Can I power a kart with this engine?

[carlspeed]

I have this engine from my old lawn mower. I should note, I loved this mower, but the transmission for the self propulsion system was causing me problems, and I elected to spend a couple hundred more to simple buy the newer and better mower than parts to fix mine. The motor though, always first pull. Had it since new, and always did oil every year, new plug, and a carb kit when needed. Currently I just did everything, and the motor is perfect, but the trans took a poop. I want to keep something from the mower, and figured the motor would be fun in a cheap kart project with the little guy. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Tpdingo]

Vertical shaft engines powering go karts is like trying o get a laptop to run on a car battery. Can you get it to work? Yes Will it be better and cheaper to get get a normal laptop battery? Yes.

Highly recommend AGAINST using a vertical shaft engine.

 

[carlspeed]

Gotcha. That's what I was afraid of. Now to see what I can use this motor for, and divert go kart attention back to modded golf cart attention!

 

[Tpdingo]

Gotcha. That's what I was afraid of. Now to see what I can use this motor for, and divert go kart attention back to modded golf cart attention!

You could use it for lawnmowing.

 

[anickode]

Gotcha. That's what I was afraid of. Now to see what I can use this motor for, and divert go kart attention back to modded golf cart attention!

The other issue with mower engines is the fixed throttle. The carbs on many of them don't like to run idled down, even if a throttle lever is added. Plus depending on the mower, it may rely on the weight of the blades to supplement a lighter flywheel.

If you were to find a transaxle from a riding mower, those typically use a vertical input shaft. You could put a 10t centrifugal clutch on the mower engine, driving a 10t sprocket on the transaxle input.

It wouldn't be super fast, but it would go. The transaxle would wear out quickly as well, since it would be running 3-5x the speed it was designed for.

 

[isuckateverything]

You could use it for lawnmowing.

brilliant!

 

[explorer]

if you used that engine you would have to use a riding mower trans/axle

 

[Hellion]

brilliant!

He’s pretty good isn’t he.

 

[wardog]

Use a belt from the engine to a jackshaft with a 90 deg twist in it.

 

[Tpdingo]

Use a belt from the engine to a jackshaft with a 90 deg twist in it.

Let's see what google says....NOPE!

http://gokartguru.com/blog/?p=454

 

[Kartorbust]

Right angle gearbox could be a way to do it. But if you were going to use a vertical shaft engine, one from a lawn tractor would be better. It already has a carb setup for variable speed so it would not be hard to adapt. A pulley to a right angle gearbox with a sprocket on the output shaft to the tire or axle would work. This setup has been used on racing mowers for years.

I would not use a gearbox from a tractor unless it was something like the Peerless 700 with the grease taken out, and 80w-90 rear diff oil is used. There are only a few gearboxes that can be used as such. Majority of the ones found in tractors are transaxle (gearbox and axle are one unit) or hydrostatic. They generally do not hold up well to high speeds.

 

[wardog]

Let's see what google says....NOPE!

http://gokartguru.com/blog/?p=454

Probably wouldn't work like that..... directly driving the axle, but it works just fine driving a jackshaft that is lined up properly, then chain reduction to the axle. People have been building karts like that since the 50's, not to mention a bunch of lawn tractors drive the deck like that, including my old one. Try searching "quarter twist belt drive" there are a ton of engineering websites that explain exactly how to properly set one up.

This says it works fine http://gokartguru.com/belts.php

 

[Tpdingo]

Probably wouldn't work like that..... directly driving the axle, but it works just fine driving a jackshaft that is lined up properly, then chain reduction to the axle. People have been building karts like that since the 50's, not to mention a bunch of lawn tractors drive the deck like that, including my old one. Try searching "quarter twist belt drive" there are a ton of engineering websites that explain exactly how to properly set one up.

This says it works fine http://gokartguru.com/belts.php

It is not a good system. You know why 99.9% of go karts have ever never used that system? Because it is a janky badly designed system. One of those things that is easier said than done. He should get a proper 90 degree shaft with gears and use a standard chain. The first problem is again: go karts shouldn't use vertical shaft engines

That's pretty much like using a drill to make an electric go kart instead of buying a motor.

 

[anickode]

Let's see what google says....NOPE!

http://gokartguru.com/blog/?p=454

Well I can tell you it does work. Not only does the 90° twist work, but I run a mule drive into a 90° twist on my rat wagon and it works great.

But it's also turning a jackshaft, not the axle directly.

 

[landuse]

Converting vertical to horizontal has been done, but it is too much effort and the chance of it not working is too large. You will have to open it up to make a new oil slinger too