you will see the vice grips will stop the rope frome going back in. thin cut it down to about a inch above the vice grips. take the old piece of rope out of the pull handle and run the pull rope thats in the starter throw the handle and not it off and take a lighter to the not for a few sec to melt it together. thin but it all back on the engine. or just this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNwdar17RgA

 

[Michaelt549]

Thanks rocketkart you have been the best help here ill be going ahead and trying that it sounds like it would work ill be getting back to you guys if i encounter any trouble

 

[Michaelt549]

BTW i tried removing the screws labeled in blue i got the left one to come off like butter but the right one the top was so dull and stripped i couldnt grip it with anything

 

[mckutzy]

I got to ask, what part is stripped... the threads... or the hex head of the bolt?

 

[Michaelt549]

the part he labeled in blue was stripped at the head so i couldnt grip it right to remove it the other gripped perfect and came off fine

 

[Michaelt549]

the parts in red are stripped by the threads

 

[rocketkart]

BTW i tried removing the screws labeled in blue i got the left one to come off like butter but the right one the top was so dull and stripped i couldnt grip it with anything

try getting some vice grips on it. if that don't work you need this tool set. it's a good set of tool's to Invest in. http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-10-pc-damaged-bolt-nut-remover-set-low/p-00952166000P?prdNo=1

 

[mckutzy]

If those bolts have stripped threads, isnt those into the block?
If that is the case, then ya a helicoil for one maybe 2, but the effort for all.... You might as well sell as is and go buy a HF 212 pred.

Take off the clutch, you might need to redrill new hols as it will(I think) have a different foot print. Gas/oil and go.

 

[OzFab]

Wait, putting extra nuts inside the shroud may interfere with the fan blades, check first but, the best idea is to rethread the existing nuts...