Dingo updated with 6.5 clone - TC questions.

[kfosburg]

Hi,

I updated my old Manco/Dingo 285 with a new harbor freight 6.5 clone engine that I picked up at their sidewalk sale last week and have some torque converter questions.

Engine was a direct bolt-on, but the extra height and fuel tank necessitated cutting the seat bracket and moving it forward an inch for clearance.

I'm having an issue with the torque converter. Symptoms are a lot of chatter/vibration when trying to engage and no engagement of high speed overdrive.

It's a series 30 asymmetric comet with 6" driven hub. It's lubed OK, aligned perfect, but the driven hub never gets engaged. I've done quite a bit of reading and notice 2 things:

1. The center to center distance of the two hubs is only 6.5 inches. I think this makes the belt too long such that it never puts any tension on it to expand the driven hub.

2. The belt, although labeled Manco 5959, is symmetrical. Did they make two different belts labeled 5959???

The jackshaft to engine mount is fixed distance and the slots are on the chassis which is what controls the chain tension so I can't just move the engine to lengthen the center to center distance.

Is there a shorter asymmetric belt available?
Should I just order an new proper 5959 asymmetric belt and see what happens?
Anyone else try this combo and have this issue?

Thanks in advance,

Karl

 

[EagleTalons]

Did you clean and lube your driver before you put it back on?

 

[Blazkowiez]

Did you clean and lube your driver before you put it back on?

Drive clutches from comet on series 20/30 are DRY assemblies, by lube you mean a dry lubricant I hope.

Cleaning is essential.

no they did not make two version of a manco 5959, its a 203589 belt and is standard, you didn't change the distance right?

 

[vgk]

I think the belt may be a little loose.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Your belt is more than half worn out. Clean the sides of your clutches and get a new belt. That will clear up the majority of your issues. When you buy a new belt get rotary number 8487. The replacement rotary belts for the 203589/manco 5959's dimensions are slightly smaller and will accommodate your system. If you have problems with disengagement and your clutches are clean you might need a single spacer washer in your drive clutch.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Replacement-Go-Kart-Belt-for-Comet-203589A-Manco-5959_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4a9eaf2682QQitemZ320489858690QQptZGoQ5fKarts#ht_500wt_935

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Your belt is most definitely worn, and is sitting pretty low in your driven.

 

[Blazkowiez]

When you replace the belt do not throw it away, on a lone drive keep it in a sort of tool box, it could be what gets you home one day when your primary belt gets destroyed.

 

[kfosburg]

Driven clutch is clean and with dry lube - not perfect probably, but I think my primary issue is with the distance/worn-out drive belt. Really strange that the belt is not asymmetric though...

Thanks for the ebay link - order is on the way and we'll see what's up then.

I'll update the thread with an update after I get the new belt and also some pics of the hatchet job on the seat bracket to get the clone mounted.

Great forum!

Karl

 

[kfosburg]

Oh... and don't worry about throwing the old one away - I never throw anything away! At least according to my wife. You never know when you need... washers, bolts, switches, belts, motors out of sewing machines, scraps of aluminum, coffee/cookie tins, shock absorbers, sway bars, old carbs, pallets, 2x4's, electric wire, wheels, bricks/cinder blocks, seats, bikes, pulleys, string/cable/chain, all forms of lube/cleaner/stripper/stain/paint/primer/oil/fluid... about the only that doesn't seem to stay long is cold beer!

Karl

 

[kfosburg]

Success! New/correct belt solved 100% of the issues. There's no way that the belt that was on there could have been the correct one - it's 1/4" narrower, longer, and symmetrical. The new one is 3/4" wide, asymmetrical and dead on fit - thanks so much for the ebay link - price was right and it got here in just three days.

Kart is now goes like it should! Now time to clean and refurbish the bits and pieces.

Karl

 

[Hybrid]

I think this may be my problem too, my belt is down to 9/16" wide and doesn't catch like it should. I looked up the part and the new one looks a lot wider.

Very helpful thread! thanks!

 

[Blazkowiez]

kfosburg, it was the correct belt when it was new, someone just ran it the wrong direction for way too long. I've seen it happen several times, just glad it worked out and everything is running the way it needs to. Keep that clutch clean, proper maintenance on that drive clutch is every 5hrs of use.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

kfosburg, it was the correct belt when it was new, someone just ran it the wrong direction for way too long.

That's just sad... How do you f**k that up?

 

[freakboy]

That's just sad... How do you f**k that up?

crack makes you do funny things.

 

[Blazkowiez]

I've seen it done several times... you know its bad when customers ask for things like change, stars, and the white thing that goes on top of the turning thing.

 

[freakboy]

I've seen it done several times... you know its bad when customers ask for things like change, stars, and the white thing that goes on top of the turning thing.

descriptive terms right there!

 

[kfosburg]

I won't profess either way to know how the old belt looked when new since I got the kart from a friend, but to have it ablate away to end up perfectly symmetrical and be a full 1/4" narrower is something I'm quite skeptical of... I'll let you know after this belt wears for a year.

I think that there was an imitation manco 5959 belt that was totally wrong at some time on the market. Attached is the picture of a true manco 5959, and my old one is nothing like it - especially the ^MOTOR^ markings!

Karl