Identifying a Go Kart

[Edwin Spangler]

I have had really good luck with the "knock off" TQ's in the past, I think the biggest problem people have with them is the supplied cheap belt. But they were much cheaper when I bought the last one.

I think my using of the cheap belts may have contributed to the damage of my driver. All the rapidly worn, unevenly worn belts causing uneven pressure on the sheave... The "explosion" of energy released into the driver when those cheap belts would snap or even worse, jam up into the driver. It just beats it up to the point of improper function.

-So theres an extremely valuable lesson (imo) that I dont think I have ever heard mention of.

 

[marcusp]

I have had really good luck with the "knock off" TQ's in the past, I think the biggest problem people have with them is the supplied cheap belt. But they were much cheaper when I bought the last one.

That's great! The belts are definitely problematic. I wish they were still priced at "much cheaper", I'm not sure it's worth the risk to buy a part that's not even half off the name brand price when it can't even clear a 3.9 star review and has no more than 50 reviews at that. I normally don't buy things if they have less than 1000 reviews . My knock off 30 series TC works fantastically though.

I have cut the plastic off of the axle, it is most certainly not keyed. That means I may be looking at replacing it. If I'm thinking correctly, that means just to think about getting this kart the parts to move I'd be looking at roughly
$730 pre tax for a 420 set up (380 for engine, 200-350 for TC, 150 for axle kit w/ sprocket, basic brake)
$620 pre tax for 212 set up (150 for engine, 250 for upgrade kit, 70 for TC, 150 same axle kit)

Or.. I could investigate motorcycle engines on marketplace. I would assume since the scooter motor had the drive shaft facing "passenger side" that some of the motorcycle engines would do so as well. Theoretically, I could keep the axle I have and just change the sprocket if needed?

Look at trying to find a motorcycle engine then.
I put a 200cc 4 speed on my dingo and its borderline scary. Granted I did some hot rod tricks to it.
Lots of those china quads and bikes in the sale ads.
Budget friendly.

Tell me more! Do you think a 200/250 would work for my kart if my line of thinking is correct? I've never worked on one but im not opposed to learning. In the same line of thinking, this would be my cheapest option. Yall let me know what you think... and where I'm wrong. My goal here I suppose is to do my best to understand everything that I need to do and know the ballpark of what I'd be spending to make this happen. I appreciate everyone's input so far, yall have been extremely helpful!

Edited to say: sprocket is a 40 tooth. I also suppose I could still replace it for a keyed axle if necessary and then it wouldn't matter what side the drive shaft faces, and I think a motor cycle engine would still be the economical option while still giving the speed and torque i desire?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Marcus pee. Lol.
Here's my build thread if you want to read how I made the china bike engine fit the dingo.

Thread 'A Dingos Tale part 2' https://www.diygokarts.com/community/threads/a-dingos-tale-part-2.46679/

 

[Denny]

Nothing wrong with a jungle store 40 series. Just use a GENUINE COMET BELT!!!!
It’s not rocket surgery just go-karts.

 

[marcusp]

Marcus pee. Lol.
Here's my build thread if you want to read how I made the china bike engine fit the dingo.

Thread 'A Dingos Tale part 2' https://www.diygokarts.com/community/threads/a-dingos-tale-part-2.46679/

Wonderful read, very informative. You're a smart fella. I have remembered I have a lot to learn. Nice cuda by the way, I am envious.

Nothing wrong with a jungle store 40 series. Just use a GENUINE COMET BELT!!!!
It’s not rocket surgery just go-karts.

I understand the sentiment, if I could find one that doesn't seem shady. My jungle 30 series works amazingly.

I'll keep looking into these foreign non predator engines throughout the night, idk, seems like smart people stuff- I do like the idea of an atv engine so I could have a reverse on the kart. Time and thorough research will tell.

 

[panchothedog]

If you were to go the 420 route something to be aware of. Every one is built in China. For future hop up options some, maybe many of the no name brands that are a little cheaper than the Predator have a straight cut cam gear. There is no aftermarket cam ( hop up ) that will work. They are all helical. Cut on a swirl angle. I was ready to buy one of the off brands when this information was made available to me. I bought the predator. For a 40 series torque converter I bought mine from OMB Warehouse. Regular price is $220, but they put it on sale frequently for $ 199. It includes the reverse wound spring ( not installed, but easy to do ) and a belt that has lasted me 2&1/2 years and still looks good. I am happy with it.

 

[marcusp]

If you were to go the 420 route something to be aware of. Every one is built in China. For future hop up options some, maybe many of the no name brands that are a little cheaper than the Predator have a straight cut cam gear. There is no aftermarket cam ( hop up ) that will work. They are all helical. Cut on a swirl angle. I was ready to buy one of the off brands when this information was made available to me. I bought the predator. For a 40 series torque converter I bought mine from OMB Warehouse. Regular price is $220, but they put it on sale frequently for $ 199. It includes the reverse wound spring ( not installed, but easy to do ) and a belt that has lasted me 2&1/2 years and still looks good. I am happy with it.

Thank you Pancho. If I go the 420 route I was thinking either predator or duromax. I'm not sure it's worth it to me to do a no name china brand. Good call on OMB! I do not know how I missed theirs!!! I'll have to find some measurements for the TC and see if I'll be able to get the engine close enough to the seat to be able to even fit a TC and a 420.

What are yalls opinions on the 459? I've seen a lot of you saying in other forums if you keep it stock to go 459 but if you're going to mess with it, 420. I would imagine that a stock 459 would produce plenty of power for my application but I'm assuming. What do yall think?

 

[Master Hack]

I believe the 420 is a clone of the GX390. If ya want to build some power, 30+ is possible. Don't know about the 459.

 

[panchothedog]

As far as I know not much available for the 459. It's not just a bigger version of the 420. More displacement is going to make more torque. But as long as the engine stays governed the rpm ( speed ) will be limited. You can gear it differently to provide more top end but with a limited rpm range it just isn't the same. I think it was OMB's video guy, " The Grey Goat Garage " did a tear down on the 459 and was not impressed at all with it.

 

[Hellion]

let me know if there's anything specific yall wanna see better.

You can’t have too many photos.
I want to see the whole kart out of its cluttered lair eventually, but I know it’s being taken apart as we speak. Most everything with a GY6 is a two seater so it seems rather unique around here (DIYGK). It‘s missing its brush guard/roll cage but maybe you have it removed.

Didn’t the seller have a clue what make and model it is?

 

[Denny]

Didn’t the seller have a clue what make and model it is?

Looks like it’s about a Cheryl Teigs?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Looks like it’s about a Cheryl Teigs?

Smoke show.
She's 78 now.
Man im old.

 

[marcusp]

As far as I know not much available for the 459. It's not just a bigger version of the 420. More displacement is going to make more torque. But as long as the engine stays governed the rpm ( speed ) will be limited. You can gear it differently to provide more top end but with a limited rpm range it just isn't the same. I think it was OMB's video guy, " The Grey Goat Garage " did a tear down on the 459 and was not impressed at all with it.

Im not super worried about top end, 30-40 is plenty, pushing 40 would put me just faster than my buddy . The more that I have thought about it, the more likely I have decided that I would lean towards the 420 *just in case* I wanted to do more than a basic ungovern. I do like the aftermarket support the 420 has. I am still watching marketplace for a 200/250 atv engine at a cheap price since that would be both economical and give me reverse .

You can’t have too many photos.
I want to see the whole kart out of its cluttered lair eventually, but I know it’s being taken apart as we speak. Most everything with a GY6 is a two seater so it seems rather unique around here (DIYGK). It‘s missing its brush guard/roll cage but maybe you have it removed.

Didn’t the seller have a clue what make and model it is?

I can push it out of the shed one day for sure. It's been a tad rainy here this week and I don't much care for being cold and wet. I will check my phone in a minute and see if'n I have any decent photos from when I had her outside. My coworker who gave it to me doesn't remember much about it. Said it was chinese, been 15 years since he had let his kids ride it. Not a GY6 kart but rather a clone YJ1, 49cc iirc. It looks like it used to have some sort of detachable bars near the head of the seat, the top of the frame has some built in clamps for inserting more tubes into the frame. Theres nothing up front that I have noticed, so maybe they're just for the "luggage rack"? I'd love to know more about the make and model of the kart but theres no marks left other than the "BOSS" in the floor pan. From my research its not a road boss kart. The engine didn't have any identification either. I was told it was a YJ1 clone due to a part # on the head. I'm thinking it was maybe just one of those cheap no name china purchases back before that became cool.

 

[marcusp]

Here's an outside picture for ya Hellion, this is the brush pile we rescued it from last week after it got drowned by Helene this past year .

 

[Grizzlymi]

You coastal state guys with your hurricanes and such.

 

[panchothedog]

Here's an outside picture for ya Hellion, this is the brush pile we rescued it from last week after it got drowned by Helene this past year .

Looks like it's ready to go. That has to be one of the most ignored things in history.

 

[marcusp]

Darn I didn't save my draft. Now I gotta rewrite smh.. I have done a thing. Decisions have been made. Turns have been tabled. We are at the point of no return.
I have decided to change the axle to a proper run of the mill type axle with a 1/4" keyway. This will make any future changes a lot easier and probably just be the best thing in the long run. I'm thinking a 1" kit from BMI. I guess I should go billet brakes and go ahead and spring for one of the sets of 18" tires. Does this sound good to yall or do you have a better way to steer me?

1" Live Go Kart Axle Kit - Complete (#40 Chain) | 566430

www.bmikarts.com

I have cut the luggage rack off because I'm tired of bending around it. I cut off the old motor mounts and axle mount and devised a plan with my redneck mentor of how we are going to weld 'er up to work for a predator 420. My other buddy has a 420 that he's never got running that I will either work on or can use as a model until HF has a sale on them. I suppose I'll knab the TC that we've decided on as it's sitting around $250 right now and supposedly marked down. We are also going to lower the seat as it sits up too high for a good center of gravity. And then cut the kart down the middle and elongate it. Yeah, it's a lot of welding. But hey, that's what the ole redneck is for, he knows what he's doing, . Not to mention I'll learn about something in the process.
Pictures are coming, I intelligently started writing before taking any photos and don't want to lose my draft again. I'll learn to do better I'm sorry denny.

Edit to say: didn't realize the option with tires added so much money to the kit lol. I think I'll just buy the 4x4 lug adapters for 50 bucks and use the tires I have for now!

 

[marcusp]

The last picture from Google is kind of what we are going to end up with, just with utilizing the base that we have. Elongate the existing rear swing arm, weld in our axle mounts, then add an engine plate.

 

[Denny]

You better learn to do better or I will take your man card away and brand you a little girl!

 

[Hellion]

I like almost everything you're doing, especially the seat as it looked like a seat from a bass boat, but then again the frame has some kooky seat risers. I would not lengthen the kart unless there was no other choice. You're supposed to be cramped and the wheelbase is supposed to be relatively short for maximum maneuverability. Carry on.

Darn I didn't save my draft. Now I gotta rewrite smh..

That's odd. For me, it auto saves my drafts automatically, every time a little green dot appears over the 3.5" floppy disc icon in the upper right. What platform do you use to access the site?