In need of some thoughts and input on engine choices for my karts

[7thofa2nd]

I've been searching for the past year for some reasonably priced chainsaws for their engines to be used on a couple of go-karts.

FINALLY, I've gotten my hands on a couple that I think may work ...but I'm not sure if they will be enough power.

One is a Mac 10-10 that runs strong, but is it enough? The other is a big ole Homelite WIZ, it also runs strong, but I haven't yet dialed in the carb adjustments.

The one kart is a small one that I posted on last fall... a Robron A-bone. I don't think it requires a killer engine, just something respectable. So, which one?

Another question... how important is it to the value of a kart in keeping it the original color? Personally, I love originality, but is it important? The Robron A-bone is red, but I do love yellow. Depending on the engine (Mac yellow would class big time), I could always go yellow on the other kart.

THANKS in advance...

@http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/member.php?u=18054

 

[7thofa2nd]

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[Bansil]

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[7thofa2nd]

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I was attempting to get the attention of itsid for his advice/knowledge.

Apparently I don't know how and it didn't work.

 

[Bansil]

Just having fun

@7thofa2nd

Test to see if it works here

 

[Budget GoKart]

Bolt a 212 on and go

 

[7thofa2nd]

Just having fun

@7thofa2nd

Test to see if it works here

---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 PM ----------

Bolt a 212 on and go

HA!!! NOPE, that's what everyone else does... that's too easy. Besides... I'm in anti-China mode now.


I hope someone shows up to give me some period-correct info advice.

 

[itsid]

Loool

Hi buddy.. sorry yeah missed that thread apparently

Mac10-10 are to my best knowledge 54cc engines.. (late seventies)
while the 'killer' racing engine was a MC101 (in several iterations) with 122cc

BUT AFAIR the very first karts were indeed powered by engines from HUUUGE chainsaws indeed.
I can't recall the MC10-10 chainsaw being big tbh
more a fair adult size saw, ..
no "Honey, I go and mow the forrest, be back in five" type of saw, is it?

IDK what hp you would expect.. realistically round about 3-5 maybe
still a nice screamer, and with a bit of gentle modifications maybe something to slap on the robron for good.
I saw MC9s and (allegedly)chainsaw tens that were not only looking like 125mph but also screaming like fury.. I'll see what I can find on infos and such..

Never heard of a homelite WIZ tbh.. and have no idea what to expect..
similar size engine? similar size saw?
similar size power expectation *shrugs*

I'm desperately trying to find a SACHS saw myself.. but that'd be another days topic.

The odd one wheel peel kart on the right.. we've discussed that a few hundred years ago, right?
IIRC that was powered by a flathead briggs (3hp if I'm not mistaking) originally..
slapping a 5hp flattie on is probably amongst the most correct you could do
while still upping a bit the fun
The very straight kingpins make me a bit nervous,
that thing will likely not steer too well...
less speed is probably a good idea especially in corners
And you need a left side PTO engine (all four strokes.. and just some two strokes)

Colour..
RobRons are red, yes.. but I think I recall seeing some flat black ones too
(hasn't he had a metallic blue kart on his website too? *headscratch*)

And if I'm not totally mistaking,
I think even McCulloch used Rupp Karts before they started to build their own chassis
for their racing team.. and if I'm right on that I would want to bet that those have been yellow.

Anyways, rupp karts have been available in many different colours throughout the years,
red blue and black for sure, I think I remember yellow as well (I think one of those torsion chassis Lancers were available in yellow at least)

So IMHO if you stick with the McCulloch Colour, yellow would work.

A well made restoration will always be rewarded with a fair selling price
(documentation of the restoration helps tremendously)

But truth is.. if you want to sell it
you will hear "Oh it was red.. it'd better be red.. I wanted red... I pay xyz less for it being not red anymore"
just ignore most of that.. 50 less for the wrong colour.. yeah maybe, not more I'd want to bet.

(ONLY exception: original paint.. well aged and weathered, uncracked at worse dull spots..
is worth easily 200 more than any repainting [even in original colour] on a collectible race kart)

'sid

 

[7thofa2nd]

Hello Sid, you're just the guy I was hoping to hear from.

Well, 54cc isn't much at all, but if it gives me 3-5hp, I think it will be OK for starters.The Robron is a small kart and looks to be geared towards a 5 to 10year old kid. The engine runs good and sounds awesome. I haven't found any engine mounts that are listed as being for a 10-10, so I was wondering if they're one size fits all. I may have to fabricate one.

The Homelite WIZ is much larger, 77-95cc depending on which WIZ model it is (there are 5). I'll have to search the saw better to find some more numbers. And, even though it's been setting for years, after I put some gas in it, it started up on the 3rd pull... then, before I could adjust the carburetor to keep it running, the pull starter spring went and unsprung.

Yeah, finding engines is work... when I do find othem, they're usually in another state and I'm not ambitious enough to drive 6-12hrs to take a look.

The kart on the right is actually a live axle housed in there with brass bushings on both ends. Everyone is telling me it's a homemade frame, but I really like its sweeping lines. I'm hoping to make something impressive out of it. Thanks for your insight on that front end. I may have to change that.

My Manco Dingo was blue, my mini bike is a blue metallic. Your brain is pretty sharp... that's why I like picking it.

As far as available Rupp colors... I'm sure Robert Stanton would have the answer. Red is the color I see most often.

(ONLY exception: original paint.. well aged and weathered, uncracked at worse dull spots..
is worth easily 200 more than any repainting [even in original colour] on a collectible race kart)
THANKS for that advice... the original paint on my Robron is rather nice and would probably clean up nicely without a repaint.

THANKS Sid.

 

[itsid]

ah yes I remember.. like the Rupp D300 then.. (that had a flathead as well btw)

in that case, I wouldn't worry too much about spending too much for a race engine, I'd stickwith a nice snappy chainsaw or indeed a period correct flatty.

could you post pics of the engines, there were chainsaws that "looked" better than others thinkin in kart engine terms

Oh and the second one is certainly NOT homemade..
I seen three of those frames (two on diygk one of which is now green with a black nassau panel)

brass bushings? maybe I just misremember then.. I thought welded in bolts..
anyways, brass bushings are still not actually meant for speed

'sid

 

[7thofa2nd]

I do have 2 or 3 5hp flatheads... I know for sure one black and one red. Right now I don't have the right kart frame deserving of a killer engine, so a wannabe killer engine will do... I guess. HA!!!

At the moment my chainsaws are still chainsaws, so you can't see much of the bare engine. Would you like to see a lineup of what I have as they are now?

"Oh and the second one is certainly NOT homemade." - THANK YOU!!! I sensed that it wasn't because of the quality of the welds. When I had asked on another forum if anyone recognized the kart and if they had any info on it, everyone told me it was homemade... I got tired of arguing nicely. Do you by any change have any photos of a similar kart?

Yeah, those brass bushings were a concern for me too. I may try to figure a way to convert to a bearing setup without altering the original frame. If I decide to keep it strictly for backyard use, it may stay as-is.

BTW... I did find an image of a yellow Rupp kart in a factory ad, but I can't figure out how to show you it in my reply here.

 

[itsid]

yes yes "as they are" is fine for the chainsaws...
if you can't see the cylinder it's the "adult" not "mow the forrest down" size I was talking about earlier.. perfectly fine however.

I'll have to look up that frame.. it's on DIYGK and now green that's essentially all I remember ATM
but I almost bet we already had that "oh he's got a brother" talk...
since I totally remember seeing that exact image of yours already ..
I think it must be close to where you posted that first *shrugs*
I'll go searching

'sid

 

[7thofa2nd]

Ahhhh... I think I saved that photo.
...oops, but I still don't know how to share it here. How do I post an image from my saved files here?

 

[itsid]

saved files? saved to where on what?

anyways I was remembering correctly..
your thread from back then, with the exact image from above
and my response
leads to this thread now green (and a dead axle version)

'sid

PS.. oh and look
http://www.geocities.ws/robroninc/chap.html
the chaparall is indeed blue metallic.. memory still somewhat useable

 

[7thofa2nd]

If I want to show you a photo image here from a file that I have saved on my computer, how do I do it?

YES, that's the photo... brother karts. The steering support is totally unique and what I love about it. IMO, it makes the kart look fast just sitting still.

 

[itsid]

Ahh computer..
that's easy
follow my detailed description on how to post pics for example

yes it's indeed a nice layout.. not too save collapsing the steering column onto your crotch in case of a crash..
but it looks nice.. I like the tub rails (the reason I like klipper karts)

'sid

 

[7thofa2nd]

Hmmmm... I gotta problem. I don't have a "Post Reply" showing up to the lower left. Do I have something wrong in my settings somewhere? Or, am I just cursed because I'm still using WindowsXP.

Well... I just now saw "Go Advanced" show up, so I clicked on it. Now I have that paperclip button... so I think I'm good.

First I'll show you some of my chainsaws intended for go karts. The first 2 are Monoline SL 245 chainsaws. Mac 10-10, Homelite ZIP, and a Craftsman.

 

[itsid]

I'm currently on a WinXP box myself.. and I have a post reply button..

post a screen shot of the Quick reply box and a generous amount of it's surrounding please


the homelite looks very promising in fact..
you get a good feeling of it's oomph by looking at the size of the flywheel mostly
a huge flywheel requires lots of torque to get moving. 2 strokes don't usually have much torque at low speeds so in order to move a big flywheel it must be a rather powerfull engine then..
same I'd say about the two on the left ... looks beefy.
(at least that way you get a "hint" about the engine power... not much more I'm afraid.. but yeah)

'sid

 

[7thofa2nd]

AND... so that's what a Clipper kart looks like. I have one and I didn't know what it was.



Here's that yellow Rupp kart.

 

[itsid]

that's no klipper kart.. that's a Carter Brothers..

this would be a klipper (and a yellow one at that *giggle*):


(must be a k.. clipper just doesn't find you the right ones most of the time )

'sid

PS thanks for that model J ad.. that's answering a question from last week for me