~18hp lawnmower vertical engine to horizontal

[BeaterofAincrad]

This is a project that, if I execute, will be in a few years. So the other day an idea came to mind after after reading about using a ride on engine on a gokart.

In the transmission of a dump picked ride on I have, there are 3 bevel gears used to power the axle.
So say, in theory, if I somehow got one mounted on the engine and made a “transfer case” and bolted that to the engine.
Then had a jack shaft horizontally through that with the other bevel gear on it. Would the gears be strong enough to power the axle without shearing?
I would most likely have some sort of torque converter on it.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

You'd have to know how much power (torque) the engine was producing, and how much mass you were wanting it to move (and where, for example: rock crawling?).

 

[BeaterofAincrad]

I was thinking of a frame something like this.

https://www.spidercarts.com/downloads/granddaddy-go-kart-plans/

And it would be used on relatively flat ground, around our yard(we live on a hill), and if possible in the woods behind our house(isn’t too rocky but still on a slight incline and would have to make it up this).

 

[anickode]

What type of engine is it? Some of them don't require very substantial modifications to change over. Others do.

 

[BeaterofAincrad]

I don’t have one at the moment but it would most likely be a Briggs & Stratton.

 

[anickode]

I don’t have one at the moment but it would most likely be a Briggs & Stratton.

I recall another member here switching one of the opposed twin Briggs engines over, and basically all it took was a new crankcase cover and oil dippers.

 

[BeaterofAincrad]

I see, I’ll have to look into those when/if I start working on it. I’d like to avoid buying anything too expensive though.