Comet TAV 30 #218354A

[Russ2251]

Many folks have suggested that I try one of these on my kart. The expense has held me back as I don't know if it will actually fit/work. I think it's time I bit the bullet.
Would this unit be correct for my application? Am currently running about 7 hp with 17 tooth Noram centrifugal clutch and 72 tooth driven sprocket on 11.5" diameter slicks. Works great the way it is but want a little more kick. In other words, I want more "bang for the buck".
Does this unit require a 5/16x24 internal thread in crankshaft to secure TAV to shaft?
I have no internal threads in crankshaft and use clutch that's of straight through design that's held on with 2 set screws that are set 90° apart with 1/4" keyway.
Total weight of kart is just a shade under 100 lbs, including engine and current drive line.
Help on this is much appreciated.

 

[MDMike]

Yes its held in place by a bolt into the crank. Im sure if you are handy, can drill and thread the clutch to take set screws as well.
I bought a t/c set up for one of our carts, ITS great!

 

[jr dragster T]

Hi Russ, The torque converter is VERY great and you will be VERY impressed with the results. You will be able to burnout no probelem. Yes the entire Primay unit is fixed to the crankshaft via a 5/16x24 bolt. Basically you bolt the mounting plate directly to the side of your motor with the 4 bolts on the side of the motor. Then you slide a bushing onto the crank then you slide on the back sheive. And the othrt primary parts. As you can see the bushing sits on the little "lip" where the crank is steped down to ensure the Primary and Secondary are lined up. This is one of the probelems you will face. You have mounted the motor to your kart using those 4 bolts on the side of your motor that the TAV would require to mount too. Any questions just ask. I will post some pictures tommorow.

 

[Russ2251]

My crankshaft end is not tapped. Also, my engine does not mount like anything even approaching "normal".

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

To run a TAV you will need to run the primary on a jackshaft to mimic a standard briggs shaft, you might need a plate to mimick the briggs sidecover as well.

 

[Russ2251]

I may just order one to use on one of my myriad of other candidates.
With the winter coming on, I could use a couple of cold weather projects.
Mr. Tyler:
Detailed pics would be a tremendous help.

 

[jr dragster T]

No probelmo Russ I will have them up here after school tommorrow!

 

[Russ2251]

Thanx

 

[jr dragster T]

No probelem. For the amount of help you have helped me over the years I think it is time to lend a helping hand. I am also a visual learner and I learn by detailed pictures.

 

[kibble]

No probelem. For the amount of help you have helped me over the years I think it is time to lend a helping hand. I am also a visual learner and I learn by detailed pictures.

Wow he's crammed years of information in only being a member for less than a year!

Jk, Russ is koo.

 

[Russ2251]

...Russ is koo.

Huh?

 

[kibble]

Dang it Russ, we need to school you on the now. We should have a thread dedicated to stuff the more "experienced" (older) members of the forum might not understand. :arf:

Koo = Cool = alright

 

[Russ2251]

Don't make me use my '60's lingo on ya, you dig?

 

[jr dragster T]

Ohh and whoops I forgot to tell you Russ. Without that 5/16 bolt in the crank all the peices of the clutch with go flying apart. So theres no way of getting around drilling and tapping that crank of yours.

 

[Russ2251]

Without that 5/16 bolt in the crank all the peices of the clutch with go flying apart. So theres no way of getting around drilling and tapping that crank of yours

Yes its held in place by a bolt into the crank. Im sure if you are handy, can drill and thread the clutch to take set screws as well.

I understand what is being said here...but is it applicable?

 

[jr dragster T]

Ohh whoops looks like you get its held on by a bolt. Pictures tommorow after Master scientis AHEM **Cough**School.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

I can make a disassembly vid sometime,mine is a prehistoric CAT99 but the anatomy is the same as the 30.

 

[Jerryburger]

Hey Russ! I hope you don't mind me chipping in 2 cents too many, but maybe for your motor the Comet 40 series might be better. The TAV 30 assumes that a couple of important features are present on your motor. One (as you already know) is the tapped hole on the end of the PTO. The other is a flat mounting surface on the side of the case, with 4 drilled/tapped holes to mount the jackshaft support. I've no clue what the side of a duraforce looks like, but if you see the side of a 5hp flatty Briggs, you'll know what THEY'RE looking for. The 40 series is more like a snowmobile set up with the separate jackshaft. The primary still requires the drilled/tapped PTO end, but you can easily set up a jackshaft for the secondary without dealing with trying to find 4 tapped flat areas on the side of your motor. The downside to this is, a bit more expensive unless you pick and choose the parts on Ebay, and the fact of the separate jackshaft. Like Jr Tyler says, the benefits are worth it. It's like fixing a car that's been stuck in second gear since you've bought it. You can easily run a 60 tooth or smaller on the axle, and then mess with different sprockets on the jackshaft.
I have a TAV 30 on my Manco/Clone if you want be to take some pix...

 

[Russ2251]

The killer of this project is the threaded pto and I really don't want to add a jackshaft.

 

[Jerryburger]

I really don't want to add a jackshaft.

I don't blame you, there. I forgot about the dead axle drive. Not the easiest to adapt to a jackshaft set up. Of course if money was no object, you could get the differential axle you listed in another post and a jackshaft. Lots of hacking/welding to a perfectly good kart. I'm stumped.

Have you messed with throwing a 60 tooth on the rear wheel? It seems take-off/acceleration is no problem in the vids. Are you after a higher top speed?

On a completely different "tilt", there are those hydrostatic transaxles like they use on garden tractors, with variable ratios. The ironic part is, most of them are set up for vertial shaft motors! I've kinda been keeping my eyes peeled for one of them, just to experiment with. (Transmission/Rear Axle/Differential/Vertical PTO compatibility all in one)