Hello. Found this site while looking for help with my mini Jeep

[TimC]

Pancho are you nuts? You said your wife’s age on a public forum. Don’t you know they’re all 29.

I’ve got one of those jeeps too. When I finally get time to play with it, it will probably need a ton of work to get it running.
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That identical to my jeep except for the custom front end. Way cool!

 

[TimC]

When I tried to play the video (I only have a tablet ) it says that your browser cannot play this video. I don't even know what that means. But I like the still pictures. The jeep looks kinda narley. If the family keeps coming, don't be afraid to add some off road go karts. Not the racing kind, and definitely not the modern Chinese buggies. There are plenty of older ( mostly 2 seat ) karts and many have suspension at both ends and a roll cage. Pull start karts. No lights, no reverse, just the basic kart. With a warmed up predator 212cc ( cheap Harbor Freight engine ) and a 30 series torque converter, they are an absolute blast. Especially on a multi turn dirt track like you have. I get my Grandkids from about 5 or 6, to my wife who is in her 70's and everyone in between into the ones I have.

I think you've just described the new vehicle for next year's FunLand Fleet. But I don't know what or where to look for one of those American made buggies. Do you have some brand names I would search for?

 

[TimC]

When I tried to play the video (I only have a tablet ) it says that your browser cannot play this video. I don't even know what that means. But I like the still pictures. The jeep looks kinda narley. If the family keeps coming, don't be afraid to add some off road go karts. Not the racing kind, and definitely not the modern Chinese buggies. There are plenty of older ( mostly 2 seat ) karts and many have suspension at both ends and a roll cage. Pull start karts. No lights, no reverse, just the basic kart. With a warmed up predator 212cc ( cheap Harbor Freight engine ) and a 30 series torque converter, they are an absolute blast. Especially on a multi turn dirt track like you have. I get my Grandkids from about 5 or 6, to my wife who is in her 70's and everyone in between into the ones I have.

And ps; The videos were made with an older iPhone, but my sister is able to watch them on her Windows computer.

 

[Hellion]

You should make a Youtube channel and upgrade the camera.

Do you have some brand names I would search for?

I would say Yerf-Dog is probably the number 1 one to look out for. Also Murray (the outfit that still makes bicycles and lawnmowers to this day, I think). Maybe a Murray Explorer.

And of course in no particular order:
Carter Brothers
Ken-Bar
Manco
Etc...

 

[Denny]

Murray went belly up years ago then Briggs put the stake through their heart and burned the corpse.

 

[Hellion]

Murray went belly up years ago then Briggs put the stake through their heart and burned the corpse.

As did Carter Brothers, Clark, Ken-Bar, Manco, Kartco, Bird/Phoenix, Rupp, Go-Kart, Bug..... dunno about the stake in the heart though. Probably self inflicted.

 

[TimC]

You should make a Youtube channel and upgrade the camera.



I would say Yerf-Dog is probably the number 1 one to look out for. Also Murray (the outfit that still makes bicycles and lawnmowers to this day, I think). Maybe a Murray Explorer.

And of course in no particular order:
Carter Brothers
Ken-Bar
Manco
Etc...

I found this for sale near me. Ad says it's a Yerf Dog 4200 series with 7.8hp engine, CV trans and rear disc brake. Price seems good.

Haven't ridden anything with a CV trans other than snowmobiles. Do they work well on go carts, and are they reliable?

Thanks

 

[Hellion]

Yikes, $1200 dollars {inflation! }. For that kind of money it better be running and driving and good to go.

Most of the off road karts and minibikes (plus a lot of on-road machines of either sort) use a CVT/Comet Torq-A-Verter and they are good to go but they have their downsides I suppose. I will let some veterans chime in but you have to have them set up and maintained properly and don't cheap out on the belts, says Denny.

 

[Denny]

Maybe $700. But for $1,200 it better be brand new. ONLY USE GENUINE COMET BELTS!!!

 

[panchothedog]

Here is a picture of my stuff. Me son and 3 Granddaughters. All of them are different makes. That Yerf Dog that you posted is the Cadillac of the style of karts that I am describing. ( In my opinion anyway ) but I like the predator and clone type engines much better than the modern style motorcycle engines like In your jeep and probably on that Yerf Dog. They are cheaper, have gobs of tourque for there displacement, and hop up parts are inexpensive and available everywhere. All 5 of my toys run torque converters, and I swear by them. Also they are easy and cheap to modify and tune to your engines power band. If you like to tinker with stuff ( as I obviously do ) this is right down your alley.

 

[panchothedog]

Pancho are you nuts? You said your wife’s age on a public forum. Don’t you know they’re all 29.

I’ve got one of those jeeps too. When I finally get time to play with it, it will probably need a ton of work to get it running.
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Well she's never looked on this forum before. And I guess now, I really hope that she doesn't. They say honesty is the best policy, but I suppose they're exceptions.

 

[TimC]

Maybe $700. But for $1,200 it better be brand new. ONLY USE GENUINE COMET BELTS!!!

Thanks for the heads up on price. Never looked into one before, but they look like a blast. And I think a CV trans could be a lot more fun than having to shift gears around the track. So now I have the hots to get one. But I can be patient and look around. Don't REALLY need it till next summer before the kids come back out. (Tho I should get it a lot sooner so I can do all that important test/shakedown riding on it. )

 

[TimC]

Here is a picture of my stuff. Me son and 3 Granddaughters. All of them are different makes. That Yerf Dog that you posted is the Cadillac of the style of karts that I am describing. ( In my opinion anyway ) but I like the predator and clone type engines much better than the modern style motorcycle engines like In your jeep and probably on that Yerf Dog. They are cheaper, have gobs of tourque for there displacement, and hop up parts are inexpensive and available everywhere. All 5 of my toys run torque converters, and I swear by them. Also they are easy and cheap to modify and tune to your engines power band. If you like to tinker with stuff ( as I obviously do ) this is right down your alley.

That's a good looking crew and carts, and what a great place to ride! I am definitely going to add one of those to the fleet.

 

[Hellion]

.....All 5 of my toys run torque converters, and I swear by them. Also they are easy and cheap to modify and tune to your engines power band. If you like to tinker with stuff ( as I obviously do ) this is right down your alley.

What are the karts and minibikes, left to right?

What's your "luck" like running torque converters for all this time? What's the longevity and the maintenance like? I guess I am asking for a long term review of sorts.

 

[Denny]

Torque converters are great for karts as long as you use high quality belts. Cheap ones will leave you walking in 10-30 minutes. COMET BELTS ONLY!!!

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

 

[panchothedog]

What are the karts and minibikes, left to right?

What's your "luck" like running torque converters for all this time? What's the longevity and the maintenance like? I guess I am asking for a long term review of sorts.

Far left a yerf dog 3002 or 30032 with a 196 clone. A tomberlin fire fox 120 with a predator 212. A Baja motor sports blaster 65, also predator 212. A Manco intruder with a predator 301. Mini bike is a Trailmaster M B 200 with a clone 196. None of the engines are stock. All have ARC flywheel and rod, gov delete, cam and stiffer springs and carburater upgrade. The predators have milled and ported heads. As far as the torque converters I usually service the drivers about once a year. I've only messed with two of the driven clutches, and that was to install the stiffer spring. FWIW, the mini bike I bought brand new 5 years ago.
With the exception of the initial engine build I have never even taken off the belt guard. I have somewhere between 200 and 250 miles on it, all of it on dirt. The converters both 30 and 40 series have been very dependable in my experience.

 

[Hellion]

.....As far as the torque converters I usually service the drivers about once a year. I've only messed with two of the driven clutches, and that was to install the stiffer spring.
.....With the exception of the initial engine build I have never even taken off the belt guard. I have somewhere between 200 and 250 miles on it, all of it on dirt. The converters both 30 and 40 series have been very dependable in my experience.

What is the brand of the TCs?
Genuine Comet belts or generic/other brands?


Great report and amazing longevity

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Just throwing my experience in here. I got these belts for my karts and have had zero issues. Been running for years now.

 

[panchothedog]

What is the brand of the TCs?
Genuine Comet belts or generic/other brands?


Great report and amazing longevity

Have about 6 spare belts hanging up in the garage. 3 of them are comet, one or two them is Rotary ( exactly like the one posted by WTR ) the others don't have the sleeves on them anymore. I usually buy my belts from Go Power Sports. I think the Rotary is their house brand and they sell Comet as well. I have never bought the 3 for $20 cheapies on Amazon. We've broken a few over the years, but it's not like it's an issue. Bike and Baja blaster were purchased new and came so equipped. Yerf Dog used also had one. It came with a 7" driven ( which I didn't even know existed at the time ) as compared to the standard 6". Really makes a difference in the hole shot. I bought 3 or 4 others, all the $59 specials on Amazon. Truthfully, I think they are all made in the same Chinese factory. All parts interchange regardless of origin. Never had any part break. Only problem
( and here's how to solve it ) is drivers coming off of the crankshaft under load. Get a bolt that's long enough go all the way into the crank ( but not bottom out before contacting outside of driver) I've even cut down 3" bolts to get as much thread contact as possible. I usually run a tap into the crank to make sure it's clean. Load the end of the bolt with plenty of blue thread lock, hold the driver with a strap wrench, and torque to 25 lb. ft. Let it sit for a day to dry, and it ain't coming off until you break it loose with strap wrench and rachet.