17.5 hp lawnmower engine

[Roobeer]

Would a craftsman 17.5 hp engine work on a go kart? I don't know much about small engines but I was wanting to build a go kart and was wondering if this engine would work. The rear axle is off because something's wrong with it. I'm new to this forum and was hoping it would help me kinda plan the go kart. Thanks!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That depends- is it a horizontal shaft engine (output shaft sticks out the side of the block), or a vertical (shaft sticks out the bottom)? A horizontal is what you generally want for a go kart.

The axle is out? Of what- do you already have the kart? Toss up some pics.

 

[Roobeer]

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Okay- I get it, you want to build a kart out of that lawn tractor, yes?

Well, if the running gear worked on the tractor, it'll work on a kart. After all, you're just going to reconfigure things. That said, a few pitfalls-

IF you're going to use a vertical shaft engine like you have, you're basically stuck using a lawnmower transmission/transaxle. If you try to convert to a conventional axle, you're going to have a tough time moving the drive plane through 90*.

Also- for the most part, garden gear isn't really up to kart duty. It tends not to be durable enough for the high(er)-speed beating a kart takes.

 

[Roobeer]

And a vertical shaft engine has the pulley thing under the engine? Which I'm assuming connects to the transaxle and makes it all work?

 

[karl]

Before starting this, do some research. Search this forum, lawn tractor racing forums, and many websites. You need a basic understanding of how everything works before diving head first into a big project.

 

[Roobeer]

Before starting this, do some research. Search this forum, lawn tractor racing forums, and many websites. You need a basic understanding of how everything works before diving head first into a big project.

Ok so I'm guessing I was wrong about the vertical shaft engine...