New Member- First GoKart

[Shick]

Greeting!
I picked up a Yerfdog 2-seater for my kids to mess around on. But I managed to bite off more than I wanted.

everyrhing I know so far. Which is very little about engines (I’m a carpenter).
- I have to replace a couple tires
-The throttle/governor linkage is broken
-It runs rough and wants to take off right when it starts.
-There isn’t a pull start.
-and I want to add seatbelts.

I live in Westerville, Oh… just outside Columbus.

hopefully I can pick your guys’ brains a little this Summer.

cheers

 

[Rat]

Greeting!
I picked up a Yerfdog 2-seater for my kids to mess around on. But I managed to bite off more than I wanted.

everyrhing I know so far. Which is very little about engines (I’m a carpenter).
- I have to replace a couple tires
-The throttle/governor linkage is broken
-It runs rough and wants to take off right when it starts.
-There isn’t a pull start.
-and I want to add seatbelts.

I live in Westerville, Oh… just outside Columbus.

hopefully I can pick your guys’ brains a little this Summer.

cheers

Oh boy you definitely have your hands full!

If you haven't visually confirmed the engine assembly, it could just be a few bits are stuck not broken and the fact it runs rough points to this being likely.
I suggest a good cleaning, oil change, and a fresh sparkplug, then go from there.

Recoil covers are dime a dozen

Adding seat belts shouldn't be too difficult, just depends if you want the added safety (and expense) of going with a racing harness, or basic shoulder/lap combo which could be easily and cheaply made with junkyard car parts

 

[Denny]

Welcome!!
You can pick my brain, just don’t try to pick my nose. That’s all mine!

 

[panchothedog]

I own two Yerf- Dog two seater Go karts. My brain is ready to be picked. But first you must apologize about not knowing anything about engines and karts.
I am a retired carpenter.

 

[Rat]

Missing/ broken governor linkage would definitely want to jump to WOT and max RPM and the running rough could be a combination of things. Aside from the standard issue stuff (old/dirty plug, excessive coil airgap etc) something that comes to mind is valve float since it is certain to be getting pinned wide open with the gov link issue... which valve float pretty much means that the engine is revving faster than the valve springs ability to recoil and reseal the valves when the should be sealed.

Although it usually doesn't happen, valve float is supposedly one of the fastest ways to drop a pushrod or bend a valve stem.

Gov links and whole assemblies are widely available and again so are recoil covers.

You didn't specify the engine in play so I suppose theres a chance yours might not be. For most karting/minibike/equipment engines you can get just the recoil cover assembly, or the complete shroud with the recoil on it from at least 10 different sources online in both electric start and pull only variations.
I'm curious how you started it without a recoil (gotta be an electric starter or full manual transmission)