And so it begins

[Dat1Guy]

Here it is ! The start of my new hobby. I always loved trials and go-karts so what better then this beauty?! It already screams through the trails but with some help (here) it will be even better.

 

[Mrmonk7663]

Nice Yerfdog!if you need help let me know. I just rebuilt one.

 

[Dat1Guy]

Nice Yerfdog!if you need help let me know. I just rebuilt one.

I'm definitely going to need help. Thank you.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Personally I'd take that Tecumseh right off and put a 5 HP Briggs flathead on there, but hey, if the engine works, it works, even if it's a Tecumseh.
Good luck!

 

[Dat1Guy]

Personally I'd take that Tecumseh right off and put a 5 HP Briggs flathead on there, but hey, if the engine works, it works, even if it's a Tecumseh.
Good luck!

Why? Better motor? I'm new to this and not to sure about changing things just yet.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

It's kinda a running joke that Tecumsehs are generally despised around here for their finicky carbs/governor setup.
Speaking of the Tecumseh carb/governor setup on the OHVs, I'd take off the airbox and verify you are getting full throttle.
I am in that camp.
I love old Briggs flatheads, since there are a ton of performance parts for them, there is an absurd amount of variation between different models, and they are generally VERY reliable.
Obviously, they can be broken/worn out, but they generally last quite a while. Case in point: my go kart with a 33 year old engine that runs like a champ!

 

[950speed]

Runs but has a small leak JT, but I wouldn’t go with a flathead, yes there are parts but they don’t run as smooth as a predator/any ohv engine. Personally I would get some new engine, ohv or ohc, the techumsehs just aren’t reliable nor powerful

 

[Hellion]

Just run what you brung, man. Tecumsehs are fine engines, it’s just buffoonish people that can’t be relied on to maintain, well, darn near everything.

There’s Tecumseh fun kart engines and then there’s the Star which I believe is a 10HP block typically tuned to 30-32HP on alcohol.

Not much info available on Tec racing engines but this video rung a bell. I have an acquaintance with a few of these new-in-the-box. I’m intrigued now...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XAm63DW6bTA

 

[Nosandwich]

Runs but has a small leak JT, but I wouldn’t go with a flathead, yes there are parts but they don’t run as smooth as a predator/any ohv engine. Personally I would get some new engine, ohv or ohc, the techumsehs just aren’t reliable nor powerful

Ummm....don't know about that...JT can actually come over and experience how badarse a Tecumseh can be on a two seater.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Eh, sure they can be fun, but I'd take a flathead Briggs any day instead. Yes these old Briggs can be a little finicky tuning-wise(at least mine, but that might be a carb thing), but there's one thing that I can go back to:
Tecumseh went out of business!
Briggs is still strong.

 

[Hellion]

....but there's one thing that I can go back to: Tecumseh went out of business!

Excellent use of the straw man argument. Tecumseh engines are inferior because Tecumseh went out of business...

And your first hand experience with Tecumseh engines entails exactly what?
Hearsay and rumor doesn’t count. Hahaaa


Wait a minute, they still exist but just don’t produce small engines anymore (last I heard).

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Excellent use of the straw man argument. Tecumseh engines are inferior because Tecumseh went out of business...

And your first hand experience with Tecumseh engines entails exactly what?

 

[950speed]

Ummm....don't know about that...JT can actually come over and experience how badarse a Tecumseh can be on a two seater.

Maybe, anyway I had one a few years back on a two seater, I didn’t enjoy it much and it was finicky and difficult to maintain. I changed to a ohv briggs eventually and later sold just the kart.


It had power but was unreliable, yet on the other hand I don’t know how much the PO maintains it. I had carb issues constantly.

 

[Dat1Guy]

It runs just fine for now....no issues however I just got it a few weeks ago. I'm a carpenter so all of this is new to me. Going to concentrate on little things before I go changing motors and going full credit card maxing crazy man.

 

[BigWes]

JTSpunkwagon is just arguing Briggs because that's what he owns. He's what you might call a fanboy. I like the old Briggs but they went out of production in 99 I think. At least the flatheads did. And a stock flathead only had. 6.5 to 1 compression ratio. As with all flatheads they aren't environment friendly without modifications. And the Briggs factory in tank carb ain't no better than a Tecumseh in my opinion. Stupid design. The Honda and clone engines are far more user friendly and way easier to get parts for. As for which one runs better, that's a moot point. Any of them will run great and serve you well if they are properly maintained and taken care of. Even a Tecumseh.

 

[Dingocat]

I say honda or predator, easiest to mod or just use. Tecumseh I have is a PITA, so is the briggs.
Is it time to give this guy his thread back?

 

[BigWes]

I say honda or predator, easiest to mod or just use. Tecumseh I have is a PITA, so is the briggs.
Is it time to give this guy his thread back?

Yup, usual suspects as always.

Thread needs more pics!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

And a stock flathead only had. 6.5 to 1 compression ratio.

Not 100% true, but mostly so. Some left the factory with 10 Ci cylinder heads, like mine. Which I think would bump it up to somewhere in the ~8-8.5/1 range, but I'm not sure.
Anyway, let's not clog up this poor guys' thread anymore.
In short, let's stop arguing!

 

[Dat1Guy]

No worries. Soaking up the information for future reference..

---------- Post added at 12:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------

The proper belt should arrive sometime tomorrow and I can see just how well it runs. I plan on cleaning the tc really well before installing..

 

[BigWes]

Not 100% true, but mostly so. Some left the factory with 10 Ci cylinder heads, like mine. Which I think would bump it up to somewhere in the ~8-8.5/1 range, but I'm not sure.
Anyway, let's not clog up this poor guys' thread anymore.
In short, let's stop arguing!

Really?

Get out your plunger Spunkwagon, go back and look who clogged it up by running his engine in the ground. Wasn't me! It was YOU!

Micheal Clements set a world speed record on a kart running at Bonneville with a couple of Tecumseh Stars on back. Running a tad over 144 if I remember right. The pictures he posted on Facebook were a little more awesome than the ones shown in the record books.

So. Dat1Guy, lemme give you some advice about an engine and this will apply to just about any of them.

You can 'make' almost any one of them perform to a certain level even outside of the specific design envelope. It only requires the needed skills and the required.... MONEY...

So if you got the skills and the money, the Tecumseh will run with the rest of them. Don't let anyone tell you it won't. It just won't be cheap.

And it will behoove you to move away from the stock carb if you can. If you can't, keep it clean.

As for the rest of your project I can't wait to see what you have planned.