buggy/go kart engine advice needed

[zacmon]

Hey everybody. im zac and a newby DIY guy..i picked up a buggy cart a few weeks ago with no engine.. its a decent size machine about 54inches wide and 6.5 feet long. It weighs a good 600lbs..i don't need to go fast maybe 30 to 40mph..its goin to be 2 wheel drive sprocket n chain driven..I just need advice on what size engine and sprocket size to go with. I was lookin at a 13hp 420cc predator engine??Any advice would be helpful more than u know..thanks

 

[OzFab]

Welcome to the forum.



A 420 Predator may be big enough but, we won't know without seeing the buggy in question; it may need something even bigger &, when you consider everything you'll need to get it going, a motorbike engine may be the better option...

Post some pics which include common objects for perspective & we'll go from there...

 

[zacmon]

Thanks man..ya I forgot the pics at the time..im thinking it might need something bigger but that 420cc might b what im lookin for. im not sure though. got pics up now

 

[landuse]

The 420 should be fine. You will need a Comet 40 series TC or equivalant type TC for it. You are going to have to see if the engine will fit in there

 

[zacmon]

oh the engine will fit in there..i could drop volks wagon bug engine in there.. I would hav better pics of the inside but the lighting was really bad..thanks

 

[KartFab]

You are pushing it with a 13 hp engine. You will need to gear to a low max speed (28-33 mph) to get it moving.

Lots of golf karts have 20 hp v-twins in them

(Briggs vanguard, honda, kohler, lifan)

 

[zacmon]

so id be pushing it as far as it not being big enough??how do u gear engines?

 

[OzFab]

You are pushing it with a 13 hp engine. You will need to gear to a low max speed (28-33 mph) to get it moving.

I was thinking the same thing but, I thought I'd sit back & see what others thought

how do u gear engines?

You don't, you gear the engine to the axle after considering a long list of factors...

The engine:rear axle gear ratio needs to be set so you have a decent amount of torque on take-off & a decent top speed:
Gear too high & it won't move
Gear too low & you'll have a low top speed

 

[zacmon]

so is there a way to figure out a good ratio to use? should I go with something bigger than the 13hp..?would it be easier to go with a cycle engine?plenty of them around by me in the 300 to 700 dollar range and range from 600cc to 1000cc engine..i just don't know what all would hav to be done to get the cycle engine geared

 

[fowler]

The motorbike engine would be sweet
They're easy to gear

Usually you just go with what ever was already on the bike to save some coin

There is more weight in the kart then a bike
But the kart has smaller tyres
Thereby u get a gear reduction

 

[zacmon]

yaim leanin towards a cycle engine..found a 600cc with clutch cables and pipes for 425 obo earlier so im thinkin money wise and power wise ill go with the cycle engine..

 

[OzFab]

That sounds like the way to go; be sure to find an engine with the wiring loom & electrics included; a complete bike would be even better as you'll have all the little incidentals at your disposal

 

[zacmon]

ya im lookin for one that ready to mount..thinkin of havin the clutch release as a pedal and then some sort of lever for changing gears..any ideas or suggestions on that?

 

[fowler]

yea thats about it

u run the clutch cable to what ever u want

then u chop the foot gear shifter to a set length and put a bolt though it to act as a pivot

then run a rod to a anoughter lever that u use as a shifter

as was said
try to get the whole bike
then u can basically cut out the frame and use the factory munts
then just weld it into the buggy

 

[zacmon]

awesome..i just like thinkin ahead n getting it straight in my mind before I do something to the buggy..i will keep u guys posted

 

[fowler]

Definitely start a new build log once u have the parts