Belt drive

[modelengineer]

Hey,

I was just wondering if anyone here has tried a belt drive from engine to axle with a tensioner pulley as a clutch. My kart (should be running this weekend) will be using this setup and I'm curious as to whether anyone has any experience with it.
Reason for doing this is I'm too cheap to buy a centrifugal clutch, and I prefer and manual clutch anyway.

And I know , but pics should be up soon.

________
Andrew

 

[Pyrotechnic]

My only concern would be belt wear or the belt becoming glazed over from the slipping. Belts are cheap though. I say just go ahead and try it and see what happens.

 

[kibble]

I have some diagrams in a book at home where they show how to do this. I could scan them, but not til I get home later on in the day.

 

[jr dragster T]

I think 2 pulleys and a belt is more than a clutch? A clutch ism only 39.99.

 

[modelengineer]

3 pulleys from a scrapyard were $20, and the belt's are $10. Also, here in Australia the centrifugal clutches are a bit more expensive.
It's all ready to go but the belt I got is too long, have to wait until monday to get another

I know many people here swear by the centrifugal clutches but I don't really like them.

 

[Jerryburger]

Heck, the first motorcycles made due with belts, so why not? Good Luck on your project. It'll be interesting to see how well it works!

 

[I like karts]

Im thinking of doing the exact same thing!

Except my engine will be like 50+ hp so I'm going to use a serpentine type belt

 

[crazycart]

May i ask what kind of engine?

 

[I like karts]

Engine out of an old wrecked kawasaki 750 jet ski

 

[crazycart]

Sweet how do you plan on cooling that sucker?

 

[redcali]

haha i hope you had thought about that i_like_karts.

id be interested to know if you've got an idea for it.

 

[I like karts]

^ yeah, I thought about it. Im going to mount a dirtbike radiator under where the steering wheel is in that gap.

Im pretty sure it has a built in water pump also, so I should be fine

 

[I like karts]

I found a video of basically the same engine im putting in... only 310ccs smaller

Listen to it at about :50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqw0Y-QEW8

Its going to be the lambo of go karts

 

[AutoMX]

i have a JS550 and a couple of things to keep in mind:
a. as you know it cools by running cold water through itself
b. many things on a jet ski are water lubricated, so make sure you use only the engine itself and not the driveshaft
c. the engine weighs like 90lb and uses quite a lot of gas, 3 gallons per hour. and thats a 550, not 750.

 

[kibble]

CRAP! good thing you bumped the thread! I forgot to get the diagrams I mentioned in the third post of this thread!

 

[I like karts]

i have a JS550 and a couple of things to keep in mind:
a. as you know it cools by running cold water through itself
b. many things on a jet ski are water lubricated, so make sure you use only the engine itself and not the driveshaft
c. the engine weighs like 90lb and uses quite a lot of gas, 3 gallons per hour. and thats a 550, not 750.

A. yes, I know
B. Im, just using the shaft right off the engine, not the impeller part
C. Im pretty sure that's at about 3/4 throttle though and Im going to beef up the frame

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Should be fine, 90% of lawnmowers use this setup.

 

[AutoMX]

actually thats at full throttle according to the manual for the 550 (50 mins per tank), so you could certainly use way less if you use a gear reduction setup

 

[crazycart]

But your also pushing around a hull which is typicly heavy AND pushing water which puts stress on an engine,i bet it would get fairly good mileage on the street.

 

[ed1380]

i have a JS550 and a couple of things to keep in mind:
a. as you know it cools by running cold water through itself
b. many things on a jet ski are water lubricated, so make sure you use only the engine itself and not the driveshaft
c. the engine weighs like 90lb and uses quite a lot of gas, 3 gallons per hour. and thats a 550, not 750.

water lubed? did you mean water cooled? never heard of water being used as a lube

if youre going to use a belt tension clutch. youll need a lot of force to keep it from slipping. if you use a serpentine belt then you wont really have a clutch