anyone "pitbike" engine a gokart?

[taotao110d]

Hey everyone, I am curious how many people on here have put a 110,125,140cc etc "pitbike" engine on a go kart frame?

My daughter has a chinese taotao 110cc atv with full auto transmission which has been great for us for the past 4-5 years, and lately have been thinking about putting a 110,125,140cc with semi-auto 3-4 speed transmission on her atv, which got me thinking about putting one on her gokart, or getting another live axle kart frame to put it on.

It seems like the 110,125cc pitbike engines make about, if not a hair more hp and torque than the gx200/clones (lightly modded predator 212 hemi is currently on the kart) just at a higher rpm. I saw a couple go karts on youtube with little pitbike engines/transmissions and it looks like a fun little kart, so I will likely pick up another live axle kart frame, and keep the predator kart.

Has anyone on here done this? What is the largest cc pitbike engine that has a 3 or 4 speed semi-auto? I haven't really seen any larger than 125cc semi auto. But I'm sure some people know things I haven't seen. I have seen 4 speed manual 125,140,160,180 and I think even 190cc, which would be awesome, but would like to go semi-auto if possible so my daughter can drive if without it being a "chore" for her.

 

[Joe-405]

Go to YouTube type in 110cc go kart and you will find a lot of them.

https://youtu.be/DqucazWR4Io

 

[taotao110d]

Yeah I've seen a couple 110/125cc pitbike engine powered go karts on youtube, just curious if anyone here has done it and what their input is on it.

 

[Kartorbust]

Red Beard's Garage is doing a 200cc Lifan shifter kart. He posted a video on it today. It's on YouTube.

 

[tinamcjittles]

I put one on a conduit frame shifter kart and used a hydraulic clutch.. So yea I mean it was fast (almost too fast for the way the frame was made) and they have a ton of torque since the gearing is so variable, the only annoying part is all the wiring but that's because my engine came with nothing..
BoostedBoiz posted a 200cc shopping cart if you wanna see how he did it; same process as any other engine just needs a few extra mounts since they are caged into the bikes and quads.
There are 250cc Lifans on eBay everywhere which should be semi-auto.

I had a strange issue where the rear wheels would lock up at like 30MPH that was caused be the chain becoming too loose, it turned out that the engine's torque in first gear twisted the entire frame and caused the chain to loosen.
TLDR: Make sure the frame is very sturdy and mount the engine using all the mounts its donor vehicle used!

But they are loads of fun and do some insane drifts....

 

[stevenvr]

we did a build with a pitbike engine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLOhejEJ-54

 

[shadowfocus603]

Cars and cameras is using a 200cc to rebuild John's old race cart into a shifter kart.

 

[tinamcjittles]

Cars and cameras is using a 200cc to rebuild John's old race cart into a shifter kart.

I'm amazed they finally stopped putting the stupid predators on karts... was tired of seeing them only have 1 gear and top out at 35 lol

 

[Kartorbust]

I don't blame people just using Predator 212, 301, and 420 engines. Compared to a Chinese Lifan 200cc 4 or 5 speed, outside of the 420, the others are a cheaper alternative. Getting a wrecked bike would be a good option.

I'm curious on how Red Beard's 4 speed with reverse works on his Murray 200cc will do.

 

[fasterSr]

Depends on what you want I guess. The problems I had were not with the Predator numbers but the available drivetrains.

BTW OP...enjoy if you haven't already.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpW7heRnkHU

 

[fasterSr]

whoa you saw that too! lol

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Hahaha. I did. Then I edited cause you fixed it.

 

[firemanjim]

I put a 125 5 speed manual kick-start engine in a custom off road kart I built . I also converted the kick start to pull start from the seat. You pull a big lever to start it up. I have a post about on here somewhere and videos on YouTube. Look for firemanjim324

 

[tinamcjittles]

I put a 125 5 speed manual kick-start engine in a custom off road kart I built . I also converted the kick start to pull start from the seat. You pull a big lever to start it up. I have a post about on here somewhere and videos on YouTube. Look for firemanjim324

I did that same lever thing... whoa
Except I couldn't pull the dang thing because there is a bunch of compression :/

 

[firemanjim]

I did that same lever thing... whoa
Except I couldn't pull the dang thing because there is a bunch of compression :/

Yes, you need to get a full "kick" with the lever, but mine is fairly easy to use. Ill post a video in a second....
https://youtu.be/nQ3zmwnRDM4

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Thanks FMJ!! Awesome.

 

[firemanjim]

Thanks FMJ!! Awesome.

If you need help figuring out the mechanics of it to make it easy, holler at me....

 

[fasterSr]

Thanks FMJ!! Awesome.

Could NOT have said it better. You have no idea how much your info is helping my build FMJ. Subscribed.

 

[firemanjim]

Now that work has picked up and my health too, I'll be working on an "old project" (hint hint) again soon, as well as redoing my 2 speed roper mini bike. Ill be posting some videos soon.....
And thanks to both of you guys fir the compliment. ...

 

[fasterSr]

(regarding pull start- I was thinking of using pulleys and rerouting the pull start to the cockpit by my knee. How about a kick start? Ever heard/seen of such a thing? I've also learned (by watching) to cover and protect the chain. Period.