2 stroke or 4 stroke??

[KieranM]

Hi,
Has anyone ever used a 2 stroke strimmer/weedwacker engine on their kart or any other project or is it just a bad idea.

I would just like to know as I am thinking of using one , or is it best to stick to 4 stroke engines?

 

[Russ2251]

Weedie engines don't have the stones to do much of anything except for what they were designed to do...that is...knocking down weeds or grasses.
To expect them to push around 200 or 300 lbs. is a bit much. This is assuming you can manage to keep the pto in one piece.
As far as 2 cycle engines go, I would not use anything below 90 or 95cc's.
A typical weedie engine size is anywhere from 22 to 31cc's (more or less).
A small Briggs 2hp engine is around 109cc's. Not a performance engine, but will move you.
I will only use 2 cycle engines to power my stuff. Lawn-Boy engines (6.5HP @ 141cc's unmodified) rule the day and are plentiful around these parts, but do require work to get them mounted.
As for your question, use a standard mount 4 cycle engine to begin with.
The amount of work it takes to get a weedie engine to do anything is not worth the work and $$$ and will be a disappointment in the end. Fun factor will be close to ZERO.
Others will disagree.

 

[Jerryburger]

2 strokes hvae no power or torque because their camshafts spin the wrong direction because they aren't made from Unobtainium!


Just kidding! Thought I'd throw that in for S & G!

 

[Jerryburger]

2 strokes hvae no power or torque because their camshafts spin the wrong direction because they aren't made from Unobtainium!


Just kidding! Thought I'd throw that in for S & G!

 

[jr dragster T]

Lol Jerry when I first started to read your post I thought I was day dreaming or something.

 

[freakboy]

Id go 4 stroke all the way i use to love 2 stroke but i cant stand the wine anymore.

 

[brendonv]

Nah weedwacker motors dont have enough power. Well they will propel u somewhat but it wont be very fun. Crap all acceleration and i mean crap all, slow and just not fun. Just get a briggs 2hp or more, 2hp is fairly good although if u race a 5hp then a 2hp u will be like GAY!! U can get a victa if ur in aus or a lawnboy if ur in america if u wanna go 2 stroke. Im currently converting a victa for go kart use, should be done by end of next week. Waiting on a shaft adapter and carb to come monday.

 

[jr dragster T]

2hp is fairly good although if u race a 5hp then a 2hp u will be like GAY!!

What if you race a 55 HP, 5 HP based engine?

 

[freakboy]

Then you will be like GHEYYYYYY to anything lol unless it can acctualy turn without 30 feet of room

 

[jr dragster T]

Lmao, My new car doesnt take 30' of room to turn. Its a hairpin turn off the racetrack onto the return road and I make it with ease. My car has good enough of steering I could even drive it around your average city block.

 

[freakboy]

i have a feeling my gokart has a better turning radius then that lol and the front tires are bald on dirt it dont like steering even then it turns in under 10 feet lol try that tyler!

 

[Russ2251]

How did this thread go so far off topic???
I wouldn't be surprised if original poster just disappeared.

 

[Jerryburger]

My fault Russ- couldn't resist!

Back on subject-.... sorta.
I, at one time tried a Ryobi 31cc motor on my 10-speed. NOT impressed. Noisy, had a hard time keeping it running and wasn't worth the effort. I've ridden scooter-boards with the little two stroke engines (50cc or smaller) and again- just about any horizontal-shaft Briggs or Tecumseh or Clone will do as well or better.
For a look at the potential of a decent 2-stroke, follow Russ' thread(s) on Lawnboys. Even the "regular" lawnboy motors get up and go pretty good!

 

[freakboy]

Just go 4 stroke make it easy for yourself no mixing gas just make sure there are right levels in the crank case and merry christmass.

 

[Russ2251]

make it easy for yourself no mixing gas

Yes...this can be really brutal for some folks.
I don't have to worry about disposing a crankcase full of gunk.

 

[freakboy]

id rather do that i have a 5 gallon jugs full of old oil and i save the oil and use it for different things. i had a knife hatchet and machette that were rusting i cleaned the rust off used a bon fire a paint brush and welding gloves and blued it with the old oil. tell me that wasnt handy.

 

[KieranM]

I, at one time tried a Ryobi 31cc motor on my 10-speed. NOT impressed.

Would you have got much speed with it?

 

[freakboy]

I think hes disapointed because he got no speed there just to small.

 

[Jerryburger]

Quote:
Originally Posted by JerryAssburger View Post

I, at one time tried a Ryobi 31cc motor on my 10-speed. NOT impressed.

Would you have got much speed with it?

I had better more reliable performance when I put a small electric motor and a car battery on it. The whacker motor was noisy, had a narrow powerband, and like Russ said, I was asking it to do a lot.
Recently a friend had me repair his bike that has one of those Honda add-on 4 stroke motors on it.... and although for the tiny size it went along okay (about 20 mph absolute TOPS) I kept thinking, "My clunky B/S bike project will WHOMP this" (38 mph.)

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of anything. I just don't have the patience for some things (a bad charactor flaw, to be sure.) and I gave up on the whacker motor.

 

[Rotore]

more then one engine