Is this engine mounted sideways??

[AZDesertRunner]

Going to look at a project kart today. It has a Honda GX390. The guy selling it says that everything is good, except it needs a new clutch. Reading through the forum, I'm guessing it needs a new clutch because he has big 25x8x12 rear tires on it.

So I've read about using a jackshaft and/or torque converter in order to handle bigger tires. If I buy it, I'm going to humbly ask for your help in choosing the right setup there.

My question right now is this: Is this engine mounted sideways? It looks like the engine crankshaft and the kart's driveshaft are running perpendicular to the axles?

Thanks for your help!

 

[AZDesertRunner]

Closer up. Is that a differential in the rear axle? How does this thing get power to the wheels??

 

[anickode]

It looks like it's been rigged up with the rear end from a shaft drive ATV. so yes, the engine would need to be mounted like that to chain drive the input shaft of the rear axle.

 

[BigWes]

Looks like a sprocket mounted to the yoke on the front of the differential. Best I can tell from the picture anyways. If he did it right I don't see why not. Looks like fun to me but a lot of weight back there. Give it a shot and see what happens. It's yours now anyways!

Wes

 

[AZDesertRunner]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Would it make sense to ditch the diff and swap the axle for a more traditional go kart setup, with the sprocket mounted to the axle?

If I kept it the way it is then I dont need to worry about a Jackshaft? Would you be able to recommend a clutch without knowing what the gear ratio inside the diff is?

---------- Post added at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:42 PM ----------

My big concern with the way it's set up now would be ground clearance. It's going to be mostly offroad. Nothing crazy, desert dirt roads and fire roads in Northern Arizona forest.

 

[anickode]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Would it make sense to ditch the diff and swap the axle for a more traditional go kart setup, with the sprocket mounted to the axle?

If I kept it the way it is then I dont need to worry about a Jackshaft? Would you be able to recommend a clutch without knowing what the gear ratio inside the diff is?

---------- Post added at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:42 PM ----------

My big concern with the way it's set up now would be ground clearance. It's going to be mostly offroad. Nothing crazy, desert dirt roads and fire roads in Northern Arizona forest.

That diff housing doesn't eat up any more clearance than would a sprocket sized for those tires. It's probably a lot tougher too. Likely a much better braking setup as well.

The only downfall might be having an open diff, but that can be rectified quite easily.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Dont buy that poor thing its beyond saveable seems to be a yerfdog 3202 - 3203 and completely ruined chopped up and destroyed it would be way too much work restoring it to original but your call dude

 

[Denny]

Budget, not everyone wants to restore a cart. Some like me actually like to ride them.


Denny

 

[AZDesertRunner]

I dont care to restore it. Just want it to go fast. I got the whole kart for $200, with a running GX390. I figure the frame alone is worth that. At least here in AZ, where full suspension karts sell quick.

As for the open diff, I can weld it, since it'll never see pavement. Yeah?

 

[Dingocat]

As for the open diff, I can weld it, since it'll never see pavement. Yeah?

Sounds about right.

 

[KartFab]

my 2 cents.

1) engine has open airbox w/no airfilter and is a good rain collector. Rain goes in and next thing you know you have rusty pitted valve seats, valves, rings, and cylinder bore. Sad thing is that you cant really know that this has happened without pulling it apart. I had a gx340 that i bought for $100 that had this exact thing happen to it. Could free rev. Didnt smoke. But would not make ANY power under load.

2) the guy (since it has large tires and differential) hacked an ATV rear end off of his 4 wheeler and welded up the stuff to the go kart.


Soo.... if this was me, i would personally skip this just because of the effort involved to get it going. Even If i could get it going, i would definitely pick the guys brain about the rear transmission to see if it would even be possible to adapt a torque converter to it.

In the end, you may be able to get the a new clutch but find that the thing is geared for some stupid low speed, or that it is geared too fast and you burn up the clutch. Either way i think that is why ATV's have a much wider rev range and the CVT's they use are more robust with a larger high/low gear range as well.... so then when you figure all this out... you think oh crap well i cant get custom machining done on the torque converter to make it fit without spending big $$, and i still have to fab up some more stuff to make that work from teh jerry rigged setup.... so then theres that... then if you want to just say screw it and go back to original axle, you are also screwed because you have to chop off the whole rear end and start fresh.

So ask yourself, is this a good deal or a big fat headache? Youve got your work cut out for you. Not trying to be depressing, just thinking out loud.

 

[Hellion]

It's not a go kart, it's a "buggy" with some ATV flavoring (the shaft and diff).

If you went with conventional go kart sprockets, an axle and chain drive with the engine mounted transverse instead of longitudinal, you'd definitely want a torque converter which gives you a variable transmission and low end grunt for hills and stuff.

I'm sorta siding with KartFab, you got a project and a probable headache on your hands... BUT if you can get it to work, I wanna see a first run video
Definitely pick the brain of the previous owner, find out what parts he used (Honda, Kawasaki, etc) and any other info that will help you with maintenance and operation.

Watch out for these emotional teenagers we have here, they're kinda reactionary

 

[AZDesertRunner]

Well, you guys know karts a whole **** of a lot better than me, so if you'd skip it, I'll probably skip it. I want a small project, not a headache.

I found this yerf for $500..

 

[Hellion]

Well, you guys know karts a whole **** of a lot better than me, so if you'd skip it, I'll probably skip it. I want a small project, not a headache.

I found this yerf for $500..

I thought you already bought the other one though?

Tell us what kind of karting (or buggying or offroading) you wanna do or where you wanna ride and you can definitely get some good advice on what to buy.

 

[AZDesertRunner]

Negotiated price, but didnt buy yet. I was going to look at it tomorrow. Came here first because the rear end looked so different to me.

I want something with full suspension for sure. Gonna be riding desert trails and forest fire roads. Mainly it'll be for my 5 year old and his mom to follow me on my dirt bike. But I want to fit in it.

I would also like it to be something that I can throw on some pedal extenders and a booster seat (maybe a pedal block or governor) so my kid can rip it around.

That might be asking too much from a single kart...

 

[AZDesertRunner]

We (grandpa) just built his older brother a kart and he's real jealous. He wants something for offroad though.

We have a good metal worker, but only a halfway decent mechanic in the family.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Well, you guys know karts a whole **** of a lot better than me, so if you'd skip it, I'll probably skip it. I want a small project, not a headache.

I found this yerf for $500..

Dang that thing is in mint condition, i got my yerf dog for 150$ and it needed a motor, rear rims and tires, front tires, and tierods thats all. oh and some booger grinding also some other things but it was worth the money. that atv thingy wont steer good because the tires. wont drive well because the rear end. and the suspension is shot its not worth it its junk but still your decision. Also heres some befor and after pics of mine.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Negotiated price, but didnt buy yet. I was going to look at it tomorrow. Came here first because the rear end looked so different to me.

I want something with full suspension for sure. Gonna be riding desert trails and forest fire roads. Mainly it'll be for my 5 year old and his mom to follow me on my dirt bike. But I want to fit in it.

I would also like it to be something that I can throw on some pedal extenders and a booster seat (maybe a pedal block or governor) so my kid can rip it around.

That might be asking too much from a single kart...

The seat is adjustable and yerfdogs are easily modable and some have brush guards that can work like a cage and even with a clutch it will offroad fine.

 

[Functional Artist]

Yup, #2 is a much better deal
…& looks to be in great condition
...just get in it & go.

Skip the headache (& a bunch of rigging & guess work)

 

[AZDesertRunner]

I was hoping to find a project, but not a headache. Thanks for the advice.

With the Yerf Dog, what would go into swapping the 6.5 for a 13hp? How much of a project would that be? Is the power/speed gain worth doing the swap?