clutchless

[rtenzo02]

Has anyone ever tried welding a sprocket straight to the engine shaft ? Other than the engine shaft spinning on the start-up would there be anything else to be concerned about ? Im just being cheap, dont wana spend $85 bucks on a clutch for a 1" shaft, the karts pretty much gonna be for bashing the field I live next to !

 

[Affair_driven]

Why weld one on? Direct drive sprockets are held on with set screws.

 

[mike75925]

without a clutch is hazardous. even a tiller/riding mower clutch is preferable to no clutch.

 

[Affair_driven]

without a clutch is hazardous.

Not really, just a different driving experience. Brakes can easily stall engine.

 

[rtenzo02]

Direct drive sprocket, even better, I figured I could use the breaks to slow down and just kill the engine to make a complete stop. I wonder what the kohler k181 idles @ rpm ?

 

[mike75925]

yeah but who wants to recrank every couple of minutes?

 

[Affair_driven]

yeah but who wants to recrank every couple of minutes?

The trick is not to stall it.
I highly recommend trying it before knocking it.
Direct drive sprockets are available at a fraction of the cost of a 1" bore centrifugal clutch.
Usually run about $11 or $12. Perhaps cheaper if you look around.
Remember that the bigger the bore size, the more teeth it will have which affects low end torque. Can be compensated for by getting a bigger driven sprocket.

 

[mike75925]

i had an fzr 600 and the countershaft sprocket came off on the highway, took out my clutch and yea it sucked big time, no thanks. not worth it to me!

 

[mike75925]

on another bike, rm125 on 80 frame, i tried to choke and throttle kill it. nearly knocked me out, left a rut 3inches deep and 4 foot long with a bald tire!

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

One way sprocket would solve that.

with a go kart you wont get thrown off, i've locked my brakes up at 30mph on pavement, didnt even jerk me forward.

 

[mike75925]

the nut that held the sprocket on backed off, eating the counter's threads. 1500 dollar repair, i opted for three tack welds, $20. even so there are times when you want to sit there idling to survey your next assault, without a clutch you will commit to alot of bad ideas before learning what not to ride on and possibly alot of damage.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

how did 3 tack welds cost you $20? thats not even $1 worth of rods/wire.

 

[mike75925]

needed it in a hurry and i was in cali (california) after deregulation, electricity went up 600% in price

 

[EagleTalons]

Just have a killswitch on the wheel. I have a kart that is solid state without a clutch. You just have to think beyond what you are doing. Heck you won't even need brakes. Just let the engine compression slow you down!

 

[mike75925]

yep been there too, 80cc bike no brakes, broke throttle cable. you had to grab the cable itself and pull!

 

[THE HUNTER]

Direct drive sprocket, even better, I figured I could use the breaks to slow down and just kill the engine to make a complete stop. I wonder what the kohler k181 idles @ rpm ?

basic idle setting is 1,200 rpm


and you deff should add a kill switch where you can easily reach when driving.
at idle good breaks should kill it, but if you happen to loose breaks for some reason....
its not hard to do, just short out he points to kill the engine with the magneto-type ignition.
on the K181 they are really easy to get to anyway.

 

[rtenzo02]

All sounds good, think I might try this before I go and buy a cent clutch, from what I herd it saves clutch wear to keep your machine open throttle, what the hell Im gonna do that anyways, with or without a clutch ! If for some reason I dont like it, Ill be forced to buy the clutch alot sooner.

 

[Rotore]

couldn't u use the clutch off a weed wacker?

 

[Affair_driven]

couldn't u use the clutch off a weed wacker?

How?

 

[jr dragster T]

Sting line trimmer clutches where only made to spin a spool of well basically string and nothing more. No where near heavy duty enough to push even the lightest of karts.